SOCCER: WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW
Doran now keen for action after ‘longest pre-season in the world’
Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING a long wait, Athlone Town will make their Women’s National League debut at home to Wexford Youths on Saturday evening (kick-off 7pm).
Having endured a five-month delay to the start of the new season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tommy Hewitt’s side also received a bye on the opening weekend of the nine-team league.
Now that their maiden game as a footballing entity is moving into view, Athlone skipper Paula Doran is eager for the midlanders to show what they are made of.
“It’s the longest pre-season in the world, you just want to get that first game,” said Doran.
Paula said its “very exciting” for Athlone to be competing in the league for the first time. “We’re looking forward to making a stamp in the league now,” she proclaimed.
“We’re just looking to build from here, it’s a couple of years project really. With that break you didn’t know if you were going to even have the league.
“Everyone is really buzzing around Athlone and we’re just raring to go. Each week we’re looking to improve and get ready for the first match.”
For understandable reasons, Athlone will be rank outsiders going into this weekend’s clash. Wexford have been crowned league champions in four of the past six seasons and retained their FAI Women’s Cup crown with a magnificent triumph over Peamount United at the Aviva Stadium last November.
On the plus side, Athlone will be at home for two of their opening three games. Doran feels this could work in their favour as they look to find their feet in the WNL.
“It will definitely be an advantage. We play on astro and I don’t think any other club in the league does play on astro,” said Paula. She hopes that, despite the Covid-19 related restrictions, some local fans will come out to support the team.
“In our first four games we play the top four teams from last year [Galway, Shelbourne and Peamount being the others]. There’s no better way to start really in my mind. You’re going to have to play them at some stage. We’re really looking forward to it.”
A native and resident of Leixlip in Co. Kildare, Doran brings a wealth of experience to this Athlone squad, having been there from the very beginning of the Women’s National League in 2011. She represented south Dublin club Shamrock Rovers during their three-year stint in the competition and also enjoyed a spell at UCD Waves (now operating under their original name of DLR Waves) in more recent times.
Nonetheless, Doran acknowledges the current set-up of the league is like night and day in comparison to her inaugural campaign with Rovers.
“It was a lot different to this. We played in Tallaght Stadium, which was an unbelievable thing to have had the first season. But we had none of this media, no publicity. It was just like your regular league, any other league in Ireland. There was no difference really.”
After her departure from Shamrock Rovers, Doran accepted a scholarship to King University in Tennessee. She played college football for four years in the US and was named player of the year on two separate occasions.
While her Stateside experience bears little resemblance to Republic of Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan – currently plying her trade with professional outfit North Carolina Courage – it is something Doran recommends to any player who is searching for a change of pace.
“She [O’Sullivan] is a whole different level, but there’s nothing to say that someone else can’t go off to college there and build their way up like she did. I’d really recommend the experience. It’s unbelievable and it’s a different kind of ball game over there altogether. You really are treated well over there.”
The elongated build-up to the campaign has afforded Doran an opportunity to become accustomed to the young talent within Athlone area. She has been impressed thus far and is delighted they now have a platform at the highest level of women’s soccer to prove their worth.
“A few of us have played in the league before but the majority of the girls are young. I wouldn’t have even known them before I went to the club.
“They’ve shocked me, they’re very good and they’re trying every training session. You don’t even notice that they’re that young or inexperienced to the league. They’re really trying to make a mark.
With Athlone manager Tommy Hewitt from the town, Paul says: “You can tell it means a lot to him and the people around. The community is really getting behind us and the club is getting behind us. It’s really good.”