2011–12 Women's National League (Ireland)

The 2011–12 Women's National League season was the inaugural season of the Women's National League. The season was sponsored by Bus Éireann. Originally seven clubs were invited to join the league.[1][2] However shortly before the start of the season Bray Wanderers/St. Joseph's pulled out due to a lack of competitive players. This left six teams – Peamount United, Castlebar Celtic, Cork Women's F.C., Raheny United, Shamrock Rovers and Wexford Youths – to play the inaugural season.[3]

Women's National League
Season2011–12
ChampionsPeamount United
UEFA Women's Champions LeaguePeamount United
Top goalscorerStephanie Roche (Peamount United):
24
Biggest home winPeamount United
13–0 Castlebar Celtic
Biggest away winCastlebar Celtic
0–9 Peamount United
Highest scoringPeamount United
13–0 Castlebar Celtic

The season began on 13 November 2011 with Wexford Youths and Castlebar Celtic drawing 2–2, Raheny United defeating Shamrock Rovers 5–0 and Stephanie Roche scoring a hat-trick as Peamount United defeated Cork Women's F.C. 6–1. On 12 February 2012 Roche scored six goals as Peamount United defeated Castlebar Celtic 13–0 at home. The return fixture on 15 April saw Peamount United win 9–0 with Roche scoring another hat-trick. The final round of games was played on 22 April 2012.[4]

Peamount United were the inaugural champions, finishing three points clear of second placed Raheny United. They also completed a league double by winning the WNL Cup, defeating Shamrock Rovers 1–0 in the final on 6 May 2012.[5] Roche was the league's top goalscorer with 24 goals in the league itself plus two in the WNL Cup.[6] She scored the winner in the WNL Cup final.[7] Roche formed a "devastating" strike partnership with Sara Lawlor who contributed 15 goals to Peamount United's league success. Lawlor was named Player of the Season at the inaugural end of season awards ceremony, while Emma Hansberry of Castlebar Celtic won the Young Player of the Season.[8]

Final table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Peamount United (C) 15 12 0 3 66 17 +49 36 2012–13 UEFA Women's Champions League
2 Raheny United 15 10 3 2 39 18 +21 33
3 Cork Women's F.C. 15 6 2 7 22 29 −7 20
4 Wexford Youths 15 5 5 5 21 32 −11 20
5 Castlebar Celtic 15 3 4 8 30 57 −27 13
6 Shamrock Rovers 15 1 2 12 13 38 −25 5
Source: [9][10]
(C) Champion.

Top goalscorers
Republic of Ireland international, Stephanie Roche, the season's top goalscorer with 24 goals
Goals Player Club
24Stephanie RochePeamount United
15Sara LawlorPeamount United
13Emma MullinCastlebar Celtic
8Rebecca CreaghRaheny United
8Siobhán KilleenRaheny United

[10]

Team of the Season
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Club
1 1GK Linda Meehan Peamount United
2 2DF Seana Cooke Raheny United
3 2DF Louise Quinn Peamount United
4 2DF Emma Farmer Cork Women's F.C.
5 2DF Nicola Dunphy Wexford Youths
6 3MF Rebecca Creagh Raheny United
7 3MF Denise O'Sullivan Cork Women's F.C.
8 3MF Emma Hansberry Castlebar Celtic
9 4FW Sara Lawlor Peamount United
10 4FW Rachel Jenkins Shamrock Rovers
11 4FW Stephanie Roche Peamount United

Source:[11][8]

References
  1. "Line-up for new Women's National League confirmed". fai.ie. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  2. "Expressions of interest sought for Women's National League". fai.ie. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  3. "UEFA funding helps women's national football league launch in Republic of Ireland". UEFA. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  4. wnl.fai.ie
  5. "Peamount are crowned Bus Eireann Women's League Cup Final Winners". wnl.fai.ie. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  6. Farrell, Niall (16 June 2012). "Roche hopes for big step toward Euros". Extratime.ie. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  7. Dowling, Paul (25 May 2012). "Keeping family loyalty at Bray; BRAY W v SHELBOURNE, 7.45". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  8. "Sara Lawlor named as National League Player of the Year". www.rte.ie. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  9. 2011–12 Women's National League Rsssf Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Statistics 2011/12 - Continental Tyres Womens National League". wnl.fai.ie. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  11. "WNL Award Winners Announced". wnl.fai.ie. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
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