I asked players to go up the gears for me, reveals winning Glentoran Women’s boss Kim Turner

Glentoran Women's boss Kim Turner lifts the trophy

Kim Turner admitted that Glentoran Women ‘got out of jail’ before going on to lift the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup for a fifth successive time.

Three second-half goals clinched the trophy for the Glens, but only after they were forced to stave off a stiff challenge from Cliftonville Ladies.

The Reds, chasing their third knockout success of the season after wining the County Antrim Cup and Premiership League Cup, were on top for a spell in the first-half, created numerous chances and even had the ball in the net through Caitlin McGuinness, only for her strike to be ruled out for offside.

Kerry Beattie’s goal 10 minutes after the interval settled Glentoran, but they still had to come through another period of Cliftonville dominance before Emma McMaster netted in the 85th minute and Rachel Rogan iced the celebration cake with the third just as the game entered injury time.

“I think we have said it multiple times, it was a game of two halves again,” said Glentoran manager Turner.

“I thought we were fantastic in the first-half at riding the storm. We got out of jail, we can’t deny that.

“I asked the girls to give me a wee bit more, I asked them to go up two gears and I thought they did that and they did it with good timing and in a controlled manor and I thought they were brilliant n the second-half.”

Cliftonville could have been two ahead by the break, with Kirsty McGuinness missing a one-on-one chance with Glens goalkeeper Ashleigh McKinnon after her sister’s disallowed goal.

“We knew that we would have to ride a storm, we approached the game differently than what we have all year and I think we needed to do that,” added Turner.

“The girls deserved it and I