Limerick ladies moving the goalposts

At a recent reunion of the Limerick United 1975 Women's FAI Cup winning team at the Markets Field were, Geraldine Grace, Mary Gavin, Liz O'Connor, Mary Joyce, Catherine Browne, Ann Cross, Pauline Maher, Marion Slattery, and Majella Reddan.
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AN impressive exhibition – โ€˜Moving the Goalpostsโ€™ – to celebrate the pioneering Limerick Womenโ€™s soccer team of 1973-75 will open at Limerick Museum in the Old Francisan Friary on Henry Street this Thursday evening (September 11) and run through until October 31. ย 

Skilfully curated by John Elliot, it will focus on a side, under the astute management of the late Frank โ€˜Juniorโ€™ Keane, went unbeaten to annex back-to-back League of Ireland titles in 1973 and 1974, and capture the FAI Cup with a 2-1 final victory over Civil Service Dublin at the Markets Field the following season.

For the record, the home goals in either half came from Marion Slattery and Mary Gavin.

Several members of the squad later represented the Republic of Ireland.

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50 years on, and the current Garryowen-based outfit, Treaty United, face Bohemians in the 2025 FAI Womenโ€™s Cup semi-final at Dublinโ€™s Dalymount Park, on Saturday next (4pm).

Both teams are seeking to qualify for a first-ever final appearance.

En route, Seรกn Russellโ€™s fine Treaty side waltzed past Ferns United (Wexford) 8-0, with goals galore through Ciara Breslin, 2, Aibhlinn Cotter, 2, Kate Lee, Sirena Celebrini, Hayley Nolan, and teenager Amy Tierney.

In the quarter-final, Treaty were 2-0 winners over DLR Waves at UCD Bowl.

The scores were courtesy of Madelyn Robbins and Bella Flocchini, recently named Premier League Player of the Month for August.

The other semi, later that evening (7.35pm) at Tallaght Stadium, is between six-time winners Shamrock Rovers and Athlone Town.

Both fixtures are live on TG4.

In the Menโ€™s First Division, fifth-placed Treaty –ย  following on from a late, late 1-0 (Niko Kozlowski) home win against UCD at the weekend – are at St. Colmanโ€™s Park for a Munster Derby with second-positioned Cobh Ramblers on Friday, kick-off 7.45pm.