Wexford proves to be perfect stage to shine
THINGS have been hectic for Aoibheann Clancy over the last while. The teenager is preparing to start life as a first year biomedical sciences student at UCD while she was also called up for Vera Pauw’s squad ahead of their recent trip to Slovakia. And of course, there is also the small matter of the title run-in for this season’s Women’s National League.
The final few weeks are shaping up to be dramatic. Clancy and her Wexford Youths team-mates currently sit top of the table and will look to consolidate that when they host bottom club Treaty United this afternoon. But they will have to play Shelbourne, Peamount and Athlone, the three other sides chasing glory, in the next month.
‘It’s exciting, alright,’ Clancy agrees. ‘It’s great for the league too — you want to have an exciting title run-in with a few teams still having a chance of winning the title, rather than someone running away with it.
‘It will generate more interest in it. You want tight title races and competitive matches, and that is what we are getting in the league now.’
Clancy and her Wexford team-mate Ellen Molloy have been drafted into the international squad under Pauw, two key members of the home-based sessions that the Dutchwoman has made a regular feature of her reign.
‘It has been great, it has always been my ambition to play for Ireland at senior level,’ says Clancy, who starred for the international team at under-age level.
‘Working with the squad has been great, and it helps develop your game – I can bring that to Wexford training. The next step for me now is to break into the team.’
Clancy’s performances in the Wexford midfield saw her named the young player of the year last season.
With so many other talented youngsters being signed by clubs across the channel, it was felt that the talented Limerick native was also been tracked by scouts. However, having completed her Leaving Cert this summer, she took up an offer at UCD, although admits that the ambition is still to play professionally.
‘At the moment, all I am focused on is winning the title with Wexford Youths. My focus is just Treaty United this weekend. But with your career, you want to go as far as you can and it would be unbelievable to get the opportunity to go and play professionally at some stage in the future.
‘There are a lot more opportunities for young girls. You can see that with the players going to the WSL or Germany or America, and it has benefited Irish football.
There will be more opportunities but, hopefully, the league can benefit too in the long run.’
Clancy was disappointed by Galway WFC’s announcement earlier this week that they were withdrawing from the league at the end of this season, although it now looks likely Galway United will take up the reins and ensure there is senior soccer in the west in 2023.
A move to semi-professional was touted as the reason behind Galway’s decision, but Clancy feels that it is the next step that needs to be taken by the domestic game. ‘If that were to happen, it would be great as the next step for the league. Hopefully the clubs will get the support that they need to take that next step.’
If Galway United do take up the baton in the west, it will be a further affiliation between men’s and women’s teams in the League of Ireland. With the likes of Shelbourne and Bohemians bringing
“Hopefully, the
league benefits in the long run”
the sides under one umbrella — and Wexford Youths also doing it, it does seem the way forward for the national league.
But, following last year’s finalday drama, the potential for an even more exciting title race will also attract more eyeballs to the national league.
With all four of the title-chasers playing each other in the coming weeks, it’s likely there will be plenty of twists and turns. But Wexford are in the driving seat.
‘Well, we are top at the moment, but I don’t know if that is a good or a bad thing. It means that we have a target,’ Clancy says.
The fact that the closing stage of the season is drawing such attention is further proof of how the women’s game is continuing to grow in Ireland.