All you need to know about the Women's League Cup final
When is the Women's League Cup final?
The eighth edition of the Women's League Cup final takes place on Sunday, 29 June at Seaview with kick-off at 15:00 BST. You can follow live text commentary of the decider on the BBC Sport website and app.
How did the two teams get here?
Holders Cliftonville are looking to win the League Cup for a third successive season having reached their fourth consecutive final.The Reds topped Group A of the newly revamped League Cup, beginning their campaign with a 6-0 home win over Derry City in April.Caitlin McGuinness scored a hat-trick while Marissa Callaghan netted twice and Katie Markey also got on the scoresheet.Substitute Carla Devine then scored a late winner against Linfield as John McGrady's side claimed a 3-2 victory at Midgley Park.They made it three wins from three with a routine 3-0 victory against Lisburn Ladies at Solitude.Glentoran will be desperate to win the League Cup, having failed to win this competition since their sole triumph in 2019.They finished top of Group B and like Cliftonville, enjoyed three victories from their three games.The Glens thrashed Larne 9-2 in their opening game at Inver Park.Emily Wilson scored a hat-trick, Mia Moore marked her debut with a double, Rachel Rogan also netted twice whilst Demi Vance and Sophie McKnight scored.Kim Turner's side then beat Lisburn Rangers 2-0 at Crewe Park before a resounding 6-1 win against Crusaders at Blanchflower, a game in which they had six different goalscorers.
What has their league form been like?
It is early days in the Women's Premiership, but Glentoran and current champions Cliftonville already lead the way.The Glens top the table with maximum points from their first five games. In an ominous development for the rest of the division, they have scored at least four goals in each fixture.The standout result was a 6-2 win against rivals Linfield last week, which cemented Turner's side's strong start in their quest to retain the title they lost last season.Cliftonville won all 16 league games last season on their way to claiming a second title in three years but dropped points on the first day of the new campaign.They were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Linfield at Solitude but bounced back by winning their next three games against Derry City, Lisburn Ladies and Larne.The Reds are five points behind the Glens with a game in hand, a north Belfast derby against Crusaders at Seaview.The top two face off at the Blanchflower at the end of July in their first league meeting, with the Reds winning the two league games last season which proved crucial in them claiming the title.
Who are the players to look out for?
Mia Moore has made a fantastic start to the season and life back at Glentoran after making the switch from Crusaders.She made her first-team debut for the Glens aged 15, before moving to Linfield, where she scored 10 goals in her debut season for the Blues.The 17-year-old then joined Crusaders last year but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which ruled her out for the entirety of the campaign.The under-19 Northern Ireland international recovered from that long-term injury and has hit the ground running at a youthful Glens side that is spearheaded by Kascie Weir.The 19-year-old striker is another one to watch having scored on her senior debut for NI and she already has seven goals for the Glens so far this term.Cliftonville have lost three key players from last year's treble winning side in Danielle Maxwell, Louise McDaniel and Toni-Leigh Finnegan, whilst captain Kelsie Burrows has missed the start of the campaign through injury.In the absence of so many key players, Caitlin McGuinness has stepped up as skipper and once again shouldered the Reds' goal scoring burden.McGuinness has reached double digits in the past four seasons and already has three in the league as well as six in cup competitions.As well as being a prolific goal scorer, the 23-year-old holds the ball up well and brings others into play and is the fulcrum of a young Cliftonville attack.
