Latest news with #KathleenMcGovern
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Sky is the limit for Hibs star McGovern but she's in no rush to move on following SWPL title success
Kathleen McGovern had barely got off the plane than the trainers were on and her feet were hitting the pavements. The Hibs striker does not like to stand still for long. McGovern took a break in the sun but had itchy feet. She has always been in a hurry. With 31 goals last season as well as a SWPL Championship medal after helping Hibs to the title, McGovern rounded off the season with a couple of Scotland caps – and an international goal. She is already hankering for the start of the season. 'I miss it,' she said. 'I miss being around the girls, the laughing and joking around and the training. I can't ever properly rest. I always like to be on the go. I know that mentally and physically I needed the break but I was still getting a couple of runs in when I was away.' McGovern will turn 23 later this week. With ample experience at SWPL level, she has done herself no harm at all with international impact. Inevitably, the question has to be asked about what the long-term goal is although she is already well versed in the vagaries of football to indulge in substantial plans for down the line. Her immediate sights are not any further than the year she is contracted to Hibs for, albeit ultimately there is an ambition to test herself at the highest possible level. 'I know that life in football can change very quickly and I have already experienced some of that so I am always reluctant to look too far ahead,' she said. 'But I would have long-term ambitions to go and play at a higher level some day. I am young and still at the early stages of my career and right now my full focus is on Hibs and helping us defend the title. 'But ultimately I do think that that I want to test myself at the highest possible level I can. Right now, though, I am loving life at Hibs and I think that has been reflected in the football that I've played this season.' There will be a taste of that higher level incoming. Hibs discover their Champions League fate on Tuesday as they prepare for a first step they hope can take them into a newly formatted tournament and structure that will copy the men's tournament last season. 'I am so excited for the draw,' she said. 'Everything about it will be new. Not just on the pitch but off it too – the travelling and playing abroad. 'I cannot wait for it. It is another chance to test ourselves against the best and there is no reason why we can't go and make an impact.' These weeks of down time, though, offer the chance to process the gripping finale to the season. Few fancied Hibs to go all the way, particularly after an emphatic defeat to Rangers in March in the Sky Sports cup final. Grant Scott's side compounded all expectations as they headed to Ibrox on the final day of the season to beat Rangers and win the league. 'I actually don't think it has sunk in yet,' said McGovern. 'Going to Ibrox on the last day of the season, I think we knew that outside of our own dressing room no one really gave us a chance. 'We knew we were the underdogs but it just felt meant to be. We were never going to go there and play for a draw, we were always going to win. 'I think so many people thought that we would fall apart after the Sky Sports Cup final but we regrouped and just went again. 'It was just the best moment of my career so far, to go to Ibrox and win the league with Hibs. 'It was such an amazing season. I think I have played the best football of my career this season but I know that there is more to come from me.' If the party on the final day was to be relished so too was her first Scotland goal. Called into Melissa Andreatta's squad, McGovern's goal in a gutsy draw against Netherlands has been on repeat. 'I went in thinking that I probably wouldn't play,' said McGovern. 'So getting the game at Hampden was amazing and then starting against Netherlands was incredible. Getting the goal was just such a surreal feeling. Yeah, I've watched it back more than a few times! 'Funnily enough, the other night I was heading up to bed and I could hear my dad watching it again on his phone. It was just such an amazing feeling and moment. 'It does make you want more. I know that there are a lot of talented players and I am never one who wants to look too far ahead, but I definitely have ambitions of being part of the Scotland set-up going forward. It has been a long standing ambition just to get into the squad and having done that and got a taste of it, I definitely want to stay. 'I just tried to be myself. I was a bit nervous going in but there were a few players in the same position and I just wanted to make the most of it. 'I don't know if I have the words for what an amazing season it was but I am ready now to go and do it all again.'
