Women's Premier Division 2024

[cláirseach]

A thread for the Women's Premier Division and all associated competitions, including the one taking centre stage this weekend, the All Ireland Cup.


Two rounds played so far for most teams - the uneven number of sides means that Treaty and Sligo have played but once apiece.

In order of the current standings:

Galway: until teams work out how to consistently create a greater number of high-quality chances against Galway then I'm having them as contenders, albeit outside shots. Could be en excellent cup team again, they fit the profile.

Shelbourne: I watched Shels struggle to break Sligo down a fortnight ago but you'd hardly stress when there is so much quality in the squad. Jess Gargan back is huge, Éabha O'Mahony is a player with huge potential and Roma McLaughlin is a class above. Still have the old guard and some wonderful young players like Hannah Healy.

Treaty United: the Canadians continue to arrive and the McCormack revolution is on. I have no idea how good they'll be!

Bohs: a great start in Wexford and then I was in attendance for a frustrating afternoon at home to Athlone. I expect that such might be the pattern of the season. Some great young additions, including Aoibhe Brennan, who looks a player and two huge signings in Ruddy and, especially, McEvoy. Some big losses too though.

Peamount: the Champs and, along with Shels, the favourites. A great mixture, a great balance and a great deal of talent. Hoping for a good draw in Europe.

Athlone: are on a run of a few great years and will be hoping to keep it rolling. Lost a star in Scheriff and added a rising star on Howe.

Shamrock Rovers: first of all I am not sure what this craic about not filling the bench is about. I'd have a few concerns about this setup but they have some class acts in their squad - Scarlett Herron as much as any of the big names.

Sligo Rovers: I was very impressed in Tolka with their workrate and organisation. They needed to improve to keep pace. Zoe McGlynn is a fabulous footballer who outshone bigger names on the day.

DLR: could be a tricky year but I think the bottoming out is already done now.

Wexford: I don't know. I really don't know. It's a good squad on paper.

Cork: a few wee concerns here to be honest. Their best players are teenagers.

[cláirseach]

Well a handful of games played for everyone now and what is very clear is that it's a different league now to two year ago.
There are several teams that could wind up with some silverware this year, while the weaker teams have gone from being on the end of drubbing after drubbing to regularly being competitive with anyone.

[Nesta99]

I nominate sbgawa as the chief liason between this thread and the rest of the forum!

[Ancient Rush]

Well a handful of games played for everyone now and what is very clear is that it's a different league now to two year ago.
There are several teams that could wind up with some silverware this year, while the weaker teams have gone from being on the end of drubbing after drubbing to regularly being competitive with anyone.

Galway, Athlone and Treaty all posting home attendances of between 500-650 this weekend. All three currently in top 5, of course. Treaty certainly putting big promotional push on the women's games.

[cláirseach]

Galway, Athlone and Treaty all posting home attendances of between 500-650 this weekend. All three currently in top 5, of course. Treaty certainly putting big promotional push on the women's games.

The crowds in Dalymount have been very strong, one over 900, but there is certainly a feeling in the club that it can go a lot higher, or certainly a lot more consistent. No complaints about crowds so far across the league, and now there are no fixtures that are automatic hammerings too.

[wonder88]

Galway are improving all the time, Russell adds so much, and Bohemians found it very difficult yesterday. Good atmosphere for the game, despite how cold it was. It seemed that Bohs were badly setup in the first half, however Galway played really well to go 4 up in that time. Agree that there are less hammerings so far, which is good for the image of the league. The Casey Howe goal from the tg4 televised game is a highlight that will also boast the profile. Hopefully the support in Galway keeps growing.

[cláirseach]

Three players on the way out from a bloated Wexford squad today. DLR Waves will be very happy to have picked up Abbi Brophy but why on earth weren't Bohs back in there?

[kksaints]

Three players on the way out from a bloated Wexford squad today. DLR Waves will be very happy to have picked up Abbi Brophy but why on earth weren't Bohs back in there?

Wexford have released two more players today. Surprised Freya De Menge was let go, she was a regular substitute last season and was probably the best player from their youth system the last few years. Forzaforth would know more but to me they're in a strange position the last two or so seasons. A lot of the younger players there haven't kicked on and their older more experienced ones seemed to have regressed quicker than expected. Also Ellen Molloy took longer than expected to fully recover from her very nasty injury which didn't help and is only recently getting back near her top form.

