REDS POWER PAST CANDYSTRIPES
Defending champions Cliftonville Ladies roared to an emphatic victory over Derry City Women at the Brandywell.
Fionnula Morgan opened the scoring on eight minutes with Kirsty McGuinness adding a second ten minutes later.
A neat finish from Marissa Callaghan from the edge of the box just after the half-hour mark made it three before Victoria Carleton struck in the first half stoppage time to end the game as a contest.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, with Morgan again on the scoresheet on 51 minutes.
Two goals in quick succession from debutant Claire Shaw and Danielle Maxwell midway through the second half added to the Reds' tally.
For their part, City never gave up and at times showed small glimpses of their competitive nature but Callaghan added her second with seven minutes remaining before Morgan sealed her hat-trick right at the end.
Derry City Women: Barr, Donaghey, Hargan, Toland, Temple, McGilloway, Higgins, Alexander, Connolly, Quigg, Deery subs Harkin, Doherty, O'Kane, Redden, Havlin, Carlin
Cliftonville Ladies: Norney, White, Burrows, Morgan, Finnegan, Maxwell, C. McGuinness, Carleton, K. McGuinness, Callaghan, Magee subs Doherty, McDaniel, Markey, O. McGuinness, Irvine, Ferreira, Shaw