The most immediate takeaway from last Saturday’s season opener was a satisfying 5-1 win for Galway United Women against DLR Waves.
After a stuttering first half, goals in the second from Aislinn Meaney (2 ), Emma Doherty (2 ) and Amanda Smith put a gloss on the game for the Galway girls.
There were four debutants. Nicole Nix started in goal, Niamh Farrelly in the middle and Ceola Bergen in attack. Shauna Fox, who had starred for Galway WFC, got game time from the bench at the back. As ever with this team and squad, there were positives to take home for supporters who could count their Saturday well spent.
These pages have long extolled the positives of the domestic women’s game, the trojan work being done within Galway United and the merits of a talented and relatable staff and squad.
However, it does all involved a disservice to ignore the existential, unspoken crisis that surrounds the league. The SSE Airtricity League Women’s Premier Division, formerly the Women’s National League, is in its 15th season. Across the six opening fixtures in the league on Saturday, 1,985 turned out to support the highest level of female football in the country. Only 316 of those were in Terryland.
When season tickets, concessions, guests and officials are taken into account, it seems inconceivable that Galway United did not incur a financial loss just to host their game in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday. The costs of officials, registration and rent would more than subsume a meagre gate. This isn’t even to mention the mounting running costs including travel, transport, insurance and healthcare for players. In this context, the idea of remunerating them to any level commensurate with their talents and dedication seems further away than ever.
On a deeper, sporting level, the idea of the likes of Emma Doherty and Isabella Beletic not being afforded a proper platform to showcase their abilities should gall. Rachel Kearns is an unrivalled sporting talent who has excelled in four codes. Kate Thompson is achieving an incredible feat, lining out for Galway in Ladies Football and soccer. It is difficult to deny that they and their colleagues are being failed.
Galway United have done more than any since their embrace of women’s football in 2023, breaking the domestic attendance record twice. Yet, they can not come to accept this type of crowd.
There is an air of mutiny around the men’s game, such is the disillusionment with the association. The same might develop in the women’s game. The league has previously issued statements on the subject that have deflected. They have welcomed incremental increases and one-off big turnouts. However, they ignore the low base and the figures being padded out by Galway United letting fans in for free and putting in tireless promotion work themselves.
If a problem isn’t acknowledged, it is difficult to hope for a solution. Abbottstown might be quick with a PowerPoint to show a graph trending gradually upwards and a mention of TG4’s coverage. While welcome, the coverage hasn’t appeared to have the impact imagined at the turnstiles as it enters its fifth season. It is unlikely to be contributing much to the coffers.
If she can’t see it, she can’t be it. The academy teams of the various clubs can’t even get to these games as their fixtures regularly clash with those of the first team.
No stakeholder should be happy with the status quo. Most appear apathetic. National media has scarcely mentioned Galway women’s soccer since the faux outrage in 2022 when Galway WFC did not re-apply for a license.
The meteoric rise in the men’s game, after decades of stagnation, should concentrate minds on what is possible and necessary. Galway United travel to Bohs on Saturday. They can be relied upon to play with passion.
It is time that their spirit and efforts were matched elsewhere.