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Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Diogo Jota's historic goal against Irish League side remembered as NI team pays ‘strong ties' tribute
Live | Scroll down for all the reaction in our live blog Liverpool FC said it is 'devastated' following the loss of striker Diogo Jota who has died in a car crash just days after his wedding. The club posted a short statement on social media after the 28-year-old Portuguese international was found dead alongside his brother André Silva in Spain. The crash occurred near Zamora in the north-west of the country in the early hours of this morning. The local fire department said that a car crashed shortly after midnight and burst into flames, with two men – aged 28 and 26 – found dead. "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,' the club posted on X and Facebook alongside a picture of the footballer. A statement on the official Northern Ireland team account said it stands 'with the football family in mourning a player taken far too soon'. It read: 'We are deeply saddened to learn of Diogo Jota's passing. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all at @LFC and @selecaoportugal. Northern Ireland has long shared strong ties with Liverpool, and we stand with the football family in mourning a player taken far too soon. Rest in peace.' The Liverpool club flag is flying at half-mast at Anfield as fans have also gathered to lay tributes to Jota – who married his partner Rute Cardoso on 22 June. The couple had three children together, with the youngest born in December last year. Jota had posted wedding photos to Instagram, saying 'Yes to forever'. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. His final post was video highlights of the day, captioned 'a day we will never forget'. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. He made 123 appearance for Liverpool, scoring 47 goals between 2020 and 2025, and helped the club to the Premier League title last season. Known for his clinical finishing, explosive pace and dribbling ability, Jota won the EFL Championship with Wolves in 2018, before the move to Liverpool brought more success. He was also a Portuguese international and amassed 49 caps for his country since making his debut in 2019, scoring 14 goals. Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash aged 28 Follow the latest reaction in our live blog below: 17 minutes ago Jota's historic goal against Crusaders remembered Diogo Jota scored Wolves' first European goal in 39 years - and it came against Belfast side Crusaders in 2019. The English side would go on to win the two-legged tie 6-1, but it was Jota's opener at Molineux that really made history. After the match, he was complimentary about the Crues' efforts, saying: "To be honest I didn't know much about them before this game, but they were well organised and gave 100 per cent in each tackle and each moment of the game, so they made it hard for us." Jota bags in Europe | Wolves 2-0 Crusaders | 2019 Europa League Highlights Throughout this season, we'll be looking back at some memorable nights during our 2019/20 Europa League campaign, five years on. First up is our opening qualifying fixture, when Molineux hosted European football for the first time since the 1980/81 season. We took on Crusaders from Northern Ireland in our first test and welcomed them to Wolverhampton early on in our pre-season. Diogo Jota scored the historic goal to get our season underway, before Ruben Vinagre scored late on, to give us a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg in Belfast. Wolves, Ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pays tribute Jürgen Klopp on Instagram: "This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it! I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother André. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much! All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace - Love J" 476K likes, 0 comments - kloppo on July 3, 2025: "This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it! I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother André. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much! All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace - Love J". kloppo, External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 11:48 AM Northern Ireland team: 'We stand with the football family in mourning' The Northern Ireland national team has paid tribute to Diogo Jota, expressing sadness at the loss and sending condolences to his teammates. "Northern Ireland has long shared strong ties with Liverpool, through players past and present and a passionate supporter base across our country," a statement said. "Today, we stand with the football family in mourning the loss of a young footballer taken far too soon." Northern Ireland National Team We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Diogo Jota. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Diogo's... Northern Ireland National Team, External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 11:10 AM Larne FC chairman pays tribute to 'exceptional talent' Diogo Jota Gareth Clements recalled Larne's European match against Jota's first club FC Paços de Ferreira four years ago as he expressed grief and offered condolences to all those grieving. "On behalf of myself and everyone associated with Larne Football Club, we extend our deepest condolences to the entire FC Paços de Ferreira family following the devastating loss of their former starlet Diogo Jota," he posted on Facebook. "The football world has lost not only an exceptional talent but a beloved friend and teammate. His connection to his first club remained special throughout his remarkable career, and he was spoken fondly of when we were welcomed to Portugal in 2021. "Our hearts go out to his family, including his brother André, who was also tragically lost in the accident, and to all who knew and loved them. "The football community stands united in grief during this incredibly difficult time. "Diogo's legacy will live on through the joy he brought to millions of fans and the inspiration he provided to young players everywhere. "With our sincerest sympathies and solidarity." Today 10:50 AM Cristiano Ronaldo: 'We were only just in the national team together' Diogo Jota's Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo has paid tribute, saying the loss "doesn't make sense". "We were only just in the national team together, you had only just got married," he