Shelbourne W vs Cliftonville W

Shelbourne seized control inside 18 minutes when Clancy converted from the penalty spot to give the hosts an early lead at Tolka Park. The Reds doubled their advantage seven minutes before half-time, Clancy finishing low beyond Cliftonville goalkeeper Beth Peoples for her second of the afternoon to make it 2-0 at the break.

Cliftonville emerged with renewed intent after the interval and pulled a goal back three minutes into the second half. Lucy Kelly struck in the 49th minute to halve the deficit and give the visitors a lifeline.

The momentum shifted back and forth before Shelbourne extinguished any hope of a Cliftonville comeback. Becky Watkins volleyed home the hosts' third in the 86th minute, restoring the two-goal cushion and sealing Shelbourne's passage to the semi-finals.

Clancy's 39th-minute strike proved decisive. Had Shelbourne gone in at half-time with only a 1-0 lead after the early penalty, Cliftonville's 49th-minute equaliser would have drawn them level. Instead, the two-goal buffer meant Kelly's goal only halved the deficit, and Shelbourne could manage the game on their terms in the second half.

Aoibheann Clancy was the match-winner with her first-half brace — the opener from the penalty spot in the 18th minute and a composed finish from open play in the 39th. Her two goals inside the opening 39 minutes laid the foundation for the win.

Becky Watkins scored the crucial third goal in the 86th minute, a volley that killed the game when Cliftonville were pushing for an equaliser.

Lucy Kelly was Cliftonville's bright spark, scoring the visitors' only goal three minutes into the second half and briefly giving her side a foothold in the contest.

Shelbourne's clinical edge in front of goal separated the sides. Clancy converted two of three first-half chances while Watkins made no mistake late on. Cliftonville created little beyond Kelly's goal in the early second-half period and failed to sustain pressure when they needed a second equaliser. The 3-1 scoreline reflects a game where Shelbourne's first-half intensity proved too much for a Cliftonville side that improved after the break but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

Shelbourne advanced to the semi-finals of the All-Island Cup, where they defeated Bohemians 4-0 at Tolka Park — a result that included another Watkins double, plus goals from Jess Gargan and Halle Harcourt — to reach the final. They will now host Galway United in the final at Tolka Park on Saturday, 18 July, with kick-off at 19:35, live on TG4.

For Cliftonville, the defeat ended their All-Island Cup run at the quarter-final stage. The Women's Premiership side had reached the last eight after a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from Teegan Lynch against Cork City in the previous round. They now turn their attention to domestic competitions in Northern Ireland.

Shelbourne were deserving winners, controlling the first half through Clancy's sharp finishing and managing the game professionally after Cliftonville's brief second-half resurgence. The Tolka Park outfit look well equipped for the semi-final and final as they chase All-Island Cup glory on home soil.