Lynch says Cliftonville have moved on after League Cup title reversal

Cliftonville manager Brendan Lynch says his players have moved on from losing the Women's League Cup title after a registration breach. In comments reported by BBC Sport NI on Wednesday, Lynch acknowledged his frustration at the decision but said the squad's response had been to concentrate on continuing to win matches rather than dwell on the sanction.

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The ruling, reported on October 14, overturned Cliftonville's 4-0 victory over Glentoran in July's final at Seaview. Glentoran had lodged a complaint with the Northern Ireland Football League and were subsequently awarded a 3-0 win. Cliftonville also received a £500 fine, ending their opportunity to complete a domestic treble despite having already secured the league championship.

The NIFL competitions committee found that two Cliftonville players had not been registered correctly under the competition's regulations. In its statement, carried in the BBC's original report on the ruling, the committee also praised the club's cooperation and integrity during the investigation. The decision therefore changed both the official result of the final and the destination of the trophy.

Caitlin McGuinness had scored twice in the July match, with Kirsty McGuinness and Danielle Maxwell providing the other goals. Cliftonville had initially celebrated what appeared to be a fourth consecutive League Cup success. They also finished their league campaign nine points clear of Glentoran, but the administrative ruling removed one of the trophies from their season's record.

Lynch told BBC Sport NI that he regarded the loss of the treble opportunity as unfair in light of the team's performance in the final. He nevertheless accepted that the club had to move forward. He said the players themselves, rather than only the coaching staff, had set the tone by focusing on their next challenge.

Glentoran manager Kim Turner, also speaking to BBC Sport NI, distinguished the awarded title from what happened on the pitch, acknowledging that her side had lost the final fairly. She said the administrative process was outside her control and that her responsibilities remained coaching, developing players and building the team's culture. Neither manager said the ruling had disrupted their squad.