Latest news with #SSEAirtricityWomen
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shelbourne striker Kate Mooney wins monthly award after run of goals
Shelbourne forward Kate Mooney has been named as the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Player of the Month for June and July. The Dubliner is leading the Golden Boot race with 12 goals that have helped to keep Eoin Wearen's team just three points behind champions Athlone Town at the top of the table. Mooney was in brilliant form across the last two months, which was highlighted by her brace in the win away to Peamount United and her hat-trick in the victory against Sligo Rovers. The 26-year-old has certainly found her groove in front of goal but her overall play has made her stand out and it's what her team-mates will be quick to point to when lavishing praise on her. Mooney, though, feels that she is performing well because The Reds are performing well together. "It is all about the team. I have worked very hard individually this season and I am reaping the awards at the moment and the hard work is paying off," said Mooney. "Every game we're growing as a team; we're learning a lot about each other. We've had a few injuries at the moment so we're having to battle that and find different ways of playing against different opposition. It's only going to make us better. "Eoin Wearen has pulled me aside a few times this year if I haven't been scoring for a few games and he says 'Kate, you're starting for many more reasons than just your goalscoring'. "I work very hard, track back, win a lot of balls, win a lot of headers and I feel I'm always a threat but if I can help make someone else score to win the game then that's even better. "I think we know each other so well as a team so we know what each individual needs. That is hugely important. I set my target to score three goals every five games and I've been okay at achieving it but honestly I'd have liked to score more and provided more assists as I know I have a lot more in me, but sometimes I have to play the other side of my game to help the team." Mooney becomes the eighth different Shelbourne player to win this monthly award and was voted ahead of Athlone Town defender Kayleigh Shine and DLR Waves forward Michelle Doonan. She is currently awaiting news on an injury sustained in the All-Ireland Cup defeat to Bohemians last Saturday.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Colin Fortune sounds rallying cry for Athlon Town's European return
Excitement is building in the midlands as a club with a storied European tradition returns to the big stage. Colin Fortune leads Athlone Town, the reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions, into battle against Cardiff City in Wednesday's first round of Champions League qualification. The last time Athlone hosted a competitive European fixture was back in September 1983, when they were beaten 3-2 by Standard Liege in the European Cup. Fortune was at that game as a young boy. A nephew of legendary brothers Turlough, Michael and Padraig O'Connor, he was also reared on stories of the famous game against AC Milan in '75, a nil-all draw at a jammed St Mel's Park. Having succeeded Ciarán Kilduff as boss over the winter, the former army sergeant is now eyeing the opportunity to etch his name into club folklore. "Listen, I lived in St Mel's Park," he said. "My family, we have a deep history with Athlone Town. My mother's an O'Connor. Turlough was the manager. Mel's Park back then was an unbelievable place. My mother's home place was in Sarsfield Square, the neighbouring estate. So I have massive, massive memories from them times. "Something like this might just get people back on side, get people back supporting the club." "The atmosphere around Athlone at the minute is really electric. Every person you meet on the street is talking about this Champions League game. "Athlone town is a football town. Something like this might just get people back on side, get people back supporting the club. I'm expecting a big crowd on Wednesday night." A thousand tickets have been sold for the clash, with the game also set to be streamed on LOITV. Athlone enter the tournament through the 'Champions Path' - they have to come through the Round 1 semi-final Cardiff and then Saturday's final against Croatian champions Agram (which will also be held in Athlone) before making it to Round 2, where the big guns lie in wait. It's 14 years since Eileen Gleeson's Peamount United became the first ever Irish side to emerge from the Champions League qualifying phase. That feat has not been emulated since. Last year Peamount got to the Round 1 final but were beaten 2-1 by Osikjek in 30-degree heat over in Croatia. For Athlone to have home advantage this week is an enormous boost, with Fortune full of praise for new owner Nick Giannotti's efforts in ensuring the club were able to bring these ties to Ireland. "Fair dues to our new owner, Nick Giannotti, for hosting this game, he put his shoulder to the wheel to get to host this," he said. "We're delighted and it does a lot for Athlone. "We were very close to going to Croatia, Zagreb. My staff were saying, 'why didn't we go to Zagreb?!' But the weather conditions over there and the culture and the whole lot, it's a different animal altogether. "The dynamics are totally different, just trying to prepare for that, it's nearly nigh-on impossible, for where we are as a group, where we are as a club, other clubs would be way ahead of us. Home advantage is absolutely huge. "I keep saying it here locally, that's why we need the support, that's why we need the people of Athlone to come out and get behind us because I think that's going to be an important factor as well. "The players, they will give it all, I've no doubt about that, they will turn up and they will be 100% at it, but there's going to be times in the game where they're going to need a bit of a push, a bit of backing. That's why we need the support behind us from the town and from the country. That's why home advantage is so important." Cardiff have lost all seven matches they've previously played in the Champions League, but they'll be no pushovers. In March, they won their third Adran Premier League title in a row, and then beat Wrexham 3-1 to lift the Bute Energy Welsh Cup and complete the double. "I've got a bit (of information) on them alright," added Fortune, who is hopeful Madison Gibson and Izzy Groves will win their fitness battles for Wednesday. "They're a very formidable side, this is their third year concurrent in this competition. Although their results in this competition haven't been good, it's a little bit false because they've been up against some difficult teams. "They done the double last year in Wales. They done the treble the year before. Last year's double, they've held on to about 80% of that squad, so I'm expecting a very, very tough game."