[ForzaForth]

Thanks, KK. With the most recent announcements, that's five players now gone. The new manager, Hugh Strong, has radically changed the style of football Wexford play with a much higher demand from the players and it's beginning to bear fruit with five wins in their last five games. You'd expect some new signings but you'd be quicker trying to get a rumour out of North Korea than one from the women's side of the club!

[Shearer]

Wexford have notoriously poached from absolutely everywhere including Limerick WFC, Treaty United, Cork City, CK United and anywhere else that has talent.

It's easy to be competing at the top of the underage leagues when pulling from outside your catchment.

The majority of Wexford's local players are in the twilight of their career and their players coming through started off elsewhere. Two of their three representatives on the Irish 19s squad started their underage career elsewhere.

[trevy]

Waterford have applied to enter a senior team in next year's league. They have been in the underage leagues and done well so it was the next step up.

[cláirseach]

Emma Doherty moving from Sligo Rovers to Galway United is a big surprise and a huge signing. But what a loss for Rovers, during such a difficult season.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Super player. Doesn’t augur well for us in general long term. Know we managed to get Muireann Devaney back from Athlone but generally get the impression Gaelic is her first love. Losing Casey Howe and now Emma in a short spell is not good. You’d like to think we’d be able to keep hold of the somewhat locals although having an awful season

[cláirseach]

To be fair, Buncrana is two hours away from Sligo. She had been on a scholarship at ATU Sligo though. Generally though Rovers have done well out of Inishowen players, think they used four in a game a few times, along with others from Raphoe and Derry.

The big improvement in women's football in the Sligo area itself has been underage - two excellent Gaynor Cup teams from S/L over the past three years.

[cláirseach]

A big day in the title race - Athlone squeeze past an improving DLR, Shels held by a Wexford team that seems to have come alive at last and Galway losing in Dalymount to what was comfortably Bohs' best performance this year.

Elsewhere an expected win for Shamrock Rovers in Limerick and a nice result for Cork away to Peamount.

[cláirseach]

Kate Mooney is a fantastic signing for Shels. She was flying before she left for England.

Wouldn't be surprised if Leah Riley was able to contribute this year at Bohs.

[cláirseach]

What a winner for Cork City last night, and a great assist too: https://x.com/LeagueofIreland/status/1812233219145703844

[Buckett]

Avenir All-Island Cup Final, Shamrock Rovers v Galway Utd, in Tallaght, on TG4, kicking off at 7:35 this evening. Utd are the defending champions. This is the clubs second year fielding women's teams.

[Shearer]

Avenir All-Island Cup Final, Shamrock Rovers v Galway Utd, in Tallaght, on TG4, kicking off at 7:35 this evening. Utd are the defending champions. This is the clubs second year fielding women's teams.
Same club, different name and that's not to take away from another great trophy win. They picked up exactly where Galway WFC left off with the same players + signings.

[Buckett]

Same team, different club

[cláirseach]

After a three goal win for Shels earlier today, Athlone have the chance to clinch the title tonight at 19:35 on TG4 against Bohs.

Thoes two will meet in the cup final.

Elsewhere, old news now but Tommy Hewitt has left Sligo. No shock and little heartbreak. Rovers are hoping for their first win tonight away to Cork, in what is the third venue that the game has been scheduled for this week.

[Elfman]

What happened this year with Hewitt? I was slightly surprised he took the Sligo job considering his achievements with Athlone but he appeared to be turning things around in recent weeks only to now resign.

Was there a falling out behind the scenes?

[cláirseach]

Oh I don't think he resigned.

Very irritating that Athlone's men's team playing away at their local derby at exactly the same time that their women's team are going to win their first league title.

[holidaysong]

Has the women's division always used head to head as the tie breaker instead of goal difference? Or if this is a recent change, did it change in the men's divisions too?

[cláirseach]

Prior to last season the league was full of very uneven fixtures and the head to head made the most sense in the circumstances. A completely correct rule in the context imo.
Not a gambling man but for once I might wish I was. Well done to everyone at Rovers tonight.

[Elfman]

Oh I don't think he resigned.

Very irritating that Athlone's men's team playing away at their local derby at exactly the same time that their women's team are going to win their first league title.

