Womens League Season Review to date

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