Another Athlone ref recognised

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Significant step for women's refereeing - 21 February 2003


In a significant step in the development of women's refereeing in Ireland, an all-female Irish refereeing team will officiate at senior international level for the first time this March when they travel to the prestigious Algarve Cup competition in Portugal.

Ireland's latest FIFA referee Hilda McDermott will be joined by School of Excellence pupils Rhona Daly from Athlone and Aisling Looney from Dublin at the competition, one of the biggest competitions in women's football with top sides the USA, China, Norway along with Ireland all sending teams to the competition.

Aisling Looney, who is presently studying for her leaving cert, will be on her first international assignment and she told fai.ie that it is a trip she is really looking forward to. "I can't wait for the tournament. No matter what, we will learn a lot from it and it will be a great experience."

Darren Coombes, Referee Recruitment Officer, said: "In the past, women's participation figures in refereeing in Ireland have been lower than elsewhere in Europe, but with the help of Niamh Spratt (Women's football Regional Development Officier), the refereeing department has looked to encourage women to get involved and piloted a women's only refereeing course in Galway last year.

"It was a huge success and we are in the process of organising a second course for women in Dublin in April."

Still a pupil in the School of Excellence, Aisling Looney was full of praise for the work of the Refereeing Department and School of Excellence. "It's a huge benefit for any referee," she said. "They teach you everything you need to know from how to keep yourself fit to the psychology of how to deal with players and managers."

For more information on refereeing in Ireland check out our refereeing page or contact Darren Coombes by email at darren.coombes@fai.ie or by phone on 01 7037535