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Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson pictured at Thursday's press conference. Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Gleeson denies 'disconnect' between Irish team and Premier Division

The manager also elaborated on the reasons for scrapping home-based sessions and plans for a future U23 team.

IRELAND BOSS Eileen Gleeson has rejected claims there is a โ€œdisconnectโ€ between the national team and the Womenโ€™s Premier Division.

The Dubliner says she has been an advocate for the domestic game for more than 30 years and has selected three Womenโ€™s Premier Division players in her latest squad โ€” Katie Keane (Athlone Town), Eva Mangan (Cork City) and Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United) โ€” ahead of the upcoming two-legged Euro 2025 Qualifying Play-Off against Georgia.

Gleeson replied to claims from Athlone boss Ciarรกn Kilduff, who suggested that โ€œno connectionโ€ exists between the Womenโ€™s Premier Division and the national team.

โ€œI donโ€™t think itโ€™s a disconnect, we contact clubs and weโ€™re linking about their players,โ€ the Irish boss said. โ€œMy role is about the senior national team, and if we need to engage in the communication we do, whether thatโ€™s me, whether thatโ€™s part of the technical staff, whether itโ€™s the performance coach.โ€

One source of frustration among some in the league has been the scrapping of home-based sessions โ€” a measure introduced by former manager Colin Bell and carried on (albeit to a lesser extent) by Vera Pauw. 

These sessions allowed amateur domestic players to train in a professional environment and bolster their chances of an international call-up.

There is now a plan to develop a U23 Irish team to bridge the chasms in levels that exist between the current U19 team and the senior side.

Outlining the reasons for ditching the home-based sessions, Gleeson said: โ€œWe believe we can be better in terms of talent management, we can be much more specific with our high potential players.

โ€œNobody is in any disagreement that we do need u23s and we do need to capture post u19s. Iโ€™ve been the biggest advocate of this and we all know where the gaps are. Thatโ€™s what weโ€™re looking for.

โ€œI hear home sessions being exalted, but itโ€™s the same people that were annihilating them when they were on who are exalting them now. So in principle, having something there to fill that pathway is critical.โ€ 

The Irish manager said the idea is being โ€œdevelopedโ€ and explained there is no definitive timeline for when these plans might come to fruition.

Asked whether the cash-strapped Football Association of Ireland didnโ€™t have the funds to accommodate a U23 team, Gleeson responded: โ€œAt the moment, it is all being developed so I have no specifics to give you.โ€

Pressed on the issue of FAI finances, the former Peamount and DLR Waves coach continued: โ€œWe are always calling on government support, it is one of our main sources of funding. But it is also about getting creative about how we do things and doing things the best way to facilitate the talented League Of Ireland player.

โ€œObjectively, there are differences to the levels that these players play at, there are different contact times, there is a different intensity to the games. The benchmarks and the outputs from League of Ireland games to WSL (the Womenโ€™s Super League in England) games are incredible and that is where we need to develop the most suitable programme that can enhance that playerโ€™s level and give them the best opportunity to make the national team.โ€ 

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    Mute Finbarr O'Connor
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    Dec 12th 2024, 6:14 PM

    Been long overdue . Hopefully clubs get behind this . If they donโ€™t they will be left behind . Itโ€™s time for football to move forward .

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    Mute Joe O'Regan
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    Dec 12th 2024, 6:31 PM

    Why are they starting it in august and having a mini season?

    It is a good idea in principle. Iโ€™m not sure if non-league clubs will be interested though as it will put extra financial burden on them.

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    Mute Andrew Smyth
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    Dec 12th 2024, 6:59 PM

    @Joe Oโ€™Regan: I guess a dry run

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    Mute Der Calnan
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    Dec 12th 2024, 7:40 PM

    Will we ever see an All Ireland League?

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    Mute patsfan1166
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    Dec 12th 2024, 8:52 PM

    @Der Calnan: hope not

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    Mute Sea Point
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    Dec 12th 2024, 9:30 PM

    @patsfan1166: only thing that will save both leagues long term, and drive audiences (Grounds & TV). 2/3 of the best teams on the island are South of the border, and the gap between top of LOI & IL and bottom teams is usually massive. A two tier All Island League with twelve fully pro in the Prem (competing for decent prize money) and 18 semi pro teams split into North & South Divisions is the way forward..

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    Mute Greg o loughlin
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    Dec 12th 2024, 5:39 PM

    Hahaha

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Dec 12th 2024, 9:15 PM

    Why would clubs be interested? Although itโ€™s regionalised it would mean Cork clubs travelling to Limerick and Tipperary and vice versa. Expense would mount up
    What would happen to the Munster senior league and the various leagues around the country

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