Latest news with #Women'sPremiership
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
NI Women's boss has full faith teen shot-stoppers will come good: ‘If they are called upon, I know they are ready to go'
Instead, the manager has backed uncapped namesake teenagers Abbie and Kate Smith to rise to the challenge if she has to throw either in at the deep end. Jackie Burns' status as Northern Ireland's No.1 is in no doubt and backed up by the fact that she has played every minute of the 15 matches since she returned from injury against Malta in April 2024. Behind her, however, there is no experienced or obvious backup. Sixteen-year-old Abbie Smith played just once in the Women's Premiership for Crusaders Strikers before moving to Manchester City's Academy in 2025. Kate Smith, who was called into the squad to face Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina after Maddy Harvey-Clifford was ruled out, does have more club game-time behind her with both Larne Women and Lisburn Rangers and was part of the Northern Ireland Under-19 squad that played in the recent European qualifiers. 'From my point of view, both Abbie and Kate deserve to be here,' said Oxtoby. 'If they are called upon, I know they are ready to go. 'If it goes really well, I take all the credit, and if it goes really poorly, then I'll take the flak for that. 'It's no different to outfield players, they have to be given the opportunity. They came into the environment last time around as training players, they did really, really well and they deserve to be here.' Four goalkeepers were used in the 12 games that Burns missed during a year out with an Achilles tendon injury. Shannon Turner played six times but hasn't been in a squad since Burns returned, while Harvey-Clifford started four times and Lilie Woods and Rachael Norney shared a clean sheet when both made what is their only senior appearance so far in a friendly away to the Czech Republic in July 2023. Lauren Perry had returned to the squads at the start of 2024 but her chances of challenging for a starting place were wrecked by a third cruciate ligament injury, and Becky Flaherty, who kept two crucial clean sheets on the way to the Women's Euro 2022 Finals, hasn't been in a single squad since the tournament. The selection of the two Smiths may be with the future in mind, but the present also has to be taken into account with a Nations League Promotion Play-Off still to be played for in Bosnia. 'I know they are prepared really well if needed,' said Oxtoby ahead of Tuesday's encounter in Zenica. 'If the time comes and they go into the game, I've got no doubt that they'll do the job that is asked of them. 'If they make a mistake, that's on me, not on them.'
Belfast Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Lisburn Ladies are hungry to fulfil top-half ambition, insists Stacey Murdough
The scorer of the club's first-ever goal in the Women's Premiership is hungry for more, though.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crusaders and Derry City win in Women's Premiership
Crusaders and Derry City picked up away wins in the Women's Premiership with victories over Lisburn Ladies and Larne. Alison McMaster and Beth Chalmers scored as the Crues sealed a 2-0 win to move level on points with league leaders Glentoran. After a goalless first half, substitute McMaster scored moments after coming on to break the deadlock on 57 minutes. Jonny Tuffey's side doubled their lead through Chalmers nine minutes later to secure all three points. Derry City had a more emphatic victory as they beat Larne 4-0 at Inver Park for their first win of the season. Cache Crumlin-Hawes opened the scoring after just seven minutes before Rachel McIntyre added a second on 30 minutes. Caoimhe Walsh and Tara O'Connor-Farren completed the win with second-half goals for the Candstripes.
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tanya Oxtoby hands Manchester City teenager first Northern Ireland call-up
Just three months after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship the 16-year-old has been selected by manager Tanya Oxtoby for the crucial Women's Nations League double header against Poland and Bosnia & Herzegovina. While it is a big step up for under-17 international Smith, who made the move from Crusaders Strikers in February, Oxtoby sees it as an opportunity to speed up her development. It is less than a year since she made her debut for the Strikers aged just 15-years-old against Glentoran Women in August 2024, which turned out to be her only Women's Premiership appearance for the club. At the other end of the scale all-time leading goalscorer Rachel Furness, who was called in late ahead of last month's win over Romania is included from the start this time around and could add to her 96 caps. Smith replaces Rachel Norney in the squad while Rangers' Laura Rafferty returns to the defence after injury ruled her out of the most recent double header against Romania. Kelsie Burrows is currently out through an ankle injury sustained while playing for Cliftonville Ladies and Nat Johnson, who was called in last time around, is back on the stand-by list. Megan Bell too back after missing the second game against Romania as Oxtoby expands her panel by naming 24 players this time around. Northern Ireland currently trail Poland by three points in the group, making next Friday's clash at Seaview potentially pivotal in the fight for promotion to League A and the feeling that the 2-0 defeat in Gdansk back in February wasn't a reflection of the performance is still fresh in the minds of Oxtoby and her squad. A win for Northern Ireland, who are unbeaten in the last three games, would set up a huge clash with Bosnia the following Tuesday with at least a promotion Play-off the aim. Poland dropped points for the first time in the group when an injury time goal rescued them in Bosnia in their last game, on the same night that Northern Ireland beat Romania 1-0 to close the gap at the top of the group and keep hopes of a rise to League A alive. Goalkeepers - Jackie Burns (Calgary Wild), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Abbie Smith (Manchester City Women). Defenders - Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield Women). Midfielders - Louise McDaniel and Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley Women), Nadene Caldwell and Aimee Kerr (both Glentoran Women), Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest Women), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United Women, on loan from London City Lionesses), Rachel Furness (Newcastle United Women). Forwards - Emily Wilson and Kascie Weir (both Glentoran Women), Lauren Wade (Hearts Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley Women), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest Women).
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers and Hibs face Ibrox shootout for Women's league title as race goes down to last day
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HIBS and Rangers face a title shootout at Ibrox on Sunday. The Edinburgh league leaders need only a point to secure their first title for 18 years. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Hibs go into the final day of the Women's Premiership season needing just a point to be champions Credit: Getty 3 They face Rangers, who know a win would see them steal the title Credit: Alamy 3 Hibs boss Grant Scott says there's a lot of work still to do Credit: Getty But a Rangers victory in front of their own fans will land them the title given their vastly superior goal difference. They will be boosted by the fact they thumped Hibs 5-0 in the Sky Sports Cup final in March. Glasgow City are out of the race - they can go level on points, but Gers boast a better goal difference by 26 goals. There were no signs of any nerves as Hibs thumped champions Celtic with a 4-2 win at Meadowbank last night. Goals from Ciara Grant and a brace from the Kathleen McGovern had them 3-0 up after just 25 minutes. Saoirse Noonan pulled one back before the break. But Eilidh Adams added Hibs' fourth before a late consolation from Bruna Lourenco. Celtic are now 15 points off the league leaders. Hibs manager Grant Scott said: "We've done our jobs tonight and taken it to the last game, which is an unbelievable achievement already. "We didn't think we'd be here at this moment, but the harsh reality is that we've got a lot of work to do yet because we face a formidable opponent." Dundee Utd fan 'caught mocking Ibrox disaster' during Rangers clash days after Celtic supporter lost job Jo Potter's Gers side beat Hearts 5-3. They were leading 5-1 before allowing their concentration to slip in the latter stages. Boss Potter said: "We've been put in a position where the pressure's really on, but it's a position we'd have paid for a week ago. "We get great support home and away no matter where we go, but I'd really love to see the fans turn up for this one." Gers found themselves in the same position two seasons back when they hosted City on the final day, with the Petershill side nicking the title with almost the very last kick of the ball. City dumped Motherwell 2-1, with Brenna Lovera netting a late penalty to give them all three points. Leanne Ross' side will now turn their full attention to next weekend's Scottish Cup final — when they play Rangers at Hampden — as they look to end the season with silverware. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
