The Northern Ireland Women’s FA Championship 2024 campaign kicked off on Wednesday evening, Bangor and Sion Swifts making flying starts with 6-1 wins.
Ballymena United 2-1 Belfast Celtic
Foyle Belles 1-3 Comber Rec
St James Swifts 3-2 Camlough Rovers
St Oliver Plunkett 1-6 Bangor
Sion Swifts 6-1 Ballyclare Comrades
Brooke Milligan began the season with a hat-trick in Sion Swifts’ 6-1 result over Ballyclare Comrades, Amber Dempster’s own treble for Bangor in their victory at St Oliver Plunkett included a penalty.
Ballymena United’s Chelsea Miller and Belfast Celtic’s Cloe Keenan were both sent off as the home side emerged 2-1 winners. Katie Wallace’s early penalty was replied to with another spot-kick from Katie O’Hare, Wallace then grabbing an 84th-minute winner.
Chloe Tully’s stoppage-time goal gave St James Swifts a 3-2 victory over Camlough Rovers, Lucy Carville found the net twice to help Comber rec to a 3-1 win at Foyle Belles.
While Divisions 1 to 6 get their campaigns underway next week, followed by the Development League, the draw for the Local Women Sport Super Cup was made during the season’s launch event at the Blanchflower Stadium on Sunday.
