2020 Women's National League (Ireland)

Last updated
Women's National League
Season2020
Dates8 August 2020 – 5 December 2020
Champions Peamount United
3rd WNL title
Champions League Peamount United
Matches played52
Goals scored189 (3.63 per match)
Top goalscorer Áine O'Gorman (14 goals)
Biggest home win Peamount United 8–0 Athlone Town (29 August 2020)
Biggest away win Treaty United 0–7 Shelbourne (10 October 2020)
Highest scoring Bohemians 4–5 Treaty United (31 October 2020)
← 2019
2021 →

The 2020 Women's National League was the 10th season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland.

Contents

The League lacked a title sponsor, as the Só Hotel Group did not renew their agreement from the previous season. [1] Barretstown were announced as a "charity partner" on 24 July 2020. [2] Expansion teams Athlone Town and Bohemians competed for the first time. [3] [4]

Following the financial collapse of Limerick F.C., they were replaced by a new team, Treaty United. [5] Kilkenny United were excluded for a variety of reasons, including that they had not bonded with the local league, they had changed venues for home games, did not train in Kilkenny, lacked a qualified manager, and had produced poor results (just seven points in the last three seasons combined [60 matches]). [6]

Originally scheduled to kick off on 15 March, the season's opening was delayed, initially to late June by the COVID-19 pandemic. [7] [8] A reduced season eventually kicked-off in August 2020. [9] The WNL Cup was deferred for the season, [10] but the 2020 FAI Women's Cup was effectively a League Cup, with the nine Women's National League clubs the only participants. [11]

On 21 November 2020, Peamount United won their second consecutive title and third overall after a 3–1 win over Shelbourne. [12]

Teams

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TeamHome town/suburbStadium2019 finish
Athlone Town Athlone Athlone Town Stadium n/a
Bohemians Dublin (Coolock) Oscar Traynor Centre n/a
Cork City Cork Bishopstown Stadium 5th
Galway Galway Eamonn Deacy Park 4th
Treaty United Limerick Markets Field n/a
Peamount United Newcastle, South Dublin Greenogue 1st
Shelbourne Dublin (Drumcondra) Tolka Park 2nd
DLR Waves Dún Laoghaire Jackson Park 6th
Wexford Youths Crossabeg Ferrycarrig Park 3rd

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
Athlone Town Flag of Ireland.svg Tommy Hewitt Flag of Ireland.svg Paula Doran Nike Palfinger
Bohemians Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Byrne Flag of Ireland.svg Sinead O’Farrelly O'Neills ICHH - Inner City Helping Homeless
Cork City Flag of Ireland.svg Ronán Collins Flag of Ireland.svg Katie McCarthy Adidas
DLR Waves Flag of Ireland.svg Graham Kelly Flag of Ireland.svg Catherine Cronin Jako Eversheds Sutherland
Galway Flag of Ireland.svg Billy Clery Flag of Ireland.svg Keara Cormican Uhlsport Só Hotels
Peamount United Flag of Ireland.svg James O’Callaghan Flag of Ireland.svg Áine O'Gorman O'Neills Texaco Newcastle Service Station
Shelbourne Flag of England.svg Dave Bell Flag of Ireland.svg Pearl Slattery Umbro FlyeFit
Treaty United Flag of Ireland.svg Dave Rooney Flag of Ireland.svg Marie Curtin Umbro Ei Electronics
Wexford Youths Flag of England.svg Tom Elmes Flag of Ireland.svg Kylie Murphy Jako Energia

Format

In the initial phase of the season, the nine teams played a round-robin tournament whereby each team played each one of the other teams once. [13] After eight games, the league split into two sections of five and four teams, with each team playing every other team in their section once. [14]

League table

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation [lower-alpha 1]
1 Peamount United (C)121101409+3133Qualification for the Champions League first round
2 Shelbourne 129123715+2228
3 Wexford Youths 127142716+1122
4 Cork City 126152125−419
5 Galway 124261520−514
6 DLR Waves 112451213−110
7 Athlone Town 11317927−1810
8 Treaty United 113081637−219
9 Bohemians 111281227−155
Updated to match(es) played on 5 December 2020. Source: FAI Women’s National League, Soccerway, Extratime.com
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ↑ Teams play each other once (eight matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top five and the bottom four).

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112
Athlone Town 76689779887—
Bohemians 89998998999—
Cork City 677775444444
DLR Waves 55566887676—
Galway 442334555555
Peamount United 113222211111
Shelbourne 231111122222
Treaty United 98855666768—
Wexford Youths 324443333333
Source: Extratime.com
  = Leader and UEFA Women's Champions League ;   = Second;   = Third

Results

Matches 1–8

Teams play each other once.

