Where once there was a bustling women’s soccer scene in Carlow, post-Covid times have seen numbers dwindling, at least for the Carlow & District League.
The KCLR Women’s Shield was introduced as a pre-season competition last year, with five teams on board, but the league is the lookout for more participants for the new season.
“Over the years we’ve had a really successful ladies league”, Brian O’Reilly, secretary of Carlow & District League told Full Time on Monday evening.
“Since Covid, the numbers have dwindled slightly. We had a very competitive league last year but there were only five teams in it. What we’re trying to do now is encourage as many clubs as possible to try and come back and enter ladies teams.”
“Pre-covid we would have had two divisions of seven or two divisions of six and to get down to five last year was disappointing. While the league was competitive and the standard was exceptional, with five teams you’re looking for some more.”
“We put out a message a few weeks ago asking any girls in the county (Carlow) who are wanting to play to contact their local clubs. We’re hoping [there are] a few clubs who hadn’t thought about entering a ladies team who might be able to come up with 15 or 16 (players) and enter the ladies league.”
Meanwhile, there was one game in the KCLR Carlow Shield on Monday night to round out the opening weekend’s action.
Goals from Robbie Byrne and Jamie Farrell saw Parkville United battle back twice to salvage a 2-2 draw against Killeshin
You can listen back to the feature on the latest in Carlow soccer from the 36 minute mark below.
