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Being stripped of cup 'not Man City-esque' - Lynch

Cliftonville manager Brendan Lynch says being stripped of the Women's League Cup is "not quite Man City-esque" after an administration error denied the club the chance at a domestic treble.

The Reds beat Glentoran 4-0 in the final at Seaview in July but the result was overturned after it was ruled that Cliftonville had played two ineligible players.

The Northern Ireland Football League, which runs the competition, said it was a registration error and Cliftonvlle, who were fined £500, had shown integrity and complied with the process.

Cliftonville beat Glentoran to the Women's Premiership title and the sides meet again in the Women's Challenge Cup final at Windsor Park on Saturday, which is live on BBC iPlayer.

While Lynch feels that losing the chance to complete the domestic treble is "unfair" despite a dominant performance in the decider, he acknowledges "it is what it is".

"It's not quite Man City-esque, it's a technicality if you want," Lynch told BBC Sport NI, as he referenced the English club's guilty verdict of breaking the Premier League's financial rules.

"We put it aside and we go on. there's no point dwelling on it, we have to go forward and that's it."

Caitlin McGuinnes had scored twice in the final while Kirsty McGuinness and Danielle Maxwell - who was one of the ineligible players alongside Louise McDaniel after the duo's return to Solitude from Burnley - were also on target.

Lynch added that the decision to overturn the League Cup result has not had any bearing on his squad as they look to finish the season on a high.

Cliftonville and Glentoran have shared the last seven Irish Cups but the Reds are unbeaten, on the pitch at least, in all four meetings with their Belfast rivals this season.

"Every time we have a chance to win a trophy the desire is just there from the group of players that they want to do it," Lynch added.

"It's not been talked about, we just looked forward as a group and that's not coming from the staff and management, that's coming from the players.

"It's great to have as a manager and as a coach and staff, that they're ready for the next thing and continually just want to win games."

'We lost fair and square'

Despite being awarded the trophy after Cliftonville were punished for the administration error, Glentoran manager Kim Turner said her side "lost the game fair and square" on the day

She added that "nothing feels unjust" that they didn't get to celebrate the trophy.

"Ultimately, we lost the League Cup final. Whatever's went on in the background has went on in the background," Turner said.

"I have no control of it and neither do the players. We're out there to win football games, we're out there to coach, we're out there to develop players and develop a good culture, and that's my job here at Glentoran."

Turner added that it hasn't impacted the squad and says their full focus has been on the final at Windsor Park against the Reds.

"In order to win trophies and medals,you have to be the best team on the day," she added.

"For us, the league is over, the League Cup is over and the County Antrim Cup is over,

"We have one more game left, which is the Irish Cup final and that's our only focus."

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