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.
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.
I nominate sbgawa as the chief liason between this thread and the rest of the forum!
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.Originally Posted by cláirseach
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
What a winner for Cork City last night, and a great assist too: https://x.com/LeagueofIreland/status...33219145703844
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