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The Irish sports podcast that tells it like it might be.

Women’s Football Blast 2023 – Issue 5

Women’s Football Blast will be back in it’s usual Wednesday slot next week.

Peil and Back

We have a new episode of our Irish football podcast Peil and Back looking at women’s football. Eileen joined us to look at the domestic season so far. We also asked a few questions of the Ireland squad chosen to play USA in two friendlies.

Listen on Spotify:

OR YOU CAN LISTEN HERE

In the coming weeks we hope to have our podcasts available on more platforms.

Women’s National League

After 5 rounds all teams have played at least 3 games with just 1 side remaining undefeated.

Shelbourne ended Peamount United’s 100% start with an emphatic victory to cut the gap at the top of the table to 2 points. Shamrock Rovers remain unbeaten and are 3rd on goal difference.
Bohs and Galway will be happy with their season so far, while Wexford Youths have some catching up to do having played less games. Sligo Roves are the only side yet to pick up any points.

Elsewhere

Having picked up an injury in the Champions League we were left to sweat on the fitness of Katie McCabe, but we had nothing to worry about reall.

Ireland’s World Cup Prep

Ireland travel to the USA in the penultimate international break before the World Cup.

Squad
Goalkeepers:
Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)
Defenders:
Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Tara O’Hanlon (Peamount United), Áine O’Gorman (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders:
Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Roma McLaughlin (Fortuna Hjorring), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Forwards:
Heather Payne (Florida State University), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Amber Barrett (Postdam Turbine), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), MArissa Sheva (Washington Spirit), Alannah McEvoy (Shamrock Rovers)

Notes:

  • Lilly Agg was originally in the squad but was ruled out and replaced by Lucy Quinn
  • Niamh Fahey, Chloe Mustaki, Ellen Molloy, Jess Ziu, and Leanne Kiernan are all ruled out through injury
  • Megan Campbell unavailable
  • New call-ups are Sophie Whitehouse, Tara O’Hanlon, and Alannah McEvoy

Matches
(Times in Irish time)

Saturday 8th April
19:30 USA vs Ireland

Wednesday 12th April
00:30 USA vs Ireland

You would have to imagine that squad will largely be to one that heads to the World Cup. Niamh Fahey, Chloe Mustake, Ellen Molloy are injury doubts who could still be fit for the tournament which would likely see them get on the plane.Megan Campbell is another who would probably be there s available. Jess Ziu and Leanne Kiernan appear to be rules out of the tournament.
There are some questions to be asked. Call-ups for Tara O’Hanlon and Alannah McEvoy are welcome the timing is questionable with under 19 qualifiers taking place. If they aren’t going to get game time in these friendlies and don’t have a chance at getting in the 23 that go to the World Cup then it would have been better to let them play underage in the qualifiers.
There have been a few different goalkeepers involved in the squad between Naoisha McAloon, Eve Badana, and now Sophie Whitehouse, with the likes of Amanda Budden also worth a look. It would appear if everybody is fit the trio of Brosnan, Moloney, and Walsh will take the GK spots as they’ve been mostly ever-present in the past year.
Again we see the inclusion of players who have recently declared. It seems odd not to stick with the same 35+ players who got us to the World Cup. It may end up being an unwelcome disruption to have so many new faces if they aren’t starting. It;s not a case of never giving new players a chance, but perhaps it isn’t the time to experiment with only 4 games before the tournament.
As for the games, it’s something of a free-hit, Ireland aren’t expected to go to the USA and beat the World number 1. However a heavy defeat would be an unwelcome knock to the confidence. A good showing, a couple of goals, and not being well-beaten would be a good tour, but of course this hungry Ireland side will want more.

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Women’s Football Blast 2023- Issue 4

After not being able to publish last week we are back with our Women’s Football Blast. From next week we will have longer issues with more content.