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'My jaw hit the floor' - McGovern tells of first Scotland start
As season's go, Kathleen McGovern has had a good goals in Hibernian's SWPL-title-winning campaign earned her a much-deserved first Scotland call-up for the final two Nations League may have missed the initial phone call, twice, but that didn't detract head coach Melissa Andreatta from starting the 22-year-old at Hampden in her first game in an "exciting" first week in camp, McGovern, ended it with a "dream" debut at the national stadium."I was really taken back," the forward told Hibs' club media. "I didn't even expect to really play."I didn't believe it when people were telling me that it looked like I was going to start. The team came out and I felt my jaw hit the floor a bit. I was like, this is reality, I'm starting at Hampden."I just had to try and control my emotions. I was excited and I couldn't even get to sleep. I just couldn't wait for the game to come, knowing that my family were there at the game, and to start at the national stadium. It's been a dream of mine since I was young."To make my debut at Hampden was special, because it was in front of the fans, and I was trying to give a good account of myself to show why I deserved to be there. It was just amazing."If that wasn't good enough, the striker started again four days later in Tilburg and netted her first Scotland goal on just her second appearance."I actually still don't think I had processed my debut," she added."I knew the second game was going to be a lot harder as the chances would come few and far between. I just tried to get myself in the right areas."I just remember peeling off the defender, just trying to get in front of her and obviously Emma [Lawton] played in a great pass. I just knew that I had to get contact on it."It felt silent in the stadium because it was all Netherlands fans. There was no noise at all. Then I looked at the lineswoman and obviously saw that her flag was down. I thought, 'Wow, I've just scored.'"That was really nice, just to celebrate with the girls on the pitch. To walk away with the draw, when we actually could have won the game, was just excellent. It showed how far we had come in the camp."To score my first goal. It really topped off a great season at club and national team level, as well. I was just grateful for the opportunity. I learned a lot and hopefully it was the first of many."
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
First Scotland goal 'hasn't sunk in yet' for McGovern
Hibs striker Kathleen McGovern hopes her maiden Scotland goal is the first of many after opening her account on just her second international start. The 22-year-old received her first senior call-up for the final Nations League games against Austria and Netherlands and started both under new manager Melissa Andreatta. The forward, who last month helped Hibs lift their first SWPL trophy in 18 years, scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw away to the Dutch on Tuesday night as Scotland secured their first point."It's been nice to start both games, something I didn't really expect," McGovern said. "It's been a privilege this week and it was just great to see the ball hit the back of the net. I don't really think it's sunk in yet."It was a great delivery by Emma [Lawton], she knew exactly where to put it, and I was just so happy to see it hit the back of the net and get a great result for the team."It's been good to work with her [Andreatta], she's had so much belief in me. I've learned so much, especially from her, and the players I've been working with. I hope there's many more to come."I was flying on confidence when I first came in. To end the season at Hibs on such a high to then get the call-up was amazing to top off a great season."I came in and didn't want to put too much pressure on myself. I feel like that's what I did in training, just showed my ability, and I've been grateful to start the last two games."
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
England miss out on semis - how Nations League unfolded
England beat Spain 1-0 in the Nations League in February but lost 2-1 on Tuesday [Getty Images] The Women's Nations League group stage is now complete after an eventful final matchday. France and Germany had already booked their place in the semi-finals with games to spare, but there were still two spots up for grabs. Advertisement World champions Spain defeated European champions England 2-1 in Barcelona to secure their place on matchday six, while Sweden thrashed Denmark 6-1 to top Group 4 ahead of their opponents and Italy. Scotland and Wales played for pride after their relegations to League B were confirmed on Friday night, while in League B, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were looking to secure second-placed finishes in their groups to claim spots in the promotion play-offs. BBC Sport reviews the campaign and looks at how England and Wales are preparing for this summer's Euros in Switzerland. What is the Women's Nations League? The league was launched in 2023, with the inaugural tournament offering qualification spots for the 2025 Women's European Championship. Advertisement Countries are placed into groups of three or four teams, across three different leagues, with promotion and relegation between the leagues depending on the match results. And there's a lot at stake. Teams are not only competing for the Nations League title but their finishing position will also determine where they start in the league system for the European qualifiers for the 2027 Women's World Cup. What happened in the group stages? Scotland had nothing but pride to play for when they travelled to the Netherlands to contest their sixth match in Group A1, but emerged with a respectable 1-1 draw. Advertisement New boss Melissa Andreatta's side fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Austria on matchday five, which confirmed their relegation to the second tier of the competition. Kathleen McGovern cancelled out Jill Roord's opener on Tuesday to give Scotland their first and only point of the campaign. Germany thrashed the Netherlands 4-0 in Bremen last week to confirm their passage as group winners with a game to spare, before demolishing Austria 6-0 on Tuesday. France continued their flawless record in Group A2 by claiming a fifth victory from five games with a 4-0 demolition of Switzerland, before scoring two late goals to beat Iceland on Tuesday with Chelsea's Sandy Baltimore on target. [BBC Sport] England began their Group A3 campaign with an underwhelming 1-1 draw in Portugal, but claimed an impressive 1-0 win at Wembley over reigning world champions Spain. Advertisement The Lionesses, who will defend their European title this summer, beat Belgium 5-0 at Bristol City's Ashton Gate in April but then fell to a 3-2 defeat by the same side four days later. After the shock retirement of goalkeeper Mary Earps just five weeks out from the tournament in Switzerland, Sarina Wiegman's side thumped Portugal 6-0 at Wembley. That victory set up a shootout with Spain for a last-four spot, but the Lionesses lost 2-1 and finished second in the group. It was all to play for in Group A4, with three of the four sides still in contention. Sweden and Denmark were joint top on nine points before the games kicked off, but the Swedes won their matchday six meeting 6-1 to reach the next stage. Advertisement Italy won 4-1 in Wales to finish second in the table behind Sweden. Rhian Wilkinson's side finished the campaign winless, and were already relegated to League B with a 1-0 defeat in Denmark on Friday night. [BBC Sport] In Group B1, Poland were promoted to League A with a 4-0 win over second-placed Northern Ireland on Friday. But Tanya Oxtoby's NI side claimed a promotion play-off place with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their last group game on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the promotion race in Group B2 went down to the final round of matches. Emily Murphy's 89th-minute winner against Turkey on Friday completed a remarkable comeback to keep the Republic of Ireland within three points of group leaders Slovenia. Advertisement Carla Ward's side welcomed Slovenia to Cork on Tuesday knowing a big win would clinch promotion to League A. But a 1-0 victory - thanks to Saoirse Noonan's strike - meant their opponents pipped them to top spot with a superior head-to-head goal difference. The Republic of Ireland will go into a promotion play-off instead. [BBC Sport] How does the league work? Teams were placed in each league based on their rankings at the end of the 2024 women's European qualifying league stage. The four League A group winners will meet in two-legged semi-finals. The winners go into the final to decide who takes the Nations League title, while the losers go into a third-place play-off. Both the final and the third-place tie will also be played over two legs. Advertisement The teams who finish fourth in each League A group will be relegated to League B, and the League B group winners will be promoted. Each group winner of League C will be promoted to League B, with the teams finishing at the bottom of League B, as well as two of the lowest ranked third-placed teams, dropping to League C. Spain won the inaugural Women's Nations League title in 2024. How can teams qualify for Women's World Cup? The group standings at the end of the Nations League determine which teams are placed in each league for the European qualifiers for the 2027 Women's World Cup. There will be another draw in November 2025 to decide the groups within the three leagues. Advertisement Teams who finish in the top two in each League A group stay in the top league for the World Cup qualifiers. The top four teams in League B will be promoted. Third-placed teams from League A will have to play the second-placed teams from League B to decide which four teams claim the final League A spots. At the end of the World Cup qualifiers, the four League A winners will qualify directly for the Women's World Cup. Other teams will be entered into the play-offs to claim the remaining spots. When are the finals fixtures? Finals Semi-finals (two legs): 22-28 October Final/third-place play-off (two legs): 26 November-2 December Promotion / relegation play-offs Two legs in October 2025, exact dates TBC The draws for the ties will be made on 6 June.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Netherlands 1-1 Scotland: Analysis
Not that it was a high threshold, but that was Scotland's best performance by a mile against a top-tier side in a fair old a side who have had challenge after challenge thrown at them - particularly in the last 24 hours or so - there was an energy, enthusiasm and excitement about Andreatta asked for a fast start and she got it, until they conceded that early goal, of course. When she made a tactical change at half-time, she got a response. When she pushed on for a strong finish from the touchline, she saw it full-time, smiles were ear-to-ear, hugs were full and happiness palpable. It's been a long time since such feelings were promised to support young players upon her appointment and tonight it paid McGovern, 22, showed the qualities Scotland have craved from a number nine. Kirsty Maclean, 20, provided the perfect balance in midfield to the magic of Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert. Mia McAulay, 18, on her first start carried the Scots up the park with her was so much to like about the performance, attitude and application of a side who stared adversity in the early days in the Andreatta reign, but if this proves to be benchmark she says it is, then better days are ahead.
