Shelbourne Women 3-1 Cliftonville LFC Women
International Club Friendly – 13 June 2026

Shelbourne Women continued their pre‑season preparations with a confident 3‑1 victory over Northern Irish visitors Cliftonville LFC Women in an international club friendly played on 13 June 2026. The match, held behind closed doors at Shelbourne’s training ground, served as valuable preparation for both sides ahead of their respective domestic campaigns.

Match Overview

Shelbourne dominated the opening half and established a two‑goal lead before the break. Their high pressing and crisp passing caused problems for the Cliftonville defence, which was forced into several last‑ditch clearances. The home side’s third goal early in the second half effectively sealed the result, though Cliftonville pulled one back late to give the scoreline a more respectable look.

Key Moments

• 1‑0 (18′): A well‑worked corner routine saw Shelbourne’s centre‑back rise highest to head home at the near post.
• 2‑0 (34′): A swift counter‑attack finished with a low drive from the edge of the box that beat the Cliftonville goalkeeper at her near post.
• 3‑0 (55′): A through‑ball split the defence, allowing the Shelbourne striker to round the keeper and tap into an empty net.
• 3‑1 (78′): Cliftonville pulled one back from a free‑kick that deflected past the Shelbourne wall and nestled in the bottom corner.

Tactical Story

Shelbourne lined up in a 4‑3‑3, looking to exploit width early. Their full‑backs pushed high, creating overloads that Cliftonville struggled to track. The Northern Irish side adopted a 4‑4‑2 and tried to hit on the break, but Shelbourne’s midfield trio kept possession well and limited the visitors’ chances until the final minutes.

Standout Players

• Shelbourne’s No.9: A constant threat, involved in all three goals with her movement and finishing.
• Cliftonville’s No.7: The most creative player for the visitors, her set‑piece delivery led to the consolation goal.

The friendly provided useful minutes for both squads, with Shelbourne showing promising form as they build towards the start of the Women’s National League season.