Cliftonville’s All-Island Cup dream shattered as Galway United triumph in tense Final

Cliftonville 0 Galway United 1

Cliftonville's Caitlin McGuinness is tackled by Galway United's Eve Dossen in the All-Island Cup Final at The Showgrounds in Sligo

Galway United goalkeeper Jessica Berlin makes a save from Cliftonville's Kirsty McGuiness during the All-Island Cup Final at The Showgrounds in Sligo

Referee Robert Dowling and his assistants lead out the players before the All-Island Cup Final at The Showgrounds in Sligo

Cliftonville Ladies’ All-Ireland title hopes ended in heartbreak after a 1-0 defeat to Galway United.

A first-half goal from Gemma McGuinness was enough to see Galway lift the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup after a tense battle.

The decisive goal, after just 12 minutes, came in the cruellest of circumstances for Cliftonville mixed with a moment of class from the Galway girls.

Reds goalkeeper Rachel Norney raced off her line to the right corner of her box to clear the ball at the feet of Lynsey McKee, but her clearance went straight to McGuinness and, with the net largely unguarded, she sent a sweet chip over Kelsie Burrows and Fi Morgan and into the net from 25 yards out.

Galway’s high press had made it difficult for Cliftonville to build from the back in the same way as they normally do, and that, mixed with nervousness in the defence, almost let McGuinness in both before and after her goal and McKey also went close after a weak clearance by Burrows.

After they finally settled the Reds started to carve out openings. Vicky Carleton shot over after Caitlin McGuinness had battled to win the ball from Eve Dossen and there were strong claims for a penalty after Danielle Maxwell collected a long ball and cut in from the left before having a shot blocked.

Another long ball out from the back teased