said. "To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you'll always be with them. "Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We'll all miss you." Cristiano Ronaldo on Twitter / X Não faz sentido. Ainda agora estávamos juntos na Seleção, ainda agora tinhas casado. À tua familia, à tua mulher e aos teus filhos, envio os meus sentimentos e desejo-lhes toda a força do mundo. Sei que estarás sempre com eles. Descansem em Paz, Diogo e André. Vamos todos sentir… Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) July 3, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 10:46 AM Jota's message to young fans just days ago Just days ago, musician Jamie Webster - who has become synonymous with Liverpool FC- fan culture through his reworking of popular songs to turn them into chants for various players - revealed to young fans at a gig that Diogo Jota had a special message for them. The smiling footballer's video message was played on a big screen and, to massive cheers from the crowd, he expressed agreement with a vote that had found "his" song to be the most popular and encouraged Webster to play it for those gathered and for them to join in, prompting the singer to launch into "Oh, he wears the number 20..." BOSS Night on Twitter / X ❤️ - @DiogoJota18 had a special message for everyone at BOSS Kids before @JamieWebster94 played his song! 🏆 #LFC BOSS Night (@aBOSSNight) June 30, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 10:23 AM Steven Gerrard sends condolences to family Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has posted a tribute to Diogo Jota in his Instagram stories, sending his condolences to the star's family "during this incredibly sad time". Gerrard also posted pictures of Jota with his family to his timeline with a broken heart emoji. Steven Gerrard on Instagram: "💔" 223K likes, 1,816 comments - stevengerrard on July 3, 2025: "💔". stevengerrard, External content Today 10:17 AM Footballing world expresses shock and sadness following death of Diogo Jota Manchester United, AC Milan, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs sending condolences to the Liverpool stars family after he was killed alongside his brother in a car crash in Spain. Manchester United took to social to say "our deepest condolences are with the loved ones of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre, and everyone connected with Liverpool FC following today's heartbreaking news". AC Milan said it is "deeply saddened by the tragic passing" of both men as it said its "heartfelt condolences go out to their family, friends, and all who are mourning. May they rest in peace". Everton FC said everyone at the club "is deeply saddened" adding "our thoughts are with their family and friends at this sad time". Meanwhile the official Spurs account on X said: "Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Diogo Jota. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and all at Liverpool Football Club at this incredibly difficult time." AC Milan on Twitter / X AC Milan is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. Our heartfelt condolences go out to their family, friends, and all who are mourning. May they rest in peace. AC Milan (@acmilan) July 3, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 10:08 AM Uefa reacts to 'heart-breaking loss' of Diogo Jota The football body posted a short statement on X expressing shock and sadness. "On behalf of the European football community, we are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward, along with his brother André Silva," it said. "Our thoughts are with their family, friends, teammates and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss." UEFA on Twitter / X On behalf of the European football community, we are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward, along with his brother André thoughts are with their family, friends, teammates and all those affected… UEFA (@UEFA) July 3, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 09:53 AM Manchester City offers condolences following death of Diogo Jota "Everyone at Manchester City is shocked and saddened to learn about the devastating news regarding the passing of Diogo Jota," the club posted on X. "We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and everyone at Liverpool Football Club at this difficult time. "Rest in peace, Diogo." Manchester City on Twitter / X Everyone at Manchester City is shocked and saddened to learn about the devastating news regarding the passing of Diogo send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and everyone at Liverpool Football Club at this difficult in peace, Diogo. Manchester City (@ManCity) July 3, 2025 Today 09:49 AM Premier League chiefs say 'football has lost a champion' The official Premier League account on X has posted a statement following the death of Liverpool star Diogo Jota. "Everyone at the Premier League is shocked and devastated to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre," it said. "Our sincerest condolences go to Diogo 's family, friends, Liverpool FC, and all their supporters at this heartbreaking time. "Football has lost a champion who will be forever missed. We will continue to support our friends and colleagues at the club." Today 09:38 AM FC Porto express 'shock' following tragedy The club where Jota spent a year on loan in 2016/17 was among the first to offer sympathies to his grieving family. "It is with shock and deep regret that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our youth player," it posted on X. "Rest in peace". FC Porto on Twitter / X O Futebol Clube do Porto está de luto.É com choque e profundo pesar que enviamos as sentidas condolências à família e amigos do Diogo Jota e irmão André Silva, que também foi nosso atleta nos escalões de formaçã em paz.#FCPorto FC Porto (@FCPorto) July 3, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 09:30 AM Liverpool FC 'devastated' by death of Diogo Jota Liverpool FC Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. Liverpool FC, External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Diogo Jota's classy act of humility left me and my U13s team stunned – he was a credit to his family and football
