John Fallon: Home-based snub casts dark shadow over Women's Cup final
The Women's 2024 Final Cup The During Fai David Fitzgerald/sportsfile By Media For Direct Sports Athlone Photo Up Brennan Day Kellie Cup: Town's
Move aside men, assuming centrestage over the next fortnight is women's football but a disconnect between the domestic and international circuits is clouding the sector.
Sunday at Tallaght Stadium presents a showcase for the crowd and broadcast audience to appreciate the talent operating on home soil. Shelbourne against Athlone, now a trilogy, promises to be another epic FAI Cup Final.
And yet the build-up is overshadowed by a perception that the league isn't being respected by the FAI when it comes to an international linkage.
Under Vera Pauw and her predecessor Colin Bell, the best players in the country assembled weekly to be coached and assessed by Ireland management. Those home-based sessions have been ditched since Eileen Gleeson was appointed just over a year ago.
That Gleeson cut her coaching teeth in the women's national league compounds the issue. Her previous role at the FAI, head of women's football, has been the preserve of Hannah Dingley since April.
Ciarán Kilduff is 90 minutes away from leading Athlone Town to an historic double but hasn't heard from either figurehead about his Players.
He's miffed at the approach, insistent motivation is a problem in respect of recruitment and retention.
In the absence of a professional industry – players receive no more than expenses – ascending the steps towards the Ireland squad ought to be a fundamental driver.
"We're in the wilderness here," bemoaned the former Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers striker.
"Football is the biggest sport in the world and the biggest sport in our country so we need to be doing all we can to promote it.
"The fact is there's no pathway for players to the Ireland squad beyond U19 level.
"I have a great group. Take Kellie Brennan and Roisin Molloy for example, or Casey Howe and Chloe Singleton earlier in the year, the frustrating thing is that we couldn't say to them that there is recognition for all your hard work.
"We're just looking for something concrete. The season is over this Sunday and we'll be sitting down trying to get players to come back. Moreso in the west, where you've dual sport players, what currency can go to them with? It's certainly not money. It's the drive to play for your country and I don't have that carrot."
By Gleeson belatedly recalling her former Peamount United player Julie-Ann Russell to the Ireland squad in July, Kilduff's argument is solidified.
The Galway United attacker scored Ireland's first goal of the Euro qualifiers against England at Carrow Road before finding the net again in the win over France at Pairc Uí Chaoímh.
Cork City's Eva Mangan was the other domestic-based player drafted in, without seeing action.
Kilduff suspects her prospects will spike once the expected move to the UK – Liverpool being favourites – is finalised in January. That magic plane syndrome blighted the men's scene he was part of and he fears the same mistake is being repeated. It's the incentive for others who choose to remain at home that he wants available.
"The man on the moon knew Julie-Ann was ready to go in, probably for the previous camp," opined Kilduff.
"I know the landscape of this league. I watch four women's matches every week to do my job right. I know there's others players out there.
"Two teams will have the stage in Sunday's final but what's there for the other clubs in the league?
"I find it difficult to convince players not to leave for other sports, to commit, sacrifice holidays, everything. That's a massive problem. How could it not be? I'm looking for ways of motivating my players and that's one. That if you're a young Irish player, you can stay here in college and be recognised. Home-based sessions would tell players to stick with it because they're seen."
His captain Laurie Ryan echoed the complaint from the players' perspective.
"Getting called into the home-based showed players they were going in the right direction whereas now there's a gap there," said the Clare native.
"Our girls are performing every week but never hear anything. You might get into a team of the week or win a player of the month but girls dream of playing for Ireland. Not every player wants to leave for abroad".
Gleeson is sure to be pressed on the chasm when she announces her squad for next week's Euro semi-final playoff, first-leg in Georgia but referenced a redesign when asked by the Irish Examiner in July.
"The home-based sessions started out with one purpose but evolved," she explained.
"It was to facilitate a pathway for players to the senior national team. So, a redesign is happening which is a talent development scheme. That is all being developed in the background, but it will look something different to the home-based Sessions.
"The discussion is around the development of the U23s and a mechanism for developing those home-based players.
"It's not about what I want - it's a streamlined pathway for players. That's what the development pathway looks like and is being developed right now."
Much like the abolition of the Emerging Talent Programme, the proposed alternative doesn't cut it and only exists in words while the problems endure.
Six straight victories – a streak not seen since Shelbourne's early season surge – has catapulted St Patrick's Athletic into the Premier title race with three games left.
Monday's 3-1 win at Bohemians hoisted Stephen Kenny's to 50 points and they host the team they share fourth place with, Galway United, on Friday.
Wingers Jake Mulraney and Zack Elbouzedi have been integral to their renaissance but their pair of teenage strikers are attracting a deluge of interest.
Mason Melia had earned the No 9 shirt before he recently turned 17 and only injury denied him his Ireland U21 debut during this window.
Saints managed just fine at Dalymount without their tyro but another, 16-year-old Michael Noonan, was introduced late on for his league debut.
Cross-channel eyes have been trained on the pair, with Melia likely to move in January 2026.
Manchester United had representatives in Dublin to scout Noonan at last week's Leinster Senior Cup final but their neighbours Manchester City are well in the hunt to land the Kildare native.
Unlike Melia, who penned a three-year contract last November, St Pat's wouldn't be entitled to a transfer fee for Noonan. He's yet to accept the offer of a professional deal and Fifa compensation would apply if were to move before 18 to a non-UK club.
Could In Windsor Northern See November Nations Park Hosting League On Belarus Difficulty The Switched To 15 Friday, At Ireland's Fixture Tallaght Its Be Sanctions Ukraine Belarus Arising To Territory Allowing Uk By Attacks Army Used Subject To Is Russia's To Northern Launch Into From Will Was Considered Uk With In By Leading Raft Saturday's Fixture Seems A The And Played Doors Contingencies Due Behind Belarusian Hungary, Western Closed To Uefa Of Unlikely Zalaegerszeg, That Away Grant Being Staff Players Applied Last It To Visas, Restrictions Turnout To Maximise Trip Is The Across C Down A Others Are And To Ifa The Optimal Stadia Be Out With English As Europe, League Short M1 The Returning Option, But Of Venue Ruled The For Keen Array An That The Game, Oute May Argentina Lansdowne The The Finland International Earlier Road Against As Follows Is Day, On That Rugby Football Against 24 Unavailable Fixture Hours Upon, To Best Should Prospect Homeing Represent O'neill To A And Settled Tallaght, Next Be 10,500 The Option Year, Expanded Capacity Explored Continue Michael That This Fixture Is Sorts Would Of For The League To A Shamrock Their Years In Guided First The Title The Following Europa Franked And By For Stages Reaching League Rovers Repeated 16 2010, He Feat Group Year