In the past, the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup was a figment of our imagination.
The League of Ireland has come a long way in the last few seasons. Just 3-4 years back, it was an amateur league. The pitches were waterlogged, and the uneven results spoke for themselves. Peamount United and Shelbourne FC won every year putting other teams to shame and beating them by five or six goals per match.
But now, in the days where clubs are putting money and energy toward women’s sports, other big-name teams, like Galway United, are making a name for themselves. Athlone Town has come back from a slump to win their last game.
Who will lift the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup trophy? Only time will tell.
Avenir Sports All-Island Cup Drama and Results
Galway United host Glentoran in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup this Saturday at 17:00 in Eamonn Deacy Park.
Jenna Slattery features in this Monday's episode of Pass It On: Sacar na mBan on RTÉ One 👏@AVENIRSPORTS | @OfficialNIFL pic.twitter.com/5HX5j2JQGO
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) April 18, 2024
There are four groups in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup, each with four teams. Almost all League of Ireland teams have progressed to this stage of the competition. Lower-level teams are challenging the top-tier sides to see if they can force an upset.
Linfield beat Bohemians, the ever-tough Dublin side that is known for their tenacity, grit, and aggressiveness. Sarah McKevitt netted the ball for Bohs, but that wasn’t enough to stop a surprising come-back victory from Linfield Ladies. Bernadette Ferreira had a great goal against the Dubs and Orlagh Fitzpatrick unfortunately scored on her own net which meant that an upset was in the cards.
In the same Group A, Peamount routed the Lisburn Ladies. We expected as much from last year’s league winners, who have only bolstered their squad in the off-season. Erin McLaughlin, who recently was called up to the Ireland squad, bagged two goals, and so did Ellen Dolan, a stalwart in the league. Peamount would love to repeat to claim the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup trophy again this year.
In Group B, youngster Ceola Bergin earned a fantastic hat trick to help Wexford sail past Cliftonville 6-0. Wexford will look to improve on last year’s place in the LOI table. They used to be title contenders 2-3 years ago in the age of Rhianna Jarrett’s prime.
Similarly, Jemma Quinn, a fantastic striker who took a few years off of the game, only to come back better, netted a hat-trick for Shelbourne FC. ‘Shels’ are looking to take the title back from Peas to reclaim their infamous 2022 season, when they won the League of Ireland AND the Cup trophy. Can they add the Avenir Sports-All Island Cup trophy to their cabinet?
In Group C, Treaty United grabbed a much-needed win to provide some relief from a tough domestic campaign when they defeated Crusaders Strikers 2-0. Shamrock Rovers easily sailed past DLR Waves and won 4-0, with each goal coming from a different player on this well-rounded squad.
Lastly, in the final Group D, Galway United scored a few late crackers against Glentoran to earn the three points. Two younger players, Eve Dossen and Kate Thompson, each got on the score sheet, whereas the captain and driving force of the team, Jenna Slattery, earned a goal as well.
Finally, Athlone Town only slightly beat Sligo Rovers 2-1 in a hairy game that saw Muireann Devaney scoring in the 76th minute.
A few teams are setting themselves up to be favorites for winning the infamous Avenir Sports All-Island Cup.
What We Can Expect Next
There were a few surprising results, close games, and wipe-outs, and we can look forward to a fantastic Match Day 3. On Friday, May 17th, Linfield takes on Lisburn Ladies – a battle of the second-tier teams. The following day is when the majority of the teams play.
One game that catches our eye is Galway United vs. Athlone Town, who unfairly got drawn against one another to play at Eamonn Deacy Park in the West of Ireland at 5 pm. Other teams see an easier draw, such as Shamrock Rovers vs. Crusaders or Cork City vs. Cliftonville.
Our prediction? We think Shelbourne, Linfield, Peamount, Cork City, Galway United, Sligo Rovers, and Shamrock Rovers will all grab three points.
Who do you think will raise the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup trophy?
If we had to guess, we think that Shelbourne FC or Peamount are the two front runners for adding the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup to their clubhouses.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
