Glentoran defender Kelly Bailie said netting the winning penalty in the Challenge Cup final against Cliftonville is the "fairytale ending" to her career.

The 46-year-old came off the bench and converted the decisive spot-kick for the Glens to secure a 4-2 win in the shootout and seal the silverware for the east Belfast club in her final game before retirement.

Bailie ends her career with 13 Challenge Cup medals and 38 trophies in total during her 30 years at the Glens.

"I didn't think I was coming on and then I absolutely did not think I was going to be taking the fifth penalty, never mind any penalty," Bailie told BBC Sport NI.

"I honestly wanted to go nearer the end because I had just come on. I just didn't think it was going to be the fifth on but when it's the fifth one then I just apply myself and luckily enough the penalty went in, and it is a fairytale ending to be honest."

"When I look back at it, I couldn't imagine it happening any other way, but credit has to go for every single player and squad that have played the 90 minutes and the extra time."

Matches between the sides have often produced lots of goals, but chances were at a premium during a tense encounter at Windsor Park.

The Glens grew into the match and their tactical display limited Cliftonville to very few opportunities before heroics from stopper Ellie Scott and Bailie's powerful penalty helped the side win the season finale.

The result means that Kim Turner's side have now won two trophies this campaign after Cliftonville's 4-0 win in the League Cup final was overturned when it was ruled that the Reds had fielded two ineligible players.

"It's definitely the most pressure I've felt in a penalty I'll give you that," she continued.

"They put in a massive shift and I'm just so glad that we got the win at the end of the night and we've something to celebrate because it's everything that the players and the club deserve.

"We were disappointed about the league because consistency wasn't great but there was no doubt in the talent in this team."

Bailie joined Glentoran when she was 16 and has made over 800 club appearances during her inspiring career.

At international level, she has earned 56 caps for Northern Ireland and, in 2025, became the first woman inducted into the Glentoran Hall of Fame.

Her career has spanned over period of significant growth in women's football with Bailie playing a key role in the game's development and helping to inspire the next generation.

Despite deciding she was going to step aside after this season at the start of the campaign, Bailie added that her retirement is not something that has sunk in yet.

"It's felt real in waves to be honest," when asked if it has sunk in that she is retiring.

"I think the biggest thing for me tonight was still about the game and about celebrating and stuff like that. So, I think after we come down in a couple of days, it'll probably hit home and then when we're back in pre-season and I'm thinking I don't have to do that.

"That'll probably be the moment where I'm thinking 'oh, this is me' so it might take time to sink in completely but it's definitely a nice way to finish.

After three decades filled with trophies, milestones and memories, Bailie is yet to decide what comes next.

"I've no idea myself at the minute.

"To be honest, I'll not sleep for about two weeks I think!"