Home \ Away ATH BOH COR DLR GAL PEA SHE TRE WEX
Athlone Town ———1–4——0–33–20–1
Bohemians 1–0—3–4—1–40–3———
Cork City 2–0——2–11–20–3———
DLR Waves —0–0————1–20–20–2
Galway 3–0——1–1——1–11–0—
Peamount United 8–0——3–22–1——5–0—
Shelbourne —3–03–1——1–5——2–1
Treaty United —2–12–5———0–7—1–5
Wexford —4–11–2—3–13–0———
Source: Extratime.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 9–11/12

After eight matches, the league split into two sections i.e. the top five and the bottom four, with the teams playing every other team in their section once (either at home or away). The exact matches were determined by the position of the teams in the league table at the time of the split.

Statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals [15]
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Áine O'Gorman Peamount United 14
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Eleanor Ryan Doyle Peamount United 10
3 Flag of Ireland.svg Ellen Molloy Wexford Youths 8
4 Flag of Ireland.svg Aoife Horgan Treaty United 6
Flag of Ireland.svg Lynsey McKey Galway
Flag of Ireland.svg Saoirse Noonan Cork City
7 Flag of Ireland.svg Noelle Murray Shelbourne 5
Flag of Ireland.svg Aoife Thompson Galway
Flag of Ireland.svg Ciara Grant Shelbourne
Flag of Ireland.svg Jessica Ziu Shelbourne
Flag of Ireland.svg Emily Whelan Shelbourne
Flag of Ireland.svg Stephanie Roche Peamount United

Awards

Monthly awards

MonthPlayer of the MonthReferences
PlayerClub
August Flag of Ireland.svg Ellen Molloy Wexford Youths [16]
September Flag of Ireland.svg Saoirse Noonan Cork City [17]
October Flag of Ireland.svg Jessica Ziu Shelbourne [18]
November Flag of Ireland.svg Karen Duggan Peamount United [19]

Annual awards

[20]

AwardWinnerClub
WNL Player of the Year Flag of Ireland.svg Karen Duggan Peamount United
Young Player of the Year Flag of Ireland.svg Ellen Molloy Wexford Youths
Services to the Women's National League Flag of Ireland.svg Michael Hayes
WNL Team of the Year
Goalkeeper Flag of Ireland.svg Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders Flag of Ireland.svg Niamh Farrelly (Peamount United) Flag of Ireland.svg Pearl Slattery (Shelbourne) Flag of Ireland.svg Claire Walsh (Peamount United) Flag of Ireland.svg Shauna Brennan (Galway)
Midfielders Flag of Ireland.svg Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths) Flag of Ireland.svg Karen Duggan (Peamount United) Flag of Ireland.svg Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne)
Forwards Flag of Ireland.svg Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United) Flag of Ireland.svg Eleanor Ryan-Doyle (Peamount United) Flag of Ireland.svg Saoirse Noonan (Cork City)

Broadcasting

The title-deciding match between Peamount United and Shelbourne on 21 November 2020 was streamed live by the Football Association of Ireland on their FAI TV YouTube channel. [21] The annual awards ceremony was televised live on Eir Sport 1. [20]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Women's National League to kick off on 8 August". RTÉ Sport. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Barretstown unveiled as WNL charity partner". Football Association of Ireland. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  3. ↑ Duffy, Emma (20 November 2019). "The Women's National League will welcome a new team for the 2020 season". The42.
  4. ↑ Doyle, Stephen. "Bohemians and Treaty United join expanded Women's National League". TodayFM.
  5. ↑ McCormack, Richie. "Shamrock Rovers B-team accepted into First Division". Newstalk.
  6. ↑ "Kilkenny United release lengthy statement following Women's National League departure". ExtraTime.ie.
  7. ↑ Blake, Ben (27 March 2020). "Women's National League season to kick off in late June". The42.
  8. ↑ "Delayed Women's National League to kick off on June 27th". ExtraTime.ie.
  9. ↑ "A club-by-club guide to the 2020 Women's National League". Irish Independent. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  10. ↑ O'Hehir, Paul (27 March 2020). "FAI set June 28 target start date for Women's National League". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "FAI Women's Cup 2020". Women's National League (Ireland). Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Donnelly, Dave (23 November 2020). "Peamount gunning for the double after securing league title". The Irish Times . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Women's National League Fixture List" (PDF). Women's National League (Ireland). 14 July 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  14. ↑ McCormack, Richie (3 July 2020). "Women's National League to get underway in August". Today FM . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  15. ↑ "Top Scorers - 2020 Women's National League". Extratime.com. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  16. ↑ "Molloy named Barretstown / WNL Player of the Month for August". FAI Women’s National League. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Noonan scoops Barretstown / WNL Player of the Month for September". FAI Women’s National League. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Ziu collects Barretstown / WNL Player of the Month for October". FAI Women’s National League. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Duggan earns Barretstown / WNL Player of the Month for November". Women's National League (Ireland). 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  20. 1 2 Duffy, Emma (20 December 2020). "Peamount stalwart and Wexford teenage sensation win big at end-of-season awards". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  21. ↑ O'Connor, Colm (20 November 2020). "Top two battle it out as Women's National League title race goes down the wire". Irish Examiner . Retrieved 6 December 2020.