Wexford and District Womens League
Mid Season Review 2013-14
By Peter Doyle
As we take a
brief break over Christmas and the new year, we take the opportunity to take a
look at the state of play in all the divisions, who looks favourite to win a
title, get promoted or relegated. Some divisions look very straight forward while
others are difficult to call at this stage and no doubt, there will always be a
team that will make a late run to put themselves into a challenging position
Womens Premier League
After
winning all seven of their seven played so far, title holders Ferns United,
look well in control in the top women’s division and it would be difficult not
to see them retain their title. To make it better, all the chasing teams are
taking points off each other and the leaders are currently six points clear of
second placed North End with the added advantage of a game in hand. The chase
for second place is extremely close with four teams all battling for that
runners up spot with a much improved North End side currently sitting in that
second place, one point ahead of Adamstown, another side showing much improved
form this season. Both sides have been boosted by the return of Wexford Youths
players to their squads with Alysha Cullen signing for the Wexford town side
while Nikki Dunphy has returned to Adamstown. The two Waterford sides are next
in the table with Tramore currently fourth and Benfica fifth, both showing
inconsistent form and definitely not the forces they were in recent seasons.
Tramore have surprisingly played a couple of games with just ten players, which
is very unusual for a team that were extremely strong at underage level and
have been one of the more powerful teams in this division in recent seasons. Benfica
are in rebuilding mode after losing several players to Wexford Youths and while
they lost their dominance in the league by losing some key players, they did
enough to consolidate their place in the top flight and are currently doing
enough to stay out of danger.
Cloughbawn are
currently bottom of the table with just one win from nine games played so far
but ironically apart from a heavy 8-0 defeat away to Ferns, they have competed
well in the remaining games, scoring an incredible 24 goals but conceding an
unenviable 41 goals. Obviously if they could stop conceding goals, they would
be good enough to stay in the top division but unfortunately games are
beginning to run out on them as they have only five left to play and would need
to win at least three to give themselves a chance. The other relegation spot is
between Coolgreaney Celtic and Seaview United, both of whom are difficult to
beat at home but their away form lets them down. Both of them have recorded all
their points at home and neither have picked up a point away from home while
both have beaten title challengers Tramore. Both sides are good enough to take
points of several of the teams ahead of them but their away form is what
creates problems for both and it will all depend which of them can rectify that
issue and that will ultimately decide who will go down…..if not both if
Cloughbawn can put together a run of results.
This
division will also be made more interesting this season by the introduction of
a Premier Shield competition for the six teams who finish outside the top two.
Predicted
Winner: Ferns United
Runner Up:
Adamstown
Relegated:
Cloughbawn and Coolgreaney Celtic
Womens Division One
Of all the
divisions in the adult league, this is the toughest one to predict a winner
with five teams probably feeling they have a chance of lifting the title or at
least gaining promotion to the premier division. Killenagh are the form team
and currently lead the way after winning their last seven games, just losing
their opening game of the season to St Josephs and going unbeaten ever since
while recording some very big wins along the way. Kilmore United currently lie
second, three points behind the leaders and are still well in contention as
they have Killenagh at home in the new year and a win would put them back on
level terms. Both teams started the season as favourites and while they have
lived up that tag, they are probably not walking away with the division in the
manner predicted. New Ross Town continue their impressive surge up the league
after winning the two lower divisions in the past two seasons and currently sit
third in the table. Glen Celtic have hauled themselves into fourth place after
an iffy start to the season, where at one point it looked like they would not
be even able to field a team. St Josephs have the pleasurable record of having
beaten both Killenagh and Kilmore but their inability to field a consistent
starting eleven has saw them drop points in matches they would have expected to
win. All five of these teams are well in contention for at least promotion and
this division could go all the way to the end before a winner is decided
Courtown
Hibs currently sit bottom of the table and look destined to drop back to Division
Two as they have just the one point from their nine games played and need a
surge in form to pull them out of trouble. Cloughbawn second team are also in
trouble, having only one win and a draw from their season to date but they do
have the advantage of a couple of games in hand which could turn out to be very
important in their quest to avoid relegation. Corach Ramblers showed that they
are capable of competing at this level when they travelled to St Josephs just
before Christmas and won 3-2, a win that gives them a realistic chance of
avoiding the drop
Predicted
Winner: Killenagh Wanderers
Promoted:
Kilmore United
Relegation:
Courtown Hibs and Cloughbawn “B”
Womens Division Two A
Unbeaten
Castledockrell United are the favourites to take the title in Division Two A as
they continue on an unbeaten run that now extends over eighteen months. In fact
up until the last game before the break, they had not even been held to a draw
in that time but Forth Celtic came to Newpark in December and came away with a
well earned point. Despite this minor setback, it is difficult to see anyone
catch Castledockrell and are odds on favourites to be the first title winners
of the season. Taghmon United are currently in second place and are
there on merit as they have produced some great performances in the first half
of the season. Shilelagh United have raced up the table after a shaky start and
currently sit third with sufficient games in hand to move second if they win
but they have some tough games ahead in the form of home games against the top
two. Camolin would also consider themselves to be well in contention for
promotion as they sit fourth with some big games to come. Pre season favourites
Bunclody started the season well but will be disappointed with recent results
and have fallen out of contention and will need to string a run of results
together in the new year to get back in contention for promotion
At the other
end of the table, Rosslare Rangers will be disappointed with their season to
date as they strive to pick up their first point while Forth Celtic will be
looking to build on their performance in Castledockrell in their effort to pull
away from the relegation zone. Tombrack United are putting in a good effort to
keep out of trouble and are sitting just above the bottom two but if they can
keep their young squad injury free, they should stay out of danger.
Predicted
Winner: Castledockrell United
Runner Up:
Shilelagh United
Relegated:
Rosslare Rangers and Forth Celtic
Womens Division Two B
This
division is now effectively a three horse race with Bree United leading the way
from St Leonards with Rosslare Strand still in the hunt as the division heads
towards a conclusion with a champion most likely crowned by mid February. Bree
have only lost once this season when they went down one nil at home to Moyne
Rangers but other than that defeat, they have won all of the other games they
have played, including home wins over St Leonards and Rosslare Strand. St
Leonards sit only two points behind the leaders but have Bree at home in the
run in and will feel they have a chance of lifting the title in their first
season as an adult team. Rosslare Strand are six points behind the leaders but
have both top teams at home and if Strand were to win both, and other results
go their way, they could still find themselves as serious title challengers.
The other four teams in the division are out of the title race but all have
their own objectives and all are capable of pulling off shock results against
the higher placed teams and anyone of them could have an impact on where the
title eventually ends up. Moyne Rangers have already shown what their capable
of while Cushinstown have put in some good performances but did not get the
break against the top three while Fastnet Rovers have shown the biggest
improvement in form in recent weeks. Crossabeg are still looking for their
first point but as a few teams have found out in recent seasons, they are
always capable of picking up a shock result along the way
This
division will also have an extra cup this season with the return of the Gaynor
Cup, a competition for teams in the lower section of the division and details
of this competition will be announced in the coming weeks
Predicted
Winner: Bree United
Runner Up:
St Leonards
