Something big is happening in the Women’s National League and Pearl Slattery is thankful she can be part of it.
It’s difficult to imagine the league without the Shelbourne captain, who won her fourth title on an unforgettable final day last November.
Shels went into their last game with Wexford Youths two points behind Peamount United and with, seemingly, little chance of ousting the side who’d won the past two titles.
Fairytales do exist in football and, 90 minutes later, Shels were champions for the first time in five years.
It was such an unexpected turn that the players hadn’t even brought a change of clothes to go out and celebrate - they toasted their achievement in the stadium.
That they did so on Tolka’s sacred turf is fitting, though, as the club’s supporters intensify the Save Tolka Park campaign to retain one of Dublin’s iconic stadiums.
Shelbourne have led Irish football in ensuring parity of esteem for men’s and women’s teams, having both teams in Tolka and dropping the patronising “Ladies” from their name.
And the Drumcondra club have gone further this year with an away kit bearing the names of the countless fans who supported the club during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Reds have sold a record number of season tickets this year and it’s not just the lure of Damien Duff at the helm of the men’s side drawing interest to the club.
“What the club have done with the jerseys is unbelievable,” a proud Slattery tells Mirror Sport.
“I've never heard of anything like that before. When I was told about it I thought it was incredible.
“The fact it was my club is even better. It's a lovely touch and that's what the League of Ireland is about. It's the people's league and it's brilliant to see.
“We all know League of Ireland clubs are backed a lot by what comes in on the gates. The fact that, when Covid hit, season tickets still bought their season tickets and supported the club was great.”
Slattery, who has played in four Champions League campaigns with Raheny United and successor club Shelbourne, is confident football can get back to something normal.
Shels are top of the league, alongside Peas, after winning their first four games. Slattery scored the winner on the opening day against Bohemians.
While they’ve lost a key influence in Ireland midfielder Ciara Grant to Rangers, and Saoirse Noonan will return to Durham in the summer, they’ve started at a good tilt.
DLR Waves, Galway and Wexford Youths have all improved, and the stage is set for the most competitive WNL season yet.
The national Irish-language broadcaster TG4 will show at least nine games in 2022 and the potential for growth and visibility is huge.
But while television is great for the league, nothing beats live football, and Slattery rightly points out that the Women’s National League is an incredible spectacle.
“Last year was just an unbelievable ending. I think for league in general, it was brilliant promotion.
“We've tried to promote and develop the league over the years and I think that was a real fitting end, to promote our league and showcase what the league is about.
“Last season, we would have went from 40 or 50 people at our ground to a couple of hundred, which was brilliant.
“TG4 and LOITV are brilliant when people can't get to games, but we want to continue to push people to come and watch the games and get that atmosphere.
“And there was a huge growth last year around the league and hopefully it can continue into 2022.”
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