Oct 18,2024
In the women's domestic game, there are often less than three degrees of separation. Sometimes there’s barely one.
With just 11 teams competing in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division (Waterford will make it a dozen next season), and currently no First Division, players and coaches move around on a compact carousel.
For Shelbourne’s Leah Doyle, two worlds collide once again on Sunday when she goes up against her Maynooth University manager Ciaran Kilduff, who will attempt to lead Athlone Town to the Sports Direct FAI Cup final and thus complete a league and cup double.
It’s Shels versus Athlone in the decider for a third season in a row, the Midlanders having won last year on penalties to gain revenge on the Reds, who prevailed in 2022.
If the league games between these two are anything to go by, we can expect a tense, physical showdown that could easily go all the way to spot-kicks again.
Doyle is braced for that, but regardless of which way this one goes, her respect for Kilduff will not be dimmed.
"Ciaran has been great for me," she said ahead of the Tallaght Stadum showpiece.
"He’s been such a good friend, I’d say really at this stage. If I am struggling and need to talk about football he’s one of the first people I can call.
"He’s given me so much time. It’s just unfortunate he’s at Athlone really! What he’s done at that club has been incredible. I know Tommy Hewitt (who Kilduff succeeded) was really successful before but to get them their first league title is incredible for him and the club. You have to respect that. I think this rivalry is going to stay for a while."
Doyle has shone in a wing-back role after the signing of Republic of Ireland international Éabha O’Mahony allowed Shels boss Eoin Wearen to rejig his formation.
She admits it took time to adapt, but Doyle - a former world U18s doubles handball champion - believes she has become a more complete player over the last 12 months.
"At Shels it’s all about the squad," she said. "Even when you know there’s a player coming in, it pushes you on, makes you have to work a lot harder.
"Éabha is probably better at attacking at times, so I had to go away and work on that. Only for that, I wouldn’t have developed that side of my game as much, I wouldn’t have as much confidence as I do coming into this cup final.
"Being forced to have to work that hard can only give you confidence. I think that’s the case in most positions in our squad. There’s so much talent and everyone has to work so hard that we should be coming in confident. It’s such an incredible squad and a great environment to be in."
That environment is nurtured by some hugely respected and experienced figures, who have helped to maintain old values after the departure of Noel King and arrival of Wearen last winter.
"It’s been a successful year I think overall," Doyle reflected. "We’ve probably had a few draws that we’ll be frustrated by for the next few months, but we won’t change much. The culture and environment of the team is so incredible.
"I have to credit that mostly to the senior players – Pearl (Slattery), Rachel (Graham), Noelle Murray), (player liaison officer) Rebecca Creagh. They’ve all been so great.
"The lads (Wearen and his assistant Rory Kirk) have been great since they’ve come in. They’ve changed the formation. It took us time to adapt but they’ve been really patient with us.
"We love what they’ve brought to it, but the culture and environment is created and maintained by those players.
"What they’ve done at this club is so incredible. There’s always that element of enjoying every match we play in. These big occasions are meant to be enjoyed.
"You work so hard to get to a day like this. I know we’ve been in it for four years now, but they really are hard to come by! Some day you’ll miss it. You should enjoy every single moment."
