2019 Women's National League (Ireland) Explained

Competition:Women's National League
Season:2019
Winners:Peamount United
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Dates:9 March 2019 – 10 November 2019
League Topscorer:Rianna Jarrett (26)
Biggest Home Win:Peamount United 9–0 Kilkenny United (22 June 2019)
Biggest Away Win:Kilkenny United 2–12 Peamount United (22 September 2019)
Highest Scoring:Kilkenny United 2–12 Peamount United (22 September 2019)
Matches:84
Total Goals:399
Prevseason:2018
Nextseason:2020

The 2019 Women's National League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Só Hotels Women's National League, was the ninth season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland.[1] [2] It began on 9 March 2019 and concluded on 10 November 2019. Wexford Youths were the defending champions, but Peamount United won to secure their first League title since the inaugural 2011–12 season.[3]

Teams

TeamHome town/suburbStadium2018 finish
5th[4]
4th
8th
7th
3rd
Drumcondra, Dublin2nd
6th (UCD Waves)
1st

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Cork City Frank Kelleher Katie McCarthyAdidasClonakilty Food Company
DLR Waves Graham KavanaghJakoEversheds Sutherland
Galway Billy Clery Keara CormicanUhlsportLough Rea Hotel and Spa
Kilkenny United James Dermody Bronagh KaneErrea
Limerick Dave RooneyUmbro
Peamount United James O'Callaghan Áine O'GormanO'NeillsTexaco Newcastle Service Station
Shelbourne Dave Bell Pearl SlatteryUmbroDublin City University
Wexford Youths Tom Elmes Kylie MurphyBodibroEnergia

Format

Teams played each other three times, either twice at home and once away, or once at home and twice away. Each team played 21 games, either 10 home and 11 away, or 11 home and 10 away.

League table

Results

Matches 1–14

Teams played each other twice (once at home, once away).

Matches 15–21

Teams played each other once.

Statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Rianna JarrettWexford Youths26
2 Áine O'GormanPeamount United20
3 Megan Smyth-LynchPeamount United19
4 Eleanor Ryan DoylePeamount United18
5 Amber BarrettPeamount United16

Awards

Player of the Month

MonthPlayer of the MonthReferences
PlayerClub
March Alex KavanaghShelbourne[5]
April Katie McCarthyCork City[6]
May Jamie FinnShelbourne[7]
June Eleanor Ryan-DoylePeamount United[8]

Apparently no awards were made from July to October.

Annual awards

[9]

AwardWinnerClub
WNL Player of the Year Rianna JarrettWexford Youths
Young Player of the Year Emily WhelanShelbourne
Services to the Women's National League Eamon Naughton
WNL Team of the Year
Goalkeeper Naoisha McAloon (Peamount United)
Defenders Sadhbh Doyle (Galway) Claire Walsh (Peamount United) Jamie Finn (Shelbourne) Lauren Dwyer (Wexford Youths)
Midfielders Eleanor Ryan Doyle (Peamount United) Megan Smyth-Lynch (Peamount United) Alex Kavanagh (Shelbourne) Kylie Murphy (Wexford Youths)
Forwards Emily Whelan (Shelbourne) Rianna Jarrett (Wexford Youths)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Expressions of interest invited for Women's National League - Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  2. Web site: Quantity effecting quality for women's soccer league - Shannonside. Dave. Hooper. 24 July 2018. 31 October 2018. 1 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015554/https://www.shannonside.ie/sport/featured-sport/quantity-effecting-quality-womens-soccer-league/. dead.
  3. News: Champions Peamount United lead way on Team of the Year . 29 November 2020 . . 13 November 2019.
  4. Web site: 2018 Season . 2019-02-22 . 2019-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190807142421/https://wnl.fai.ie/2011-10-18-18-37-48/league-table/2018-season.html . dead .
  5. Web site: Alex Kavanagh named Só Hotels WNL Player of the Month. FAI Women’s National League. en. 25 April 2019. 19 May 2019.
  6. Web site: Katie McCarthy named Só Hotels WNL April Player of the Month. FAI Women’s National League. en. 15 May 2019. 19 May 2019.
  7. Web site: Finn named May Player of the Month. FAI Women’s National League. en. 2 July 2019. 3 July 2019.
  8. Web site: Eleanor Ryan Doyle named Player of the Month for June. FAI Women’s National League. en. 26 August 2019. 27 July 2019.
  9. News: Farrell . Sinead . Ireland star striker Jarrett caps off impressive season with Player of the Year award . 26 September 2020 . The42.ie . 17 November 2019.