The third year of the Bus Éireann Women’s National Soccer League will get underway on August 25th with another expansion in the number of teams taking part. Galway WFC join Castlebar Celtic from the West, adding to the Dun Laoghaire based DLR Waves that joined the six founder clubs in 2012.
Raheny United, sponsored by eFlow are preparing for their first foray into the UEFA Women’s Champions League having won the title last year. They will play a round robin of group matches against the Champions of Hungary, Ukraine and Northern Ireland in Belfast between August 8th and 13th. Coming first or second in the group will qualify the team to play in the main draw of the tournament and a possible tie against Arsenal, Barcelona or Paris St Germain.
“Last season was a very competitive campaign with a tight title race and a number of clubs making progress,” said League Director, Fran Gavin.
“That was proven by the number of young players who progressed from the league into our international squads, including Sue Ronan’s senior international side.”
The Ireland squad draws players from across Ireland and around the world and will start the qualification process for the next World Cup in the autumn with ties to come against Germany who can be seen in the final of the European Championships on BBC Television on Sunday afternoon.
“The addition of Galway WFC is another real positive,” added Gavin. “The Galway football community has got right behind the new club and they will be a competitive side right from the start playing out of Eamonn Deacy Park.”
“The league is entering its third year and it has made gradual progress each season. We started with six clubs and now we are up to eight with the geographical spread continuing.”
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