Women’s Premier Divsion

Round 4 Results

Cork City P-P Wexford Youths

Shelbourne 1-2 Galway United
Goals: Jessie Stapleton 3′ (1-0). Aoife Thompson 56′ (1-1), Jenna Slattery (1-2)
Red Cards: Gemma McGuinness 69′ (Galway)

Bohemians 0-2 Peamount United
Goals: Karen Duggan P 54′ (0-1), Kate Mooney 76′ (0-2)

DLR Waves 0-0 Athlone Town

Sligo Rovers 1-2 Treaty United
Goals: Emma Doherty 43′ (1-0), Cara Griffin 62′ (1-1), Hannah Saidi 82′ (1-2)

Round 3 Results

Galway United 0-1 Bohmeians
Goals: Sarah Rowe 40′ (0-1)

Shelbourne 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Goals: Áine O’Gorman 57′ (0-1), Jessie Stapleton 69′ (1-1)

DLR Waves 3-0 Cork City
Goals: Joy Ralph 3′ (1-0), Katie Malone 9′ (2-0), Neema Nyangasi 76′ (3-0)

Sligo Rovers 0-4 Peamount United
Goals: Carla McManus 55′ (0-1), Becky Watkins 57′ (0-2), Kate Mooney 77′ (0-3),
Avril Brierley 89′ (0-4)

Treaty United 0-8 Athlone Town
Goals: Scarlett Herron 3′ (0-1), Chloe Singleton 17′ (0-8), Madison Gibson 30′ (0-3), 55′ (0-4), 73′ (0-6), Muireann Devaney 65′ (0-5), Eve Conheady 80′ (0-7),
Antea Guvo 90′ (0-8)

What Happened

Round 4 saw 4 tense tight games take place with two big surprises, and a first red card of the campaign.

Galway United bounced back from a disappointing defeat to claim a huge scalp. The came from behind to beat the champions despite playing the last 20 minutes a player down.
Peamount continued their 100% record and move 5 points clear at the top of the league. Kate Mooney continues to find the net.
DLR Waves defended admirably to hold out Athlone and could well have snatched a win as they created plenty of chances.
Treaty United pulled off a famous win ending a long losing run. June 6th 2021 was the last time they had one a game, a stat that saw them go 45 games without picking up 3 points. Hannah Saidi will remember her debut having scored the winner.

As It Stands

Coming Up

The first midweek round of the season features two games that see the 4 favourites for the league go head to head. Shamrock Rovers and Wexford Youths both had no game on the weekend so they will be fresh for what should be an exciting game that promises goals. Peamount United will look to make it 5 out of 5 when they host a Shels side who will be desperate to bounce back after dropping points in the last two games.

A Munster derby see’s Treaty United host Cork City, two sides who struggled last season however, Treaty will be looking to build on ending their winless run last week against a Cork side who are yet to score. Cork will be fresh after their game was called off. Athlone Town face Galway United in a kind of close-enough-to-each-other derby with Galway looking to claim another big win. DLR Waves go to Bohemians who play host to many former Waves in a Dublin derby.

Round 5 Fixtures

Wednesday 25th March
Athlone Town vs Galway United
Athlone Town Stadium / 19:45

Bohemians vs DLR Waves
Dalymount Park / 19:45

Peamount United vs Shelbourne
PRL Park / 19:45

Shamrock Rovers vs Wexford Youths
Tallaght Stadium / 19:45

Treaty United vs Cork City
Market’s Field / 19:45

Elsewhere

Ireland international Chloe Mustaki is back training after an injury.

Ireland’s World Cup Prep

Ireland moved up to a record high 22nd place in the FIFA World Rankings, and face world number 1 side USA twice in the international break. It’s USA vs Republic of Ireland on Saturday 8th April at 19:30 (Irish time) and in the early hours of April 12th the sides play again at 00:30 (Irish time). The squad for these fixtures will likely be named next week

World Cup Opponent Watch

Ireland’s group stage opponents Canada and Australia are in the top 10 of the World Rankings, while Nigeria move up to 42nd.

Upcoming Fixtures

April 7th
Australia vs Scotland
April 11th
New Zealand vs Nigeria
England vs Australia
France vs Canada

Before you go

Our fundraiser for Ireland’s National Autism Charity As I Am concludes on April 1st. Visit our Charity Fundraiser Page and give what you can to this important cause. Every single donation goes a long way.

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