The SSE Airtricity Premier Division season opener led to some unexpected outcomes, notably two teams who were prominent contenders for the title the previous year, and were held to draws by teams who were placed in the bottom four. Sligo Rovers managed to scrape a point at Tolka Park, following a goalless match with Shelbourne, whilst an 80th-minute penalty scored by Áine O’Gorman – marking her 200th league career goal – afforded Shamrock Rovers a draw at DLR Waves, despite Michelle Doonan giving them the first half lead.
Last season’s fourth-place Pearls, Galway United, launched the new season with a 2-0 win over FAI Cup winners, Athlone Town, thanks to under-19 international Eve Dossen and Jenna Slattery’s penalty in the second half. Defending their title, Peamount United started with a 2-0 win at Cork City, with both goals coming from Erin McLaughlin and Karen Duggan. Wexford Youths also experienced a 2-0 loss when Bohemians visited.
There was disappointment for the women’s football team of the Republic of Ireland, coached by Eileen Gleeson, in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Liverpool, featuring Niamh Fahey and Leanne Kiernan, and Everton, with Courtney Brosnan and Heather Payne, suffered defeats. This leaves Aoife Mannion as the only Irish competitor left in the running, although she did not participate in Manchester United’s 4-0 triumph over Brighton due to a recent injury.
Irish players in Scotland enjoyed better outcomes in their respective cup quarter-finals. Celtic’s Caitlin Hayes scored her 13th goal of the season in a 6-0 triumph over Montrose, and Ciara Grant and Katie Mooney had a hand in Heart’s 1-0 victory against Partick Thistle.
At the top of the Championship league, Crystal Palace pulled within one point of Sunderland following their 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, bolstering the prospects of Hayley Nolan and Izzy Atkinson playing in the WSL in the coming season. Having transferred from West Ham in January, Atkinson has had a significant influence on the team, scoring the Championship Player of the Month honour for February. Meanwhile, despite joining from Glasgow City the same month, Abbie Larkin has not made her Palace debut yet, remaining on the bench last Sunday once more.
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