The SWPL Cup, the women’s game version of the League Cup is back in the Parkhead trophy cabinet in the Boardroom at Celtic Park after being placed there last night be the delighted Celtic FC Women Captain Kelly Clark and her manager Fran Alonso.
Meal a naidheachd air @CelticFCWomen 🏆 👏
Congratulations Celtic – @SWPL League Cup Winners #SWPLCupFinal pic.twitter.com/ZXO4Yz83qv
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) December 5, 2021
In a superb performance with a perfectly implemented game plan Celtic utterly dominated the 14 in a row Scottish champions Glasgow City and the only surprise was that there was only one goal – a powerful first half header from Caitlin Hayes from a superb delivery from a free kick wide on the right hand side of the Firhill pitch from Sarah Harkes – to show for that very special Celtic show.
Manaidsear Celtic @FranAlonsoFA 👏 👏 #SWPLCupFinal pic.twitter.com/WkVuhQcNAf
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) December 5, 2021
Still 1-0 wins the cup and brings it back to Paradise for only the second time. The first time was back in 2011 and Celtic Women had a decent team then but without professional status other clubs down south and indeed Glasgow City were able to cherry pick our talent. Maybe the ball’s on the other foot now.
TADHAL ⚽ Tha @CelticFCWomen air thoiseach!
Celtic take the lead with a bullet header! pic.twitter.com/1cP0lGkLVp
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) December 5, 2021
Yesterday felt more than just a one off victory. Celtic now have a chance to go on and become the finest team in Scotland in the Women’s game.
Sàr chluicheadair a’ gheama @caitlin5hayes | Today’s Player of the Game 👏 👏 @CelticFCWomen #SWPLCupFinal pic.twitter.com/AOMuG8iAou
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) December 5, 2021
We’ve already shared our match report – see below – and published a photo special earlier this morning.
MATCH REPORT…Scottish Champions have no answer to Celtic’s Perfect Cup Final Performance
Now here are some additional photographs courtesy of Angus Johnston who has been involved with the Celtic FC Women side since the very start. I was thinking about Angus as I watched him photograph the trophy presentation yesterday afternoon from the back of the Jackie Husband stand. What a journey it has bene for a small group of determined individuals who have taken Celtic FC Women from zeros to heroes, playing in the Champions League, signing high quality players from around the world and now winning the League Cup beating the other top three teams in the country along the way – that was theRangers in the quarter final, Hibs in the semi-final and Glasgow City in yesterday’s final.
LÀN-ÙINE ⏱ | THA @CelticFCWomen AIR CUPA LÌG AN @SWPL A BHUANNACHADH 🏆
CELTIC HAVE WON THE SWPL LEAGUE CUP #SWPLCupFinal pic.twitter.com/5eWaPM44RU
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) December 5, 2021
Here are some additional photographs courtesy of Angus – well done that man!
Fran Alonso celebrates….
Tegan Bowie almost makes it two…
And the Cup is in the Parkhead Trophy Room…
All smiles from Kelly Clark and match winner Caitlin Hayes
Sarah Harkes in action against Glasgow City. Her assist was outstanding for the Hayes winner.
Hayes won absolutely everything in the air against Glasgow City
A dream come true or Caitlin Hayes, a lifelong Celtic supporter and a delighted Fran Alonso after the final whistle.
GOAL CELTIC! And the scorer is number 18 Caitlin Hayes…
Our Player of the Match Clarissa Larisey destroyed that City defence all afternoon.
Delight on the Celtic bench as the final whistle is blown.
🏆 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕒𝕝, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕓𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕟 🏆#SWPLCUP | #COYGIG 🍀| @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/mL6w4k9Jzb
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) December 6, 2021
Excellent match and result. Enjoyed being there!
On BBC UK news last night, a highlights piece on the English Women’s cup win then on to BBC Scotland news where the Celtic Women’s win wasn’t even mentioned. Respect to BBC ALBA for covering the game but the BBC bosses need to get the message about women’s football.
I hate to be a bore about this, but I really do think that the Celtic girls of whom we should be very proud should get to play their home games at Celtic Park. Even if it just means opening one stand initially, I think we would soon be surprised by the amount of attendances they could command. They are, after all, Celtic! Oh, and don’t anyone try to tell me that they would damage the pitch. The pitch is surely resilient enough to cope with two games per weekend. Well done once again, girls!