Rathnew withdraw Premier team from W.D.F.L

THE Wicklow District Football League has been left reeling by the news that Rathnew AFC, the reigning Premier Division champions, will not be defending their crown in 2017/18 having withdrawn their side from the top flight.

The vastly-successful team, lead by manager Barry Mernagh, scooped league honours last time out for the first time in over a decade.

In the gap between league successes they have amassed a multitude of trophies including many, many Wicklow Cups as they established themselves as a real powerhouse in the Garden county soccer scene.

Rathnew fulfilled one fixture this season – the inaugural Tommy Heffernan Charity Shield – which saw a youthful Villagers side suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of Ashford Rovers.

The WDFL confirmed Rathnew’s withdrawal via statement and also revealed the new-look Andy McEvoy Premier 1 set-up going forward.

“At a meeting on Monday the 18th of September, Rathnew AFC informed the league that their title-winning Premier team from 2016/17 season team and management had folded and the club has withdrawn them for the coming season.

“The league has amalgamated the old Premier Division with the current Division 1A to create an 11-team division with seven Wicklow League teams and four Leinster Football League Teams. The division is called the Andy McEvoy Premier 1.”

The teams competing in the Andy McEvoy Premier 1 will be: Park Orient, Tallaght City, Dynamo Dublin, Fc Locomotiv, Roundwood FC, Carnew AFC, Avonmore FC, St Peters FC, Arklow Celtic A, Newtown United and Ashford Rovers.