Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.5 2021-22

Glentoran are Premiership Champions

Glentoran Ladies have won the Danske Bank NI Women’s Premiership title after winning their
decider, 3-2 against Cliftonville Ladies.
The result leaves Glentoran three points above their rivals in the table, with one match left
to play, but a superior head-to-head record over the Reds means that they cannot be overhauled.
Glentoran got off to the perfect start when Caragh Hamilton gave them an early lead and
Kerry Bailie added a second just after the half hour mark. Cliftonville battled back after the break
and got themselves back on level terms thanks to Louise McDaniel and a Megan Moran own goal
but three minutes later, Kerry Beattie put the Glens back in front and they hung on for the win
and their second title in a row.
Crusaders made sure that they will finish in third place following their 2-1 victory over
Sion Swifts. Cora Chambers gave Sion the lead after 12 minutes but the Crues hit back, Emily
Wilson equalising midway through the first half and a late own goal gave them the points.
Linfield Ladies meanwhile ran P W D L F A Pts GD
out 4-1 winners against Derry City. Katie GLENTORAN 19 16 1 2 72 15 49 57
Dickson and Ebony Leckey ensured that CLIFTONVILLE LADIES 19 15 1 3 67 25 46 42
Linfield took a two-goal lead during the CRUSADERS STRIKERS 19 9 1 9 31 28 28 3
first half, before Tara O’Connor pulled one SION SWIFTS 19 7 1 11 30 35 22 -5
back for the Candystripes just before the LINFIELD LADIES 19 5 2 2 0 12 33 60 17 -27
19
17 12 82
-70
6
DERRY CITY
interval. Rebecca Bassett restored the
advantage five minutes into the second
Crusaders 2 Sion 1; Glentoran 3 Cliftonville 2; Linfield 4 Derry 1.
half and Amy Trueick wrapped up the
result with the fourth goal, fifteen minutes
from time.
Support plan for NI women’s team
Plans for the Northern Ireland senior women’s team to train full time in preparation for UEFA
Women’s Euro 2022 in England next summer were presented to MLAs and Ministers at
Stormont.
At a reception event entitled A New Dream, hosted by UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt,
representatives from across the political spectrum gathered to meet members of Kenny Shiels’
squad and pledge their support for the team moving from their current part-time status to train
on a full-time basis from January next year.
“I was delighted to see so many political parties represented this evening. It shows just how
much support there is for these plans and we will talk to Ministers and MLAs in more detail in the
coming weeks,” said Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson.
Northern Ireland senior women’s team captain Marissa Callaghan said it was “very
special” to get the support of so many at Stormont.
The record caps holder in the team, Julie Nelson, delivered a short speech outlining how
transformative the move will be. She pointed out: “We are on the cusp of something really
exciting. Qualifying for the Euros really is a new dream.
“We know that football can inspire people of all ages and this Northern Ireland team has
the potential to inspire a new generation of fans and players. Many of the people in the room can
help us realise that potential.”
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood gave his support to the proposal. He said: “The
remarkable story of our senior women’s international team has been well documented: part time
footballers who defied all the odds to achieve what many people simply didn’t think was possible
- a spot at the UEFA Women’s Euros next year.
“The football community in Northern Ireland is excited about women’s football and we at
the Irish FA are really excited, too.”
(www.irishfa.com)
Issue no. 5 - 30 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk