Phil Trill: "It means a lot to Galway - it means a lot to Galway United as a club."

Galway United boss Phil Trill hailed his side as they won the inaugural Avenir All-Ireland Cup with a 1-0 win over Cliftonville at the Showgrounds.

Gemma McGuinness scored the only goal of the game as United overcame the Northern Irish Premiership champions in 90 minutes.

And the Tribes manager was effusive in his praise of the Connacht side as they saw off the challenge of a side unbeaten in the competition to date.

Trill said: “Since we came in in January, we’ve put an awful lot into it. I don’t think there was much in the game and I don’t think anyone expected there to be much in the game.

“It was very, very tight throughout and we’re really happy to come out with a positive result out of it. It means a lot to Galway - it means a lot to Galway United as a club.

“They’ve won countless honours within their own region, they have quality and they’ve played in Europe and obviously have well-regarded senior international players.”

Galway had to hang on in the second half as the Belfast side put the squeeze on with Caitlin McGuinness - no relation - and Danielle Maxwell both going close.

The Tribeswomen had chances of their own with both Aislinn Meaney and Eve Dossen being denied by Reds keeper Rachael Nerney.

“There were times in the game we just had to stay together and specifically the last ten minutes. We just had to dig in and grind it out,” Trill continued.

“We’re so proud of our ladies - to be able to come in four months into our journey, I’m very, very proud.

“Travelling up today, we brought a lot of support - it was like a home game with the amount of support - and it means a lot to Galway United.

“It means a lot to the volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and have really, really pulled this together as a club and made sure there would be women’s football at this level.”