Demi Vance: Glentoran want to challenge for the All-Island Cup as campaign starts at Bohemians
After a successful period on the domestic scene, Glentoran Women star Demi Vance now wants to make a stamp on the All-Island stage.
The Glens kick-off their All-Island Cup campaign against Bohemians on Saturday as the Irish League champions take on their League of Ireland counterparts.
Glentoran have won four of the last six titles domestically but Vance now wants the squad to taste success in the cross-border competition.
"We have been fortunate to have been so successful in the domestic game over the last few years and that's something we would never take for granted," she said.
"Having a team as good as Cliftonville push you really helps as you know you have to be at your best every week otherwise you will be punished for any slip-ups.
"But as well as aiming for more success in our own league and cups we want to be able to challenge for the All-Island Cup too.
"It's a great challenge as you are coming up against great teams and players from the League of Ireland, and it's good to experience that.
"However, we don't just want the experience of playing in it, we want to be successful in it just as we have done in all the competitions we play in up here.
"Our mentality is always to go out and try and win every game we play in, and this season is no different.”
Glentoran exited the competition at the quarter-final stage last year against the Bohs, going down 3-1 at the Blanchflower Stadium back in July in a game they felt unfortunate to lose.
"It's ironic that we face each other again now in the first group game of this season,” Vance continued.
"We obviously want to win the game, but that would be the same no matter who we are playing, not just because it's Bohs and what happened last season.
"It may only be the start of the group stages, but we want to go about our business in the right way from that first whistle.
"It's going to be a tough test especially playing them in their own backyard, but these are the games you relish as a player.
"You want to be playing against the top teams and testing yourself and this will certainly be a good gauge for us."