NORTH EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE - WOMEN'S REPORT
NORTH EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Incorporating Mid Meath League 1980—1983;
Meath & District League 1983—2014)
44 th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Ardboyne Hotel
WEDNESDAY 25th January 2023 7.30pm.
Women’s Division Report 2022
The 2022 season commenced on Sun 3 rd April with the first game between Cootehill Harps and Kinnegad Juniors and the league got going in full swing on Monday 4th April.
We started the season with 16 Teams evenly split between Premier and Division 1, based on Grading from positions, finished in both League and Cup/Shield competitions in 2021.
Teams for the Premier Division were, BALRATH, BELLURGAN UNITED, KENTSTOWN ROVERS, KINGSCOURT HARPS, PARKCELTIC SUMMERHILL, PARKVILLA, QUAY CELTIC, ROSSIN ROVERS. Teams for Division 1 were ALBION ROVERS, ARDEE CELTIC, COOTEHILL HARPS, DROGHEDA TOWN, DULEEK, KINNEGAD JUNIORS, SKRYNE TARA, TORRO UNITED.
In both Divisions, Each Team played each other Home and Away. We had a few scares along the way, with Drogheda Town and Park Celtic Summerhill unable to complete the season, due to being unable to field a Squad and withdrawing from the league.
Hopefully they will return for the 2023 Season. Of a Total of 232 games scheduled to be played, 212 were in fact played or 95%
Once again if the average fielded side is 15, then on average approx. 240+ women were playing Soccer each week in our League, across both divisions
• Kingscourt Harps were Premier League Winners for 2023, with Bellurgan Utd as Runners Up
• Cootehill Harps were Division 1 Winners, with Albion Rovers as the Runners Up On the 6th Nov. the League Cup and Shield competitions were held in the MDL.
The League Cup was won by Kingscourt Harps when they beat Bellurgan, 1:0. This was a repeat of the 2021 Cup Final and Kingscourt Harps achieved an historic Double of League and Cup, two years in succession. Earlier in the day, the League Shield competition was won by Kentstown Rovers when they beat Albion Rovers, 3:1.
We entered an NEFL Ladies Team into the LFA Ladies League competition back in October 2022, this competition is returning after a seven year absence and we are delighted to be taking part.
One of six leagues involved, in the Leinster region. Our first game was set for 13th Nov, against the Combined Counties in the MDL, which we lost 2-1 after going 1 up early in the game.
Our next game was against the EWL (U19) which we drew 2-2 and we have a Shield Final against Kildare on 5th February in the MDL.
We will be taking part in the Angel Hearst Trophy competition later in 2023, which is the number one InterLeague competition in the country.
Both management and players are looking forward to taking part in this very prestigious competition, especially in the year when Ireland is also taking part in the 9 th FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand later in the year and we wish them all the very best in their great adventure.
It is looking good for the upcoming 2023 Season, we are speaking with a number of Clubs that have voiced an interest in joining for the upcoming season, Athboy Celtic, Dunshaughlin Ladies and Ballyhaise Celtic to name a few.
We are planning for the League competition to commence in late March and we are all looking forward to it. Some of our Clubs entered the LFA Womens Junior Cup/Shield competition and Good Luck to Kingscourt Harps, Cootehill Harps and Torro Utd in their next round scheduled for February.
I would like to thank the NEFL Committee for their full support over the season, Gerry Gorman in particular, for his advice and guidance, to me personally.
Tommy Melia for promoting our Ladies Division with his Videos, Interviews and Snippets on Facebook and other social media, along with Jonathan Purvis.
I would also like to thank all the Clubs that participated in the League, the Cup and Shield competitions, for their full engagement, assistance and full support, in getting games played throughout the season.
I would also like to thank our Sponsors UHY FARRELLY DAWE WHITE for their full support throughout the season and their sponsorship of League, Cup and Shield competitions and we look forward to working with them again in 2023.
Last but not least I would like to thank my fellow Committee members, Paul Brennan, Joel Patino (resigned in Oct, to take on the InterLeague Team), Yvonne Brady….…for their dedication and the time they have spent in ensuring that games go ahead, referees are notified,
Clubs are informed and generally keeping the show on the road If your Club is interested in joining us for the coming season then please contact either, Paddy Mulreid 086 4104054, Yvonne Brady 085 8451355 ,Paul Brennan 087 9504270, or any NEFL Committee Member Or by email on neflwomens@gmail.ccom
Outgoing NEFL Committee Member
Paddy Mulreid
