The captain of Sion Swifts Ladies has promised Sion will bring desire and passion to this year’s Women’s Irish FA Challenge Cup Final sponsored by Electric Ireland.
The game on Thursday (7 September) at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park promises to be a tight affair.
Sion and opponents Newry City Ladies finished second and third respectively in this season’s Danske Bank Women’s Premiership – with just a point separating them.
Sion Swifts Ladies captain Kendra McMullan said: “There’s a great team spirit. And once we get on the pitch there’s a lot of desire and passion.
“We will be doing everything we can to lift the cup. We have lots of great young players and a lot of threat going forward, and we have talent all over the pitch. We win together and we lose together.”
And manager Tony McGinley added: “We know Newry are a formidable team but we will give everything in the final.”
On the way to the decider Sion have defeated both of last year’s finalists (newly crowned league champions Linfield Ladies and Cliftonville Ladies) as well as Crusaders Strikers.
The Tyrone outfit will be without senior Northern Ireland international Hayley O’Donnell and Northern Ireland U19 international Teresa Burns for the final, but they will still have an abundance of international experience to call upon.
Kendra McMullan, Chloe McGlade and Cathy Hyndman have all represented Northern Ireland at senior level and Ally Canning is a Northern Ireland U17 international.
And Tyler Toland is a Republic of Ireland international (U17, U19 & Senior), while Zoe McGlynn represents the Republic at U19 level.
It is the first time in the history of the Women’s Irish Cup (started in 2005) that the final will be contested by two teams from outside Belfast.
The game kicks off at 8pm on Thursday. Admission is £5 for adults and £3 concessions. Tickets will be available to purchase on match night from the Ticket Office.
Before the game there will also be a fanzone at the eastern end of the stadium. It will feature inflatables, a speed gun, tunnel and target bins. There will also be giveaways. And Electric Ireland mascots will be there, too.
Electric Ireland is the proud sponsor of women’s football in Northern Ireland. Partnering with the Irish FA, Electric Ireland seeks to break down the perceptions that exist around women’s football through its campaign, Game Changers. The energy provider’s aim is to celebrate female football talent, help boost participation and shine a light on the 10,000 plus Game Changers who play football each week in Northern Ireland. Join the conversation using #GameChangers. Visit www.electricireland.com.
Sion Swifts Ladies Squad:
Niamh Mailey, Ciana Brogan, Emma Carlin, Claragh Conor, Catherine Hyndman, Tasmin McCarter, Kendra McMullan (C), Kelly Crompton, Chloe McGlade, Geny Decker, Zoe McGlynn, Tyler Toland, Courtney Moore, Orlagh Falconer, Ally Canning, Laura McCurdy, Orla Devaney.
