Women’s game just needs more promotion, urges Kelly
BOHEMIANS captain Rachael Kelly believes the key to the continued growth of the women’s domestic game here is simply promotion. Increasing public awareness of where and when the games are on. Kelly had a starring role in one such video on social media this week when Dublin Bus highlighted its partnership with Bohemians by showing a minute-long video of the women’s team getting on a bus to Dalymount. It is part of the campaign to publicise the Saturday afternoon kick-offs in the ground, which the Bohs keeper hopes can become a regular family day out. Kelly will lead Bohs out for their first home game of the season this afternoon against an Athlone side that will be hurting after losing to Galway United at home last weekend. If there is a repeat of the 3-2 thriller of last season — which Bohemians won with a last-minute goal — those who come to Dalymount this afternoon will be in for a treat. ‘When we went to the 3.0pm kick-off from 6.0pm last season, we actually felt the change as a team,’ Kelly points out. ‘More people came. At three o’clock, it can be more of a family day out and that is what we want. ‘Towards the end of last season, you could see that more people were becoming interested. And our team has definitely been able to feed off the buzz around the men’s side. It just comes down to more promotion, making sure that people are aware that these games are on, that they know where they can go to them. If they know that we will be on at the same time in the same place, it might bring more out.’ As Bohs skipper, Kelly is excited by a season after an impressive 2-0 win in Wexford on the opening day. The former Shels goalkeeper, whose grandfather Jack won a FAI Cup with Shelbourne, admits that she wasn’t a Bohs fan, growing up in Coolock. But she said: ‘I am a Bohs fan now.’ SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division (5pm unless stated): Bohemians v Athlone Town, Dalymount, 3pm; Shamrock Rovers v Wexford Youths, Tallaght, 4pm; Treaty United v DLR Waves, Market’s Field; Galway United v Cork City, Eamon Deacy Park, Peamount United v Shelbourne, PRL Park