Strong presence of North Tipp Women in the League of Ireland
By Gary Culbert
Treaty United
The Treaty United senior women fielded a young side in a 1-0 friendly loss to Sligo Rovers as they continued the start to their League of Ireland campaign which starts on 8th March.
The former NTSFL trio of Clodagh Daly, Grace Ehinger and Ella Carey all made their senior debuts for the Limerick side, whilst former Lough Derg player Ava Neary was also part of the squad. Clodagh Daly was the only player to feature in a subsequent 1-0 loss to Bohemians.
Treaty will look to get back to winning ways this Saturday against Peamount United in another pre-season friendly, in the Clare county grounds at 2.00pm.
Elsewhere, Cloughjordan native and former Ballymackey player Mioda O’Shea played in a draw for the Treaty United under 17s against Kerry.
Athlone Town
Former Killavilla United player Isabel Ryan has signed on again with Athlone Town for the 2025 season.
The Birr native was an important member of the Athlone team that lifted the SSE Airtricity Premier Division title last season. The highlight for her was a goal and assist in a 2-1 win away to Shamrock Rovers back in June.
The 18-year-old came off the bench in the victory that secured the league title for the Midlanders, and that fantastic week was made better six days later when she was named in the Republic of Ireland Under 19 squad, for a trip to Belgium. Isabel came on in the 84th minute of a 2-0 friendly victory, joining North Tipp duo Ceola Bergin and Grace Fitzpatrick Ryan who were already on the field. Indeed, it was the latter who opened the scoring for Ireland on the day. Isabel was an unused sub at Tallaght Stadium in late October for Athlone Town in the FAI Cup final where they were unsuccessful in their bid to complete an historic double.
In November, Isabel travelled to Bulgaria as part of the ROI Under 19 squad for the European Championship Qualifiers. Ryan and Ceola Bergin were unused subs in victories over Bulgaria and Finland, but Isabel did feature as a late sub in the third game, a 1-0 loss to Norway.
There were two former Killavilla players at Athlone Town last season and there will be the same number again this year, albeit not the same two. Isabel Ryan was joined by Lexi Wynne last year, but this season her former clubmate will be Kayleigh Delaney, who has signed with their underage academy.
Despite being only 14-years-old, Kayleigh started in midfield for both the Athlone Town under 17 & 19 teams against Treaty United in recent friendlies. Treaty had several senior players on the field, but Kayleigh held her own and looked comfortable in this company.
Galway United
Roscrea native Ceola Bergin has made the move from the sunny south east to the west of Ireland, Galway United to be precise. With Wexford FC, Bergin was the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Player of the Month in June 2024, and will be looking re-create some of that goal scoring form in Galway, with the goal of breaking into the starting 11 of the Republic of Ireland under 19 team also in her sights.