CK United has confirmed their application to join the Women’s National Division for the 2025 season was unsuccessful.
The silver lining is that the Women’s First Division is scheduled to commence in 2026, and CK United anticipates joining in its inaugural season. The club is also preparing to participate in the Men’s 3rd Tier when it is confirmed. In the meantime, CK United stated on social media that they will continue to collaborate with The Watershed in Kilkenny to upgrade their facilities to League of Ireland standards.
CK United Chairman, Peter Harvey, voiced the club’s disappointment but reaffirmed their commitment to progress. “While the club are extremely disappointed that we weren’t invited to apply for a Licence for this season, we will continue to progress with the aim for having first-team football for our players by 2026. I would like to thank Fran Egan and Shane Dunphy for putting together a great presentation and also the coaches and players who have helped progress the club so far in the recent years,” he stated.
It has been confirmed that Waterford FC has received an invitation from the League of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland to begin the Club Licensing process for the 2025 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division. While the news is a setback, CK’s determination to establish top-tier football in the region remains undeterred. The vision for 2026 is clear, and CK United seem dedicated to achieving this goal, building on the strong foundation laid by their players, coaches, and supporters.
To find out more about the progression of the club listen to the Kilkenny Soccer Podcast below where CK’s Director of Football Shane Dunphy was the latest guest.
