A Setanta Cup-style competition for women’s clubs has been pencilled in for June.
The all-island competition has been arranged by the League of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Football League - and will take place during the season break ahead of the Women’s World Cup.
SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division clubs will take on their NIFL Women’s Premiership counterparts in a 16-team tournament.
It will be made up of 11 League of Ireland clubs and five from the north, with four groups of four teams.
The group games will take place on June 18, June 25 and July 2, and the top teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played on July 9. The finals is scheduled for July 16.
League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon said: “We are looking forward to working with the Northern Ireland Football League to create what should be an exciting new competition that will act as an additional test for our SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division clubs.
“Finding the right time to host these games was always going to be the main obstacle to overcome but we have identified a block in June, when preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be ongoing.
“Thankfully our colleagues in the NIFL have been able to work the dates into their schedule also.
“We believe this competition will be a brilliant start to what promises to be a historic summer for Women’s football in Ireland.
“Along with introducing the President’s Cup this year, this all-island competition is ensuring that our clubs are competing in more top quality games and that will help to strengthen our league as a whole.”
Northern Ireland Football League Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor said: “We’re delighted to accept the invitation from the FAI and the League of Ireland for our clubs to participate in this exciting new competition.
“This is a ground-breaking season for Women’s football for us with the introduction of professionalism, therefore the challenge of competing against new opposition is hugely positive and exciting for the growth of our game.”
The clubs involved will be: Athlone Town, Bohemians, Cork City, DLR Waves, Galway United, Peamount United, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Sligo Rovers, Treaty United, Wexford Youths, Cliftonville, Crusaders, Derry City, Glentoran and Linfield.
All games will be available to watch live on LOITV, while further details of the draw and venues will be announced in due course.
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