Women's Premiership Round-up: Sion Swifts open with big win over Derry City while champions Linfield beat Crusaders
Sion Swifts are the early pacesetters in the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership after racking up a comprehensive 6-0 win over Derry City in their opening-day clash.
Republic of Ireland under-16 international Teegan Lynch scored twice for the Fermanagh side, while debutante Kirsty McGuinness also grabbed a double on the night.
Champions Linfield, who edged out Swifts on goal difference in 2019, began their defence with a 2-0 victory at home to Crusaders Strikers.
In the third game of the evening, Glentoran saw off Cliftonville in a Belfast derby with a 3-0 win at Solitude.
Sion were in control from the early exchanges at the Brandywell and they racked up a quick two-goal lead thanks to Lynch’s quickfire double.
Caitlin McGuinness added a third on her debut when she linked up with Kirsty, before returning the favour for her sister to score the goal of the night with a powerful drive.
Kirsty McGuinness earned her second assist 15 minutes from time as she dropped a corner on the head of Kelly Crompton, before adding her second in the dying stages.
Linfield got their campaign up and running at New Midgeley Park with a 2-0 win thanks to a late double from Casey Howe.
The striker opened the scoring with 15 minutes to go with a clinical finish and added a second eight minutes later to secure the three points.
And goals from Joely Andrews, Kerry Beattie and Jess Foy were enough for Glentoran to earn a 3-0 win in north Belfast.