Cliftonville midfielder Marissa Callaghan said she felt “immense pride” in the Reds’ 4-2 comeback win against Glentoran in the Women’s League Cup final.
The Reds trailed 2-0 at half-time after Emily Wilson’s well-taken double, but they scored four times in the second half to win the trophy for a third successive season.
Callaghan netted the third by heading beyond Ashleigh McKinnon and praised her side’s stunning second half display.
“I thought we came out and completely dominated the second half,” she told BBC Sport NI.
“First half, we lost ourselves a little bit, we were nervous and lacked a bit of awareness in the game. Fair play to Glentoran, they did well to get their two goals, but what a second half from us, every player gave everything, and we left everything on the pitch and deserved to win in the end.”
The former Northern Ireland captain said an honest half-time team talk and a tactical switch of position for forward Naomi McLaughlin were the catalysts for change in the second half.
“Half-time there were words, it was not the first half we wanted but we’re a group of winners, we know how to win a game, and the coaches changed it with Naomi coming inside and she changed the game for us, she set up three of the four goals, ” Callaghan added.
“It was nice to score what I thought was the winner at the time, there is no better feeling than scoring in a cup final.”