I CAN'T claim to have known Diogo Jota particularly well. A few post-match interviews, grabbed in mixed zones at Molineux and other grounds. 10 10 10 One or two one-to-one interviews while he was with Wolves. The odd passing nod of the head, handshake, brief cordial greeting if we happened to cross paths. But a few things stood out about the Portuguese striker. His friendly nature, his humility and his kindness shone through. He never treated the media as the enemy as so many modern players do. He was genuinely pleased to share his thoughts with journalists. He was utterly charming. I remember him apologising to me for his poor English when we chatted on the pitch after Wolves Europa League tie against Crusaders in Belfast in 2019. I told him, as a Scot, I should be apologising to him because his use of the language was a lot better than mine! I asked him how he had become so fluent, so quickly. He just shrugged and said: "In Portugal, we teach English in school from an early age. I'm not special." 'Heartbroken' Ronaldo leads tributes to Diogo Jota as football mourns Liverpool & Portugal star But he was special. A special player. A special human being. I've coached kids football teams for all of my adult life and my Under-13s had reached a local cup final. It was a big deal for the boys and we wanted to make it a big occasion for them, knowing for many of them, this would probably be as good as it got. We were a village team - Premier League scouts weren't exactly flocking to our games in search of the next Diogo Jota. I asked Diogo if he would be kind enough to send a short video message to the lads, wishing them luck in their first ever final. He graciously agreed and we showed the team his personal video message in the dressing-room before kick-off. That was nice of him - especially as we went on to win the final 3-2 against a club we'd never beaten before. A couple of weeks later I bumped into Diogo at Wolves' Compton Training Ground. "How did your boys do in the final?" he asked me. He was genuinely pleased when I joked that his words of encouragement made the difference between winning and losing. I couldn't believe such a superstar would even remember giving a few seconds of his time to a bunch of kids he'd never even met. But it summed up the man for me - a true gentleman and a credit to himself, his family, his club, his nation and to the game of football. Football can be a cut-throat business at times but Diogo Jota was proof that nice guys do win sometimes. The game will be so much poorer without him and my thoughts are with his family and friends following the loss of Diogo and his brother Andre. The Liverpool star, 28, died alongside his brother in a car accident in Spain on their way to catch a ferry to the UK. Only 11 days ago, he married childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso in a beautiful ceremony. The couple had three children - Dinis, four, Duarte, two, and a daughter who was born in 2024. The Portuguese FA shared a heartbreaking statement that read: "The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain. "Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 internationalizations for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself. "On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players. "The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute's silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women's European Championship, lost to two champs. "The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honour their legacy." 10 10 10 10
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
GAA needs to consider ‘strategic need' on its Casement Park plans, says DUP minister
The GAA needs to consider its 'strategic need' around the redevelopment of Casement Park in the face of the project's ongoing funding gap, the North's sports minister has said. Gordon Lyons said the Executive was also still awaiting clarification from the UK government on the terms of the £50 million (€58 million) financial contribution to the rebuild of the west Belfast Gaelic games venue that was announced last month. Advertisement The British government has said the money will be offered as an equity stake and will not have to be repaid. Objections from local residents delayed the redevelopment of Casement Park for several years, resulting in the GAA grounds standing empty and the cost of the build spiralling. Photo: David Young/PA Plans for a £270 million, 34,000-capacity stadium have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding shortfall. The £50 million provided by the British government has not bridged that gap, which remains at an estimated £100 million if the redevelopment was to proceed as currently envisaged by the GAA. Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. Advertisement While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated build cost spiralled in the interim. While planning permission has since been secured, the money committed to the rebuild is not currently enough to deliver it. As well as the Stormont contribution of £62.5 million and the UK government's £50 million, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million and the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million. Mr Lyons was asked how he intended to progress the project as he faced questions from members of his Assembly scrutiny committee at Stormont on Thursday. Advertisement 'The first thing that we need, and what we don't have, is clarity on exactly what this money [from the UK government] is and what this means,' he said. Gordon Lyons (Liam McBurney/PA) 'I know that discussions are ongoing between DoF (Stormont's Department of Finance) and the Treasury, but I think it's fair to say that we don't have clarity on exactly what that means, what that means in terms of debt, what that means in terms of equity. So that is something that will need to be bottomed out. But other work can go on in the meantime.' He added: 'The finance minister [John O'Dowd] has requested a meeting with me, which I would like to bottom out some of the issues around exactly what that means, because it's not simple and it's not straightforward, and we'll hear, I'm sure, more of this soon. We need to figure that out. Ireland Leaders on both sides of the border urge completio... Read More 'Secondly, I think the GAA, and I know they're taking time to consider this, but I think the GAA need to consider what this means for their plans. I think they need to consider their strategic need and what way they want to take this forward, and if they're committed to what is still on the table. Advertisement 'We haven't had anyone reach out yet in relation to that – in terms of a meeting with me personally – but certainly that engagement can absolutely continue, and let's get those issues bottomed out.' The committee was told that engagement between officials in Mr Lyon's department and the GAA was continuing.
