Making History

Above - Erin O'Brien, Dan Burke and Chloe Atkinson have all signed from Cork City

 

It’s finally here! For the first time in Waterford’s illustrious history, we have a team competing in the Women’s Premier Division as of tomorrow. Those who have cheered the past successes of Benfica or watched Ciara Grant earning 105 caps for Ireland and nine league titles in England can at last watch Waterford taking on the best teams in the country at the highest level.

It's a whole new ball game for The Blues and one that has been achieved through a lot of hard work behind the scenes. The reward begins now. Clearly, the main aim will be to establish ourselves in the league first and it will be tough coming up against full international players every week, but manager Gary Hunt has been able to assemble an exciting squad that I think will be able to compete within the lower half of the table for now. Mighty oaks grow from little acorns.

 

 

(Keepers Mollie Levingston, Maeve Williams and Ciara Kelly photographed by Sportsfile)

 

From my own personal perspective, this is a real thrill and I feel it marks Waterford FC as one of the top clubs in the country now with men’s and women’s teams as well as six more competing in the academy. That’s a long way from where we were ten years ago. I’ve spent many years having to be a part-Wexford FC fan (and Kilkenny United when they were in the league) to follow the best Waterford players and wished they could be playing in blue with ‘three ships and three sails’ on their badge.

I remember volunteering at the hugely successful summer camp at the RSC in 2018. There were so many talented girls playing there, but it was sad that while the boys all wanted to grow up to play for the Blues and copy their heroes on the main pitch, the girls couldn’t have that wish. Now they can, and some of them will be playing first team League of Ireland football for the Blues this year.

That dream becomes reality tomorrow with a three o’clock kick-off away to Treaty United in Limerick. Treaty finished in mid-table in 2024 - seventh of eleven teams – so it should be a fair test of our abilities, although we will need time to gel and adjust to this level. Waterford had 2-0 defeats to DLR Waves and Wexford FC in preseason and it took two wonder goals from Ireland international Ellen Molloy to win the second of those.

 

(Sophie Slattery sticking closely to Wexford's Ellen Molloy - photo from Wexford FC)

 

The Blues will have the excellent Maeve Williams in goal with Under 19s ‘keepers Ciara Kelly and Mollie Levingston as back-up. Maeve, from Ferrybank, is a lifelong Blues fan, but spent the last seven years at Wexford Youths where she kept a clean sheet on her first team debut in 2019. Still only 22, she has a league winners medal, three FAI Cup winners medals, Champions League experience and Ireland Under 19 caps. 

In defence, Glenmore native Danielle Griffin has the honour of being Waterford Women’s first ever club captain. The 21-year-old full back has come through Waterford’s academy, following in the footsteps of her older brothers Oisin and Killian.

Hunt has brought in a pair of experienced centre halves from Cork City in Lauren Walsh and Danielle Burke who have over 200 league appearances between them. Other defensive options include Sophie Slattery in the middle and fullbacks Meghan Carr and Jess Lawler.

Midfield options include Aoibh Thomas, Mia Lenihan and Olivia Shannon who have graduated from the academy, as well as Aoife Mulkern who has signed from CK United. Attacking midfielder Olivia Gibson from Cork has League of Ireland experience with Treaty United and spent time playing in America most recently.

 

(Nancy Edogiawerie - photograph from Wexford FC)

 

I’m pleased that Hunt has put together an exciting attack with forwards and wingers Erin O’Brien, Lauren Egbuloniu and Chloe Atkinson (all signed from Cork City) along with locals Nancy Edogiawerie and Zoey Croke. Nancy, Zoey and Sophie Slattery were all part of the original Blues Under 17s team just four years ago so it is fantastic to see them in our first ever senior squad now.

Many of our current Under 19s will be part of Hunt’s plans too. Those who have been given squad numbers to date are defenders Sophie Moran and Hannah Griffey, midfielder Emma Rossiter and attackers Cliona Kearney, Lillie Holloway and Zara Corcoran.

Gary will be assisted by Jess Lawton who is also in charge of the Under 19s – an overlap that will be beneficial. Peter O’Hagan, Kevin Burns, Ava Murphy and Hannah Hamilton will make up the rest of the coaching and conditioning team.

 

 

Tomorrow’s game can be watched on LOITV with coverage beginning at 2.45pm. Next week’s first home game against champions Shelbourne takes place at the RSC at 3pm on Saturday and can also be seen on LOITV. Then, Waterford’s third game away to Sligo Rovers is set for live coverage on TG4 on Saturday the 22^nd at 7.35pm.

A reflection of the value being offered by Waterford FC to supporters is that adult tickets for tomorrow’s game at Market’s Field are priced at €14. A season ticket to watch eleven games at the RSC is just €60 and individual matches are €7 each. Of course, even better is that all Men’s season ticket holders can attend every game for no extra cost. Also, Hess Sports Group are kindly offering free tickets for next week on application in advance. There should be a big home support from the Blue army for that historic occasion.

First, it’s Treaty United away tomorrow. Wishing the very best of luck to our history-makers when the Blues go marching on!