Welcome to 2024! The Female Sports Forum is committed to highlighting the diverse range of sports in Northern Ireland. We’ve updated our calendar this year and would love your input on more local events. If you’re aware of any, click the link and share the details with us! Let’s keep supporting women’s sport and maybe make it a goal to go to a game this year!
The year has kicked off with a strong start in team sports! The Lidl NFL league is underway again, with Ulster teams competing across all divisions. Armagh has returned to the topflight, led by the experienced manager Gregory McGonigle. McGonigle, who previously managed Monaghan and Dublin at the inter-county level, guided Armagh’s Clann Éireann to an historic Ulster Senior club title last year. Antrim has moved up to Division 3 after their historic win last year. In the second week of the tournament, the match results for Ulster teams were:
Ladies National Football League Division 1 Round 2
Armagh 1-8 Cork 1-6
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 2 Round 2
Kildare 1-8 Donegal 1-4
Tyrone 1-7 Tipperary 0-9
Cavan 0-9 Laois 0-6
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 Round 2
Wexford 1-5 Down 0-5
Offaly 5-4 Antrim 2-8
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 4 Round 3
Leitrim 8-8 Derry 0-7
Fermanagh 2-15 Wicklow 2-7
In a nail-biting week, we watched the Irish Women’s Hockey team compete for a spot in the 2024 Olympics. Despite solid wins in the early games. They faced Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze medal match, losing 2-1. It was a great to see the support these women received across social media. More info
The Celtic Challenge in round four. With twice as many teams involved the Irish women have been broken up into two teams of Wolfhounds (Leinster and Ulster) and Clovers (Connacht and Munster). Ulster’s Brittany Hogan and Niamh Marley had notable performances in the Wolfhounds game against Brython Thunder. The Women’s Rugby 7s secured their first World Series title win in Australia at the HSBC SVNS series Tournament. MORE INFO
The Women’s International Cricket team have been playing hard Women T20i Series in Harare Sports Club, Harare. 18 year old Amy Hunter has broken the top 20 in the rankings along with becoming the only Irish women’s cricketer to score an international century in both one-day international and T20 international formats, and one of only three Irish crickets (men or women) to do so. Additionally, the team have won/tied all their games against Zimbabwe this series. Orla Prendergast has greatly contributed to the wins of the team! Exciting to get to watch all these athletes progress as we will hopefully see them at the T20 world cup this year!
Young athletes have been successful at international competitions, with the U20 NI and Ulster Men and Women team excelling in the Celtic International Cross Country Meet. Anna Gardiner (East Down) place 2ndoverall, with Annabel Morrison (Enniskillen RC) was 5th. Lucy and Kirsti Foster (Willowfield Harriers) place 10thand 42th respectfully. As a team they placed 2nd. Congrats team! The senior women also competed in the Parliament hill Cross Challenge with a 5th place finish- individually Edel Monaghan (DCH) 26th, Robyn McKee (Annadale Striders) 33rd, and Orla Duffy (DCH) 36th. More info
Aoibheann Donnelly (Belfast star) was called up to the Ireland U16 Team. It always exciting to see more NI players making it to the international level. Additionally, Basketball NI has announced the SHE GOT GAME initiative, to encourage women to get back involved in Basketball. More Info
There are a few awards still happening, Local Women Sport are hosting the second year of their awards dinner (MORE INFO). Additionally, Belfast City Council has opened up nominations for their awards as well (MORE INFO). Let’s celebrate all those involved in sports and nominate them for well-deserved recognition!