All-Island Cup

Last updated

All-Island Cup
Organising body Football Association of Ireland
Founded2023
RegionUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland
Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland
Number of teams16
Current champions Galway United
Most successful club(s) Galway United (2 titles)

The All-Island Cup, known as the Avenir Sports Women's All-Island Cup for sponsorship purposes, [1] is a women's association football competition held on an all-Ireland basis between women's football clubs from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 2023. [2]

Contents

Background

Historically, association football in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was organised separately due to the two associations holding separate UEFA membership. In 2023, the Republic of Ireland's Football Association of Ireland came up with the idea of an all-Ireland competition in advance of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, designed to keep competitive women's football going during this time. [3] It was also envisaged to showcase women's association football in the island of Ireland. [4] The idea was supported by Northern Ireland's Irish Football Association and the competition was planned with 11 teams from the FAI's League of Ireland Women's Premier Division and 5 from the IFA's Women's Premiership. [5] The draw for the inaugural competition was made at the FAI's Headquarters in Dublin. [6]

Prior to the semi-finals, due to Cliftonville qualifying, there was concern over the date of the final due to a potential clash with either the Northern Ireland women's national football team matches or the 2023 NIFL Women's Premiership League Cup Cliftonville were due to play in. [7] However the Irish League agreed to move it. [8] Galway United were the first All-Ireland Cup champions by defeating Cliftonville 1–0 at The Showgrounds, Sligo, winning their first major women's trophy. [9]

2023 competition

Group A

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Galway United 321030+37Advance to Round 2
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Shelbourne 311154+14
3 Flag of Ireland.svg Athlone Town 31113524
4 Ulster Banner.svg Linfield 30122421
Source: Extra time

Group B

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Wexford Youths 321053+27Advance to Round 2
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Shamrock Rovers 32018806
3 Ulster Banner.svg Glentoran 311184+44
4 Flag of Ireland.svg Peamount United 30032970
Source: Extra time

Group C

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Ulster Banner.svg Cliftonville 321053+27Advance to Round 2
2 Ulster Banner.svg Sion Swifts 320163+36
3 Flag of Ireland.svg Bohemians 31024403
4 Flag of Ireland.svg Sligo Rovers 30123851
Source: Extra time

Group D

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Cork City 330062+49Advance to Round 2
2 Flag of Ireland.svg DLR Waves 320163+36
3 Ulster Banner.svg Crusaders Strikers 31024623
4 Flag of Ireland.svg Treaty United 30033850
Source: Extra time

Semi-finals

Team 1 Score Team 2
Cliftonville Ulster Banner.svg 1–0 [10] Flag of Ireland.svg Cork City
Wexford Youths Flag of Ireland.svg 1–1
(3-4 p) [11]
Flag of Ireland.svg Galway United

Final

Galway United Flag of Ireland.svg 1–0 Ulster Banner.svg Cliftonville
  • McGuinness Soccerball shade.svg12'
Report

2024 edition

The 2024 edition of the All-Island Cup was drawn on 22 February 2024. [12]

Group A

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Peamount United 211082+64Advance to Round 2
2 Ulster Banner.svg Linfield 211043+14
3 Flag of Ireland.svg Bohemians 210152+33
4 Ulster Banner.svg Lisburn 2002010100
Source: Soccerway

Group B

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Wexford Youths 211082+64Advance to Round 2
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Shelbourne 211041+34
3 Flag of Ireland.svg Cork City 20112531
4 Ulster Banner.svg Cliftonville 20111761
Source: Soccerway

Group C

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Shamrock Rovers 211051+44Advance to Round 2
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Treaty United 211031+24
3 Ulster Banner.svg Crusaders Strikers 21011213
4 Flag of Ireland.svg DLR Waves 20020550
Source: Soccerway

Group D

PosNatTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Galway United 220060+66Advance to Round 2
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Athlone Town 220073+46
3 Flag of Ireland.svg Sligo Rovers 20021430
4 Ulster Banner.svg Glentoran 20022970
Source: Soccerway

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References

  1. "Inaugural Draw for Avenir Sports Women's All-Island Cup Announced - The Home of Irish Football". Extra Time. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  2. Halligan, Fiona (18 May 2023). "Draw for inaugural All Island Cup has been made". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  3. "First women's All-Island Cup draw made with Wexford Youths, Peamount and Shamrock Rovers handed tough group". Irish Independent. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  4. "The Showgrounds to Host First Ever Avenir Sports All-Island Cup Final". Her Sport. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  5. McCann, Lauren (15 June 2023). "All-Island Cup: Everything you need to know about the new cross-border competition". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  6. "All-Island Cup: Cliftonville draw Bohs in inaugural competition". BBC Sport. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  7. "International fixtures may delay All-Island Cup decider". Belfast Telegraph. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. "Avenir Sports All Island Cup Final Details Confirmed". NIFL. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  9. "Galway United Women claim first national trophy". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  10. "All-Island Cup: Cliftonville beat Cork City to reach final against Galway". BBC Sport. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  11. "Wexford Youths pay the penalty as Galway progress to final". Irish Independent. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  12. "All-Island Cup: Irish Premiership winners Glentoran draw holders Galway United". BBC Sport. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.