2021 Women's National League (Ireland)

Women's National League
Season2021
Dates27 March 2021 – 13 November 2021
ChampionsShelbourne
2nd title
Champions LeagueShelbourne
Matches played108
Top goalscorerÁine O'Gorman (16 goals)
Biggest home winPeamount United 8–1 Cork City
(30 October 2021)
Biggest away winTreaty United 0–10 Peamount United
(3 October 2021)
Highest scoringTreaty United 0–10 Peamount United
(3 October 2021)
Highest attendance1,007 Cork City 3–1 Treaty United (6 November 2021)[1]
← 2020
2022 →
All statistics correct as of 13 November 2021.

The 2021 Women's National League, known as the SSE Airtricity WNL for sponsorship reasons,[2] is the 11th season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland since its establishment in 2011. Peamount United were the defending champions, having won their third league title the previous season.

In January 2021 the League attracted a new title sponsor, as SSE Airtricity agreed a two-year renewal of their existing deal with the (men's) League of Ireland and extended it to also cover the WNL.[3] The Bank of Ireland also signed a three-year deal as an associate sponsor of the League of Ireland and WNL.[4] This followed a season without a WNL sponsorship deal in 2020.[5]

The 1,007 spectators at Cork City's 3–1 win over Treaty United on 6 November 2021 at Turners Cross set a new WNL record for the highest attendance.[1]

A dramatic conclusion to the season saw defending champions Peamount United unexpectedly squander a two-goal lead to lose 5–2 at home to Galway on the final match day, allowing Shelbourne to claim the title with their 3–2 win over Wexford Youths.[6][7] Both matches were subject to live television coverage, following the WNL's agreement of a broadcast arrangement with TG4 in September 2021.[8]

During the season a number of players transferred to professional clubs in England and Scotland. Peamount manager James O'Callaghan called for the formation of a task force, to examine the possibility of making the WNL semi-professional in future: "It's great for those players that they are getting to play professionally, but it's not great for the league to be losing them."[9]

  1. ^ a b Horgan, Andrew (6 November 2021). "Cork City breaks record for attendance at a Women's National League game in win over Treaty". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  2. ^ "SSE Airtricity extends title sponsorship of League of Ireland". The Irish Times. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ O'Halloran, Rob (20 January 2021). "Huge boost for Irish football as LOI and WNL land new title sponsorship deal". Extra.ie. DMG Media. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Bank of Ireland signs on as Associate LOI Sponsor". Football Association of Ireland. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  5. ^ McDonnell, Daniel (20 January 2021). "Aine O'Gorman hopes sponsorship deal will help end WNL's 'pay to play' system". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  6. ^ O'Mahony, Paul (7 December 2021). "Women's National League: "These are exciting times for women's football in Ireland. The time to jump on board is now…."". Hot Press. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  7. ^ Fahey, Cian (17 November 2021). ""I'm in the history books for being part of the biggest implosions ever" | Karen Duggan COYGIG podcast". Off the Ball (media company). Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  8. ^ "TG4 to broadcast four WNL games live during the remainder of the season". Irish Independent. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  9. ^ Malone, Emmet (4 February 2021). "O'Callaghan wants taskforce on women's professional league". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 December 2021.