City all set for start of new U17 league
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Daire Walsh
RIONA CROWLEY admitted there is a mixture of nerves and excitement amongst the Cork City WFC ranks as they prepare to get their Women’s U17 National League campaign underway.
The Glanmire native was speaking at the launch of this competition which begins in earnest this weekend.
City will have to wait until Sunday week to make their bow in the league – when they play host to Munster rivals Limerick FC.
“Nervous, but excited. It’ll be a great honour to play against girls at such a great level. We start with Limerick at home, so close neighbours basically,” Crowley remarked at the FAI’s National Training Centre in Abbotstown.
“We’re not focusing on how they play. Just go out and play our best. If we had a win it would be a good start to the season and hopefully we’ll drive on from the first win.”
Unlike its senior equivalent, this underage competition will take on a two-group structure – with the top teams on each side playing off to determine the overall winner. The inaugural U17 season will be a shortened, before a full campaign gets up and running from March 2019 onwards.
Though it is expected to be a hectic few months for the Leesiders, Crowley believes it can offer a platform for players to push forward to the highest level of women’s soccer.
“Hopefully, international level even. To play as high as we can and get opportunities throughout the year.”
Given the youthful nature of the City first-team squad, the exploits of Crowley and her team-mates will not go unnoticed. Danielle Burke and Saoirse Noonan both played at senior level for Cork while also representing the Republic of Ireland U17s, and Crowley takes particular inspiration from the latter.
“Saoirse is a great idol to look at. Playing at international level and playing for Cork City. To look up to her is good and to have her at home is good.”
Indeed, according to FAI director of competitions Fran Gavin, it is the desire to keep the best Irish talent on home soil that has driven the association to introduce this new league.
“Talking to some of those [Irish] players, they wish they had an underage league like this when they were around. But it’s in place now. I think it’s great to see at international level that a lot of the squad members are coming from the national league,” Gavin explained.
“These girls, who are playing in this league, can see that happening right in front of them. They can see those players. They will be the next stars of the future for us and they’ll be in the international squads of the future.”