Women's National League (Ireland)

Women's National League
Country  Ireland
Confederation UEFA
Founded 2011
Number of teams 8
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s) FAI Women's Cup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League
Current champions Wexford Youths (1st title)
(2014–15)
Most championships Raheny United (2 titles)
Website WNL.FAI.ie
2015–16

The Women's National League (WNL) (Irish: Sraith Náisiúnta na mBan; known as the Continental Tyres Women's National League for sponsorship reasons) is the top level league for women's association football in the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 2011.[1] The league's inaugural winners were Peamount United.[2] Raheny United are the most successful club to date, with two championships won in 2013 and 2014. The winner qualifies for the UEFA Women's Champions League.[3]

History

At one of its 2010 Meetings, UEFA decided to support each nation with €100,000 per its Women's Football Development Programme.[4] Ireland was one of four nations to receive an additional €50,000 to create a national football league.[5][6] Until 2011 there had been no national league in Ireland. On 28 September 2011 Bus Éireann were unveiled as the league's title sponsor.[7] From 2014–15 the title sponsor was Continental Tyres.

Originally seven clubs were invited to the league,[8] with the option given for more clubs to enter later.[9] Shortly before the start of the league Bray Wanderers/St. Joseph's pulled out due to lack of competitive players. This left six teams to play the inaugural 2011–12 season: Peamount United, Castlebar Celtic , Cork Women's F.C., Raheny United , Shamrock Rovers and Wexford Youths.[10] DLR Waves joined the League in the 2012–13 season.[11] Galway W.F.C. joined the league for the 2013–14 season.

The league received publicity in October 2013 when Stephanie Roche scored an acclaimed goal for Peamount United against Wexford Youths which went viral on YouTube.[12][13] Footage of the goal was uploaded to the internet by team manager Eileen Gleeson as the matches were not televised.[14] Later that year Roche, James Rodríguez and Robin van Persie were finalists for the 2014 FIFA Puskás Award, for the best goal of the year. At the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony on 12 January 2015, Roche finished in second place to Rodríguez[15] with 33% of the vote.

For the 2014–15 season Cork Women's FC merged with Cork City FC to form Cork City Women's FC. DLR Waves joined the University College Dublin team and became known as UCD Waves. Shamrock Rovers withdrew from the league, leaving seven teams to play each other.[16] In January 2015 the FAI sent out invitations to clubs in an effort to expand the league.[17] The league was restored to eight teams for 2015–16, when Kilkenny United W.F.C. joined.[18] Two-time champions Raheny United merged with Shelbourne Ladies, forming a new club to compete under the name Shelbourne Ladies.[19]

2015–16 teams

Team Home town/suburb Stadium Capacity
Castlebar Celtic Castlebar Celtic Park1,500
Cork City W.F.C. Cork Bishopstown Stadium 2,000
Galway W.F.C. Galway Eamon Deacy Park 5,000
Kilkenny United W.F.C. Kilkenny Buckley Park 6,000
Peamount United Newcastle, South Dublin Greenogue 1,000
Shelbourne Ladies Clonshaugh/Swords AUL Complex 4,000
UCD Waves Kilternan Jackson Park 1,000
Wexford Youths Crossabeg Ferrycarrig Park 2,500

Format

When the league had seven members, teams played each other three times for a total of 18 matches each. A draw decided whether a team played another twice at home or twice away. The first tie-breaker for league position is goal-difference, but should two teams be tied on points for first place at the end of the season, a play-off match for the title is held.[20][21]

Membership of the league is fixed, operating on a North American-style franchise system with no promotion and relegation. All players compete in the league on an amateur basis.[22]

Sponsorship

From 2011 until the end of the 2013–14 season the league was sponsored by Bus Éireann. On 20 August 2014, at the Aviva Stadium, Continental Tyres were unveiled as the new title sponsor of the Women's National League and FAI Women's Cup, as part of a wider sponsorship of women's football in Ireland.[23]

Champions

Year Winner Runners-up Third place Top scorer Goals
2011–12 Peamount United Raheny United Cork Women's F.C. Stephanie Roche (Peamount United) 24[24]
2012–13 Raheny United Peamount United Wexford Youths Sara Lawlor (Peamount United) 28[25]
2013–14 Raheny United Peamount United Wexford Youths Stephanie Roche (Peamount United) [26][27]
2014–15 Wexford Youths UCD Waves Raheny United Aine O'Gorman (UCD Waves) 25[28]

League Cup

A League Cup is also played yearly. In 2012 Peamount won the final 1–0 against Shamrock Rovers.[29] They defended that title the next year with a 6–3 win over Castlebar Celtic.[30] Wexford Youths Women's won in 2014 3–0 over Castlebar Celtic.[31]

Year Winner Result Runner-up
2012 Peamount United 1–0 Shamrock Rovers
2013 Peamount United 6–3 Castlebar Celtic
2014 Wexford Youths 3–0 Castlebar Celtic
2015 Raheny United 3–2 a.e.t. Peamount United

References

  1. ↑ "FAI announce new Women's League". RTÉ Sport. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "Peamount Utd win inaugural Bus Éireann Women's National League title". fai.ie. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Irish women's league to launch". UEFA. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Executive Committee approves HatTrick III". UEFA. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "UEFA training visit aids Azerbaijan women's U16s". UEFA. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "Dusseldorf women's seminar hears positive notes". womensworldcup2011.net. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  7. ↑ "Bus Éireann announced as sponsor of Women's National League". FAI.ie. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Line-up for new Women's National League confirmed". fai.ie. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "Expressions of interest sought for Women's National League". fai.ie. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  10. ↑ "UEFA funding helps women's national football league launch in Republic of Ireland". UEFA. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "2012/13 season kicks off". wnl.fai.ie. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Today on YouTube: Stephanie Roche scores goal of the season contender for Peamount United". The Daily Telegraph. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Rory (21 October 2013). "Stephanie Roche Goal – The World Reacts – Passes 1 million views". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Stephanie Roche talks us through her wonder strike". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Stephanie Roche misses out on Puskas Award but scores red carpet hit at the FIFA Ballon D'Or ceremony". evoke.ie. 12 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Fixtures 2014-15 announced". wnl.fai.ie. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "FAI seeks National League Newcomers". shekicks.net. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Kilkenny United join WNL". wnl.fai.ie. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Rahney United & Shelbourne Ladies merge". Football Association of Ireland. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  20. ↑ "Peamount crowned Champions". wnl.fai.ie. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  21. ↑ "Raheny title put on hold". She Kicks. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "Ronan selects WNT squad for US double header". Football Association of Ireland. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "Women’s Soccer Secures Continental Backing". Sport for Business. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  24. ↑ 2011-12 stats at wnl.fai.ie
  25. ↑ "Season Statistics". Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  26. ↑ "Dash sign Irish int'l forward Stephanie Roche". National Women's Soccer League. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  27. ↑ Heigh, Rob (8 May 2014). "Russell nets player award". Dublin Gazette Newspapers. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  28. ↑ Hooper, Dave (30 April 2015). "UCD Waves guarantee second spot". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "Peamount are crowned Bus Eireann Women's League Cup Final Winners". wnl.fai.ie. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  30. ↑ "Peamount retain League Cup title". shekicks.net. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  31. ↑ "Wexford win first trophy". She Kicks. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2016.

External links

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