Opportunity knocks for Shamrock Rovers and women's game

"If we are serious about football in this country, every top League of Ireland club must have a senior women's team."

Those were the words of analyst and coach Lisa Fallon this time last year on the eve of the previous Women's National League campaign.

At that stage, Sligo Rovers had just introduced their women's senior team to the league in what would ultimately prove to be a solid debut at that level.

Now, as the rebranded SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division looms for 2023, another big club is preparing to make a splash.

After a nine-year absence from the women's senior game, Shamrock Rovers are back and look like they mean business, based on their squad building efforts over the winter.

From the moment they announced the signing of Republic of Ireland stalwart Áine O'Gorman and shortly after, Stephanie Roche, last November, a litany of big-name recruits have arrived from clubs which contested a four-way title battle last season.

Summer Lawless, Alannah McEvoy, Aoibhe Fleming and Lauren Kelly have all made the same journey from Peamount to Rovers.

Another coup has been the addition of young Ireland striker Abbie Larkin and goalkeeper Amanda Budden, who both left double winners Shelbourne.

Highly-rated Ireland Under-19 international Melissa O'Kane and fellow defender Jess Hennessy have both joined from last season's league and FAI Cup runners-up Athlone Town.

That defence has only been bolstered further with the signing of Irish senior international and former Galway defender Savannah McCarthy, who is in the latter stages of recovery from a knee injury.

The recruitment drive adds an immediate pressure for Shamrock Rovers to hit the ground running and challenge straight away, from the moment they kick off against Sligo on