WELCOME NOTE It gives me great pleasure as President of the On behalf of the FAI Women’s Football Committee, Football Association of Ireland to be here in I would like to welcome you all virtually to Tallaght Tallaght Stadium today for the meeting of Cork Stadium for the 2020 FAI Women’s Senior Cup Final. City and Peamount United in the FAI Women’s Unfortunately, due to the current COVID restrictions it Senior Cup Final. For those lucky enough to be in is not possible for fans to attend in person, but great to the stadium and for those watching at home, it have the opportunity to watch the game live on RTÉ2. promises to be a great occasion. Tallaght Stadium is a new venue for the Women’s Cup Final, Peamount will be looking to go one step better than last from 2013 to 2019, it had been hosted in the Aviva Stadium as year in today’s decider whilst I know well, as a Dub in part of a double bill with the men’s FAI Cup Final. While that exile on Leeside, how much excitement this Cork City helped to increase the profile of the game, we felt more needed journey has created down in the Southern capital ahead to be done. Earlier this year following discussions with the FAI of their second Cup Final appearance. Competitions Department, the Women’s Football Committee and a review by an FAI Working Group, it was agreed that the To both teams, their coaching staff, families and time is right to showcase the Women’s Senior Cup Final on its supporters, no matter what the result today, you can be own merits and give the marquee event in the women’s football proud of your achievement in getting to the FAI Women’s domestic calendar the huge profile it deserves. Senior Cup final and the last game of the season. Tallaght Stadium is the home of the Republic of Ireland Women’s It has been a remarkable season with challenges like Team and so was a natural venue for the Women’s Final. It is none we have ever experienced before in this COVID-19 acknowledged that moving away from the Aviva may be a era. As FAI President, I want to thank everyone who has disappointment for some, however the decision was taken with made football possible for so many in these difficult times the clear intention of building on the growing popularity of particularly our frontline staff, so many of whom are women’s football over recent years and to increase attendances. members of the Irish football community. The ultimate aim being to outgrow Tallaght Stadium and to return to the Aviva Stadium for the women’s final as a stand-alone Our thanks go to Women’s Football Committee event in the future. The plans to market and promote the game chairperson Frances Smith and her committee for to encourage fans to come along had to be put on hold due to everything they contribute for our game. To our FAI staff COVID, but hopefully by the time the 2021 final comes along the and to all the club officials up and down the country, current restrictions will be no more. to the COVID-19 Compliance Officers, to the League officials, to referee Claire Purcell and her team, and all of The Women’s Cup finals are generally closely fought games and the other match officials throughout the year – thank you I expect today’s game will be no different. Peamount United for making our game possible. To Nicola Coffey and all as beaten finalists on the last two occasions will be hoping it is the team at Tallaght Stadium, our gratitude as always for third time lucky for them, however I’ve no doubt Cork City will making our events here special. be looking to repeat the success of their last appearance in the final in 2017. All of this promises a competitive game for those Finally, I would also like to pay a very special tribute watching and also guarantees a different name on the cup this today to our dearly departed FAI colleague Michael year. Hayes, a man who forgot more about Irish football than the rest of us could hope to remember. His sad loss Well done to Peamount who were recently crowned 2020 WNL earlier this year was a tragedy for our sport and I again Champions. There are still a few matches to play in the Women’s would like to pass on our sympathies to his family and his Under 17 National League season so no winner there yet. After many friends in football. today’s match all Senior Clubs will have the opportunity to take some time off after what has been a challenging WNL season, As we approach the Centenary of the FAI next year, this