RTÉ News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Treaty United's Madison McGuane named Premier Division Player of the Month
Teenage star Madison McGuane has been named as the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Player of the Month for the month of May. The Ireland Girls' Under-16s captain becomes the first Treaty United player to win this award after being selected ahead of Shelbourne's Mackenzie Anthony and Wexford's Ellen Molloy. McGuane scored twice in the side's three games last month, both from the penalty spot, including a clinching goal in their win over Galway United, which moved the Limerick club back into the play-off race. The dynamic youngster has impressed with her performances in what is the Limerick native's debut season at senior level. Treaty United manager Sean Russell praised the midfielder by saying, "Madison has been excellent since the start of the season. She's shown that she is more than capable of making the step up to senior level. "For such a young player, she plays with great maturity. Her attitude matches her ability and I have no doubt she will continue to develop and get better." It has been a great month for McGuane as she captained the Republic of Ireland girls U16s in the UEFA Development Tournament in Finland and picked up the women's U17 Player of the Year at the FAI International Awards. McGuane follows Emma Doherty of Galway United and Kelly Brady of Athlone Town as this year's SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Player of the Month winners.
RTÉ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Rovers claim bragging rights as they edge out Bohs at Dalymount
Shamrock Rovers' SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division hoodoo continued over their arch enemy Bohemians as they took bragging rights in a keenly contested Dublin derby. Fiona Donnelly's second-half own goal proved the difference in a game of fine margins as the hosts rattled the crossbar late on. In the sweltering heat that baked Dublin 7 throughout, both sides were certainly fired up on the field as they went toe-to-toe in an open encounter with a real derby feel as they both went close in the opening few minutes. The visitors looked to dominate possession and build up patiently whilst on the flip side the hosts were dangerous on the break, springing Alannah McEvoy on the right at their earliest opportunity who was finding some good space in behind. Rovers midfield duo of Melissa O'Kane and Ruesha Littlejohn almost combined for the opener early on, but the latter failed to make the right contact with her header from just a few yards out, as Rachael Kelly remained untested. Bohs responded with Ireland Under-19 International Aoibhe Brennan stepping forward from midfield as she unleashed a thunderous effort that was always rising. A mix of tough tackling coupled with some intricate football followed as both sides cancelled each other out. As the clock ticked past the half hour mark The Hoops, who made three changes, to the side that was perhaps surprisingly held at home by Sligo Rovers seven days previous, forced Kelly into a sharp low save when Irish International Littlejohn hit a daisy cutter from outside the area. Knowing a win would leapfrog their rivals in the table, the home side continued to try to find that elusive final pass that would send any of their pacey attackers in behind. Despite the heat, the home side showed tremendous tenacity to make life uncomfortable for Rovers, pressing high up in numbers and forcing mistakes. Former Hoops attacker, McEvoy, tried desperately to get one over on her former side drilling a low shot across goal before failing to catch a turn-and-volley as well as she would have liked. With a quarter of an hour remaining, disaster struck for the home side as the unfortunate Donnelly turned into her own net. Former International Aine O'Gorman cut inside from the right before delivering a deep cross to the back post. The Bohs midfielder did well to get back around to cover but sliced her clearance past the helpless Bohs skipper in goal. Collie O'Neills charges almost doubled their lead minutes later Ruesha Littlejohn almost did a "Littlejohn" as her clever quickly taken free kick from at least 40-yards almost caught Kelly cold, but saw the ball coming crashing off the bar. Despite going to three at the back and unloading their bench in a desperate bid to find an equaliser, they couldn't have gone much closer as substitute Savannah Kane almost broke the crossbar from close range following an almighty goalmouth scramble in the 90th minute. But unfortunately for the 742 in attendance roaring on their heroes, time just got the better of them on this occasion. Bohemian FC: Rachael Kelly; Sarah Power, Roisin McGovern, Lisa Murphy, Emma Goughran (Mia Dodd, 85'); Alannah McEvoy (Sarah McKevitt, 72'), Fiona Donnelly, Aoibhe Brennan, Hannah Healy (Savannah Kane, 85'), Katie McCarn (Shauna Carroll, 72'); Hannah O'Brien (Leiagh Glennon, 76') Shamrock Rovers: Katie Keane; Fiona Owens (Aoife Brophy, 83'), Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds, Keelin Comiskey; Melissa O'Kane, Ruesha Littlejohn; Aine O'Gorman, Jamie Thompson (Claire Marie O'Reilly, 83'), Ella Kelly (Emily Corbet, 63') ; Joy Ralph
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Wexford FC Women's rise continues as they move up to third with emphatic win over Cork City
Wexford People Today at 01:30 Wexford are up to third in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division table, brushing aside Cork City for their fourth league win in five games at Turner's Cross on Saturday. Seán Byrne's side are now unbeaten in six games in all competitions and are fully deserving of third spot, after recovering from an ugly start to the campaign with much-improved performances in recent weeks.
