Mulholland’s late double sees Glens capture cup

CONFIDENCE and visualisation can be everything is sport.

The belief that you’re going to win and picturing the ball nestling in the back of the net has led winners over the line in big football matches across the globe — just ask Makyla Mulholland.

Glentoran trailed Linfield 1-0 with six minutes to go in Saturday evening’s Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup final but centre-half Mulholland was insistently visualising an alternative outcome.

When Demi Vance’s pinpoint corner was drilled into the box on 85 minutes, it was that onetrack focus that smashed a bullet header past helpless Linfield goalkeeper Jamie-Lee Wilson.

And four minutes later, Coleraine woman Mulholland repeated her trick with that overwhelming desire to beat the defence to another telling Vance delivery in front of a 1,100 strong crowd at Windsor Park.

“I just knew tonight was going to be our night — there was a good feeling around the club,” Makyla reflected.

“The corners are a big positive for us and we take a lot from them so I just knew it was our moment. We deserved it. We worked really hard the whole game in a tough final.”

It’s Glentoran’s seventh Challenge Cup success since the trophy was first played for in 2005 but looked unlikely when North- ern Ireland international Megan Bell looped home a fine 20 yard finish for the Blues on 61 minutes.

Linfield were on course for the treble, having already won the League Cup and all but secured the league title.

“It was disappointing to go one down but we did well and we believed in each other,” reiterated a smiling Mulholland.

“I’m on top of the world — that was a fantastic feeling. Really good.

“Corners are one of my positives when I can put it in the back of the net — although other times I can’t put it in the back of the net.

“I just take advantage when I can and Demi’s balls were fantastic. I couldn’t miss.” Final push: Mikyla Mulholland celebrates her first goal BRENDAN Rodgers admits he is facing the biggest test of his Celtic tenure after their 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock confirmed the Hoops’ worst start to a league season in 20 years.

Defender Stuart Findlay’s dramatic injury-time header from a Chris Burke corner gave Killie a stunning victory, after Burke’s drive had cancelled out Leigh Griffiths’ first half opener.

The Northern Irishman has enjoyed nothing but domestic success since arriving at the Parkhead club in 2016 and his side finished last season as unprecedented double treble winners.

However, after six games the champions have only 10 points and are six points behind leaders Hearts, their poorest start since the 1998-99 campaign under Jozef Venglos.

Asked if faced the biggest challenge of his time as Bhoys boss, Rodgers said: “It is. It’s a challenge.

“There’s no doubt we need to be better. When you’re at the biggest clubs and you don’t win the heat comes on to you. That’s when you show you’re a Celtic player, manager, member of staff.

“You come together. When you lose games the spotlight will always be on you.

“It hasn’t been great, but we have to accept that. We’re the only ones who can make it better and get more consistent results.”

Celtic have lost to Hearts and Kilmarnock and have drawn with St Mirren in the league.

Rodgers believes opponents are getting better, while also having a “new-found respect” for his side.

The former Liverpool and Swansea City boss said: “The teams are playing deep. At St Mirren we saw it, even when we had 10 men. You saw Rangers come and sit deep, Kilmarnock did that too.

“It’s up to us, we have to find the answers to that. That’s the job.

“I’d have been disappointed to draw, but to lose is bitterly disappointing.”