2014–15 Women's National League (Ireland) Explained

Competition:Women's National League
Season:2014–15
Winners:Wexford Youths
Continentalcup1:UEFA Women's Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Wexford Youths
League Topscorer:Aine O'Gorman (UCD Waves)
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Prevseason:2013–14
Nextseason:2015–16

The 2014–15 Women's National League was the fourth season of the Women's National League. On 20 August 2014, at the Aviva Stadium, Continental Tyres were unveiled as the new sponsor of both the Women's National League and FAI Women's Cup.[1] Before the season started there were two name changes following takeovers and/or mergers. Cork Women's F.C. were taken over by FORAS/Cork City F.C. and as a result were renamed Cork City W.F.C.[2] It was also announced that DLR Waves and UCD's senior women's team would join forces and become known as UCD Waves.[3] Shamrock Rovers withdrew from the league, leaving seven teams to play each other.[4]

Wexford Youths won the league title, finishing two points clear of second placed UCD Waves.[5] [6] UCD Waves also finished as runners-up in the 2014 FAI Women's Cup, losing 2–1 after extra time in the final to Raheny United. Raheny then went on to complete a cup double when they also won the 2015 WNL Cup. It is first time Raheny United had won the latter cup. In the final they defeated Peamount United 3–2 after extra time with a last minute Katie McCabe goal.[7] [8] McCabe, who had also scored in the FAI Women's Cup final, missed out on the opportunity to finish the season as the league top goalscorer after Raheny's final league opponents, Cork City, forfeited the game as they were unable to field a team.[9] Aine O'Gorman finished the season as both top league goalscorer and the WNL Player of the Season.[10]

WNL Awards

Senior Player of the Year
Young Player of the Year
Irish Daily Mail Golden Boot
Service to Women's Football Award
Team of the Season

Notes and References

  1. News: Women’s Soccer Secures Continental Backing. 3 January 2016. Sport for Business. 21 August 2014.
  2. News: Cork Women’s FC to re-launch. 3 January 2016. Supporters Direct. 9 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160126131329/http://www.supporters-direct.org/news-article/cork-womens-fc-to-re-launch. 26 January 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: About UCD Waves FC. ucdwaves.ie. 13 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160503121744/http://ucdwaves.ie/about-us/. 3 May 2016. dead.
  4. Web site: Fixtures 2014-15 announced. wnl.fai.ie. 28 July 2014. 28 July 2014.
  5. Web site: Wexford claim WNL title . wnl.fai.ie . 28 March 2015 . 29 March 2015 . 2 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115000/http://wnl.fai.ie/news/402-wexford-claim-wnl-title.html . dead .
  6. News: Hooper. Dave. UCD Waves guarantee second spot. 3 January 2016. Football Association of Ireland. 30 April 2015. 26 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220826095038/https://wnl.fai.ie/news/412-ucd-waves-guarantee-second-spot.html. dead.
  7. Web site: Killeen grabs extra-time winner as Raheny win Cup. rte.ie. 11 November 2014. 3 November 2014.
  8. News: Extra-time triumph for Raheny United in women's league cup final . www.irishtimes.com. 26 April 2015.
  9. News: Clarke. Aaron. WNL 2014/15 season - As it happened. 9 January 2016. extratime.ie. 5 May 2015.
  10. News: McGuire. Mary. A Big Occasion For UCD Waves And Wexford Youths As Women’s National League Award Recipients Announced. 9 January 2016. Her.ie.