before regrouping in early 2021 to start the new campaign. promises to be a worthy FAI Women’s Senior Cup Final. Enjoy! Wishing the players; management and staff of both teams the best of luck in today’s final. Go n-éirí an t-adh libh! Frances Smith Gerry McAnaney, Chairperson, President, FAI Women’s Football Committee Football Association of Ireland 2 LIST OF WINNERS 1975 - LIMERICK 1998 - SHAMROCK ROVERS 1976 - DUBLIN CASTLE 1999 - SHAMROCK ROVERS 1977 - SUFFRAGETTES 2000 - SHAMROCK ROVERS 1978 - DUBLIN CASTLE 2001 - SHAMROCK ROVERS 1979 - DUBLIN CASTLE 2002 - UCD 1980 - SUFFRAGETTES 2003 - UCD 1981 - SUFFRAGETTES 2004 - UCD 1982 - DUBLIN CASTLE 2005 - DUNDALK CITY 1983 - GLADE CELTIC 2006 - MAYO LADIES LEAGUE 1984 - DUBLIN CASTLE 2007 - GALWAY LADIES LEAGUE 1985 - RATHFARNHAM UNITED 2008 - ST FRANCIS 1986 - DUBLIN CASTLE 2009 - ST FRANCIS 1987 - BENFICA 2010 - PEAMOUNT UNITED 1988 - RATHFARNHAM UNITED 2011 - ST CATHERINE’S 1989 - BENFICA 2012 - RAHENY UNITED 1990 - RATHFARNHAM UNITED 2013 - RAHENY UNITED 1991 - RATHFARNHAM UNITED 2014 - RAHENY UNITED 1992 - WELSOX 2015 - WEXFORD YOUTHS 1993 - BENFICA 2016 - SHELBOURNE 1994 - WELSOX 2017 - CORK CITY 1995 - RATHFARNHAM UNITED 2018 - WEXFORD YOUTHS 1996 - CASTLE ROVERS 2019 - WEXFORD YOUTHS 1997 - SHAMROCK ROVERS 2020 FAI WOMEN’S SENIOR CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND BOHEMIANS 1 3 CORK CITY (2-4 to Bohemians on penalties) QUARTER-FINALS BOHEMIANS 1 3 CORK CITY GALWAY WFC 2 3 WEXFORD YOUTHS PEAMOUNT UNITED 1 0 SHELBOURNE TREATY UNITED 2 0 DLR WAVES SEMI-FINALS CORK CITY 2 0 TREATY UNITED WEXFORD YOUTHS 0 1 PEAMOUNT UNITED 3 GOLDEN MEMORIES STILL MOTIVATING MCNAMARA There is no better way to convince your team-mates that they can overcome the odds than by pointing out that they did it before. In 2017, Cork City lifted the FAI Women’s Senior Cup - thanks to a memorable strike from Clare Shine - and now they want to do it again. This time, however, Peamount United stand in their way. Fresh from retaining their Women’s National League title, Peamount are chasing a domestic double and boast a star-studded cast of players. But it’s all to play for today in Tallaght Stadium and that will be Cork City’s mentality. Defender Ciara McNamara was a key component of that 2017 team and she has been preaching to her younger team-mates of what can be done, if they just believe in themselves. “Winning the Cup would be unbelievable really. There are seven of us still in the squad from 2017 who know what it takes to win this Cup and how great it is to share it with your closest friends, it’s great that all the younger ones have the same opportunity,” said McNamara. “Many of them were part of the fans that travelled that day so it’s a bit surreal for 4 them in that sense. It shows how far hard would rather show them the respect they work and determination can get you in a deserve and then stay fired up to take few short years. them on. “The memories we made in the lead up “Peamount are League champions for a and afterwards are something I know I’ll reason that’s for sure and we are under never forget. I remember walking up the no illusions of how hard the challenge steps to lift the Cup with girls who I had will be but we will be ready,” she played with for years, even through the declared. not so great years we stuck together. “We have the quality in our squad to “To be able to run over to friends, match them, this year more so than other family and supporters after was an years individually we really put the unbelievable feeling, it was a real hard yards in especially during the first emotional rollercoaster for many of us lockdown and we are beginning to see that day.” the benefits of it. An injection of youth has re-energised “At the end of the day it is a Cup final Cork and led them to today’s showpiece and anything can happen, it’s the team event, as well as finishing fourth in the who really wants it most is the team who Women’s National League which was will come out on top.” quite an achievement. Having done it before, Cork know that Still, Ronan Collins’ team are fully aware victory can be secured. Expect them to of just how good their opponents are. be ready for this one. Not that McNamara is fearing them, she 5 MANAGER’S MESSAGE RONAN COLLINS It has been a very challenging sure they are immensely proud of their progressive nature women’s football is year for all. To be able to get to a daughters/sisters.