Glentoran Secures Challenge Cup with Victory in Shootout
October 30, 2026 ·
Kelly Bailie scored the deciding penalty in his final game, firing Glentoran to a Challenge Cup victory over Cliftonville in a tense shootout.
Glentoran Secures Challenge Cup with Victory in Adu
According to Sports.
Background
Kelly Bailie, who has been an integral part of Glentoran, is now retiring after making a huge contribution over many years. This victory not only marked the end of his career, but also gave Glentoran the morale boost needed to continue their ambitions in the league and other competitions.
Why this is important
Glentoran's victory in the Challenge Cup means a lot, especially for Kelly Bailie who ended his career with a historic moment. By executing the decisive penalty, Bailie not only took home the trophy, but also left a strong legacy at the club after a 30-year career. This is also positive momentum for Glentoran in facing the challenges of next season.
Main Points
- Glentoran Secures Challenge Cup with Victory in Adu.
- Kelly Bailie scored the decisive penalty in her final game, giving Glentoran a Challenge Cup victory over Cliftonville in a tense shootout.
- Glens secure Challenge Cup with Reds shootout win - Yahoo Sports.
Kelly Bailie managed to score the decisive penalty for Glentoran in his final game, ensuring his side won the Challenge Cup after winning the shootout 4-2 against Cliftonville at Windsor Park. Bailie, aged 46, converted the final penalty in the shootout, marking the end of his career after 30 years with the east Belfast club.
The final was filled with interesting stories before the whistle, most notably with Brendan Lynch's side missing out on their League Cup title after fielding two ineligible players in the match against Glentoran. This match was also postponed for three days due to storm Boelo. However, as the match progressed, there were not many memorable moments before the penalty shootout ended with Glentoran winning.
Cliftonville started the match well, a deflected shot from Kirsty McGuinness almost found the back of the net, but went just wide. As time went on, the two teams neutralized each other, with Cliftonville having more of the ball, but Glentoran's defense was able to withstand every threat that emerged. After just over half an hour, Charlotte Havern played a fine pass to Kirsty McGuinness, but her shot was off target.
Havern, fresh from earning her first senior cap for Northern Ireland, continued to be involved as Cliftonville looked to attack, but Caitlin McGuinness' effort was stopped by teammate Vicky Carleton. Entering the second half, Naomi McLaughlin had two chances in a row, but both went high over the bar.
Glentoran defended strongly and Cliftonville struggled to find gaps, although Louise McDaniel and Caitlin McGuinness had several half-chances. In the 68th minute, Cliftonville had its best chance when Carleton got a good chance from Caitlin McGuinness, but failed to get a shot on target. In the final five minutes, Danielle Maxwell was unable to capitalize after good work from Kirsty and Caitlin McGuinness, and Mia Moore also failed to score after spotting goalkeeper Maddy Harvey-Clifford off her line.
These chances became increasingly rare until the final seconds of stoppage time when Ellie Scott made a brilliant save, denying Toni-Leigh Finnegan an effort to score the winner. In the penalty shootout, Jess Foy opened the scoring, but Caitlin McGuinness missed the penalty. Demi Vance and Carleton also didn't score, while Aimee Kerr and Finnegan didn't make a mistake. Faye Loughan and Anna Rose Robinson exchanged penalties before Bailie capped her career with a powerful strike that sealed victory for Glentoran.
What happened next
After this victory, Glentoran is expected to be able to build confidence for future matches. Meanwhile, Cliftonville needs to analyze their performance to improve their results in the upcoming competition. Focusing on the development of young players and game strategy will be key for both teams in welcoming a more competitive season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the deciding penalty for Glentoran?
Kelly Bailie scores the decisive penalty for Glentoran.
What is the final result of the Glentoran vs Cliftonville match?
Glentoran won the match against Cliftonville on penalties with a score of 4-2.
What impact will Glentoran's win have on the league table?
The article does not mention the specific impact Glentoran's win would have on the league table.
When is the next match for Glentoran?
The article does not include information about the next match for Glentoran.
What happened before the final match between Glentoran and Cliftonville?
The final was postponed for three days due to Storm Boelo and Cliftonville lost their League Cup title due to fielding two ineligible players.