A piece of magic from Gemma McGuiness in the opening half proved to be the match winning moment, as Galway United made history being crowned the 2023 All-Island Cup Champions.

McGuinness chip in the 12th minute separated the sides, as Galway ended a terrific cup campaign with a win, 12 months ago we did not think a team would be in Galway anymore now they are cup champions.

Cliftonville pressed them until the very end, some incredible defending by Jamie Erickson, Eve Dossen and Jessica Berlin just to name some of their backline who thwarted the Ulster side in snatching an equaliser.

It was a close encounter in the early exchanges, neither side looking to make mistakes and maintain possession, but five minutes in Cliftonville almost had a catastrophe as Aislinn Meaney chased a Jenna Slattery pass, goalkeeper Rachael Norney and Fionnula Morgan both were unsure what the other was doing and Galway almost had a chance but a free was given for a stray boot.

Galway had much more possession and seven minutes in, Gemma McGuinness with the best of the early chances, Aoibheann Costello with a great cross field pass to find McGuinness but her effort was over.

The Ulster side had little in the way of chances, their first real shot at goal came from a free that went wide, while Galway going long with their passes caused issues, it also brought the first goal after 12 minutes.

Lynsey McKee chased a through ball down the left wing, Norney raced out to clear, the clearance fell to McGuiness 25 yards out from goal, she spotted no one in the goal and smartly finished with a lofted shot over the Cliftonville defence to give Galway the advantage.

The Tribeswomen still had all the possession after the goal, McGuinness played in Meaney to try double their lead after 20 minutes, her shot was saved by Norney, but the flag was up, Meaney unable to hold her line and Cliftonville awarded the chance to breathe and clear.

Almost another gift from the Cliftonville defence as we ticked past 25 minutes, Kelsie Burrows looking to clear the ball from a Galway attack, but miss kicked the ball into the path of McKee a short distance from goal but her shot was wide.

Cliftonville have their best chance a minute later as Vicky Carleton shot from the edge of the box, but it curled too high over the bar, Galway on the other hand and notably McGuiness, were casing threat, she was played in but a defender got back to deal with it, before she gathered the ball after Meaney made a great turnover tackle, but that was wide.

Penalty appeals were turned down by the referee in the 36th minute after Carelton’s shot came back off Jamie Erickson, looked maybe like it hit her hand, but it was play on as Galway cleared the danger.

Slattery fancied her chances from range to double their lead before the break but the danger was mute as the shot went over, Clinftonville however threatened in the final few minutes, Caitlin McGuinness had an effort that just went wide of the post, before Danielle Maxwell fired over from the edge of the area. Galway remained ahead by the minimum at the break. 

Galway started strong in the second but just were unable to find that second goal, Meaney shot from a tight angle but it was saved, before Eve Dossen got on the end of a scramble to clear a Galway corner in the Cliftonville box, but Norney saved.

Erickson and Dossen both needed to be alert to avert the danger Cliftonville were presenting as they went forward, while they still had chances of their own as McGuiness cut to the right and shot but a slight deflection saw it bounce into the keepers gloves.

Jessica Berlin was busy and so were her defenders as Clinftonville had some confidence flowing, she had to catch a long range effort from Hannah Doherty, before sprinting out to clear a Cliftonville chance, as Erickon and Dossen both tried and did succeed in preventing a goal before their keeper booted it clear.

Action was end to end but Cliftonville were still knocking on that door, some unbelievable last-ditch defending by Isabella Beletic to slide in and deny Kirsty McGuinness a shot at goal, the Ulster side still hunting for that equaliser.