So he was sacked purely for the poor results?

[cláirseach]

I'd only be speculating on motivations so I shan't!

Just on the non-use of goal difference, there are some really incredible goal difference to games played ratios in the NIFL Women's Premiership, which is wrapping up in the next week or so and has a top two clash today: https://www.nifootballleague.com/womens-premiership/2024/standings/
(https://www.nifootballleague.com/womens-premiership/2024/standings/)
People can argue forever about the pros and cons on the men's side if they like, but there is a very solid case for greater integration of elite women's football on either side of the border.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Wouldn’t be overly sure on it but I don’t believe he was sacked. He’s been making a lot of soundings recently about being unhappy about contract negotiations etc. Knoe we’re bottom but we’ve played a hell of a lot better then that this season with a very young squad. Disappointed that he’s gone personally.

[nr637]

Oh I don't think he resigned.

Very irritating that Athlone's men's team playing away at their local derby at exactly the same time that their women's team are going to win their first league title.


1356 attendance, Athlone's men's team would love a home support like that!

[Elfman]

Wouldn’t be overly sure on it but I don’t believe he was sacked. He’s been making a lot of soundings recently about being unhappy about contract negotiations etc. Knoe we’re bottom but we’ve played a hell of a lot better then that this season with a very young squad. Disappointed that he’s gone personally.

This was my read of it also but I didn't know about the contract negotiations, which would make sense. Thought they were going in the right direction as well - hope they continue to improve.

[Dermobohs]

That player from rovers women’s team is in a bit of bother it appears, not only badly injured in the car crash but she was banned from driving, so could get nasty.

[sbgawa]

I hope shes alright and makes a full recovery but she shouldnt be playing for us again.

[JC_GUFC]

That player from rovers women’s team is in a bit of bother it appears, not only badly injured in the car crash but she was banned from driving, so could get nasty.

If she was driving she'll get jail time. The judge in her last case literally said exactly that.

She's had some bad luck in her career as she got a serious injury in pre-season at Rovers which scuppered any chance she had of being in the World Cup squad but hard to have sympathy with her in this case. She could have been a role model for women and girls in her community but I guess that's not for everyone.

[nigel-harps1954]

That player from rovers women’s team is in a bit of bother it appears, not only badly injured in the car crash but she was banned from driving, so could get nasty.

Has it been suggested anywhere she was the one driving?

[joey B]

Has it been suggested anywhere she was the one driving?

https://archive.ph/oxrSM

That article would suggest she was driving one of the cars yes …..

[nigel-harps1954]

Yeah, seeing elsewhere now. She has a whole raft of driving charges against her. How anyone lets her get behind the wheel is madness. Hopefully this becomes a wake up call for her, if nothing else. She may even see jail time when she recovers.

[Longfordian]

She's definitely getting jail. And probably at least a ten year driving ban too, not that she seems to pay attention to those.

https://extra.ie/2024/10/09/news/irish-news/irish-soccer-star-banned-road

[joey B]

She's definitely getting jail. And probably at least a ten year driving ban too, not that she seems to pay attention to those.

https://extra.ie/2024/10/09/news/irish-news/irish-soccer-star-banned-road

From reading that she’s a total idiot,book should be thrown at her ….

[sbgawa]

Its sad really, she was a role model for woman Travelers and representing Ireland at football and shes going to end up with her football carear finished and in jail.
What a waste but at the same time impossible to have sympathy for her considering the two people hospitalised in the other car.

[JC_GUFC]

Likely a hefty bill when there's a civil case taken against her by the drivers of the other car too as her insurance won't be paying out when she was banned from driving.

[sbgawa]

Likely a hefty bill when there's a civil case taken against her by the drivers of the other car too as her insurance won't be paying out when she was banned from driving.

that will be the uninsured drivers fund that those of us that do pay insurence pay into as part of our premiums.
In this country someone else always pays for the wrongdoers

[JC_GUFC]

that will be the uninsured drivers fund that those of us that do pay insurence pay into as part of our premiums.
In this country someone else always pays for the wrongdoers

Funnily enough I only heard of this in a totally unrelated topic this morning. I didn't realise it existed.

[placid casual]

This is based on the farcical notion that Irish people have that the very concept of insurance is a form of investment for them