All you need to know about the Women's League Cup final

Cliftonville and Glentoran are back in the Women’s League Cup final at Seaview in a repeat of last year’s thrilling decider.

The Reds came from behind to triumph 4-2 against the Glens to win the competition for a third year in a row.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides who sit first and second in the Women’s Premiership table in the current campaign and it promises to be an intriguing battle as always.

Ahead of Sunday’s final, BBC Sport NI looks at all you need to know about both teams.

Route to the final

Cliftonville began their defence of the trophy with a 3-1 away win against Derry City in April with Carla Devine netting twice either side of a Caitlin McGuinness goal.

Brendan Lynch’s side followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Lisburn Rangers, with Fi Morgan scoring a late equaliser at Solitude.

An emphatic 8-0 win over Larne helped them top their group and ease into the final.

Lucy Kelly as well as Caitlin and Kirsty McGuinness all scored twice with Teegan Lynch and Eimear Ward also getting on the scoresheet for the holders.

Women’s Premiership champions Glentoran started their League Cup campaign with a routine 2-0 win over Lisburn Ladies courtesy of goals from Demi Vance and Aimee Kerr.

They then beat Crusaders 4-1 at Seaview with Jenna Kearney and Nadene Caldwell netting and Faye Loughran scoring two.

The Glens made it three straight victories to seal top spot in the group as they picked up a 3-1 win over rivals Linfield at the Blanchflower Stadium.

Caldwell netted again for the hosts with goals from Gracie Conway and Jess Foy securing the victory after Cora Chambers had reduced the deficit for the Blues.

League form

Both teams come into the final after perfect starts to their Women’s Premiership campaigns that have been a bit stop start due to international call-ups and All-Island Cup action.

Their records are almost identical, with both having played five and won all five of their games having conceded just three goals each.

The Glens are ahead on goal difference by virtue of having scored 24 goals while the Reds have managed 23.

Kim Turner’s side have recorded big wins over the likes of Lisburn Rangers, Lisburn Ladies and Larne so come into the final with confidence.

Cliftonville have also thrashed the likes of Lisburn Rangers and Crusaders, but had to show real grit to come from behind and beat Linfield 3-2 in May, which shows they are capable of winning when not at their best too.

Last time out

As mentioned, these two sides met in last year’s final at Seaview in what proved to be quite a dramatic encounter.

A fine first-half double from Northern Ireland international Emily Wilson had the Glens in dreamland at half-time.

However, the holders came roaring back in the second half in north Belfast with Caitlin McGuinness scoring twice to haul Cliftonville level just after the hour mark.

Marissa Callaghan then stole in at the back post to head home from a free-kick to turn the game on it’s head for the Reds.

Things went from bad to worse for Glentoran as Kascie Weir was sent off in injury time for a foul on Fi Morgan.

Substitute Carla Devine then scored a late fourth as the Reds clinched a record-breaking third successive League Cup win.

Ones to watch

Cliftonville will be wary of the threat posed by young Glentoran striker Gracie Conway.

The teenager joined the club from Lisburn Rangers alongside her sister Daisy in March having scored 23 goals in 39 games.

She has continued that fine form at the east Belfast club and already has seven in all competitions, including a hat-trick against Crusaders.

A Northern Ireland underage international, she will relish trying to contribute to a first senior trophy win on Sunday.

Glentoran, as always, will have to keep Caitlin McGuinness quiet if they stand any chance of winning the game.

The Reds’ vice-captain was the catalyst in swinging last year’s final in the Reds’ favour and is a real big game player who has also found the net in the last two Irish Cup finals as well.

She already has six league goals for Cliftonville this year and leads their line so well with her link-up play as well as her clinical finishing.

What they said

Cliftonville manager Brendan Lynch: “It’s another chance to get better and win silverware, so it’s brilliant to be here. It’s hard to defend the trophy but for Cliftonville it’s a fifth League Cup final in a row and they’ve won the three previous.

“It gets harder to defend it each year, it was extremely hard last year, we had a fright, so we know it will be a really tough game.”

Glentoran goalkeeper Ellie Scott: “It’s a chance for redemption. It really hurt us last year after being ahead to lose, but that makes you want to push on and it gives us good motivation to bring it back.

“We’ve got Champions League in a few weeks and it would be a big boost for us if we can bring the trophy back.”