Whitehall Rangers’ Intermediate style could shock Athlone Town- Grace McAuley Ryan

Whitehall Rangers goalkeeper Grace McAuley Ryan says differences between women’s football at intermediate and national level may help them shock Athlone Town in the Evoke.ie Women’s Cup.

“If we play the game we can they’re in trouble because the football is very different at intermediate,” she said speaking on the FinalWhistle.ie Womens National League Podcast.

“In the Women’s National League you get a bit more space. Women in our league are a bit hardier, and used to getting stuck so they might underestimate us”, she added.

With Round 1 of the Evoke.ie Women’s Cup taking place this weekend, Whitehall host Athlone Town on Sunday at Paddy Mahony Park beside the Dublin Airport. After reaching the semi-finals of the Intermediate Senior Cup, they’ve earned the game with Athlone, which McAuley Ryan called a “big challenge.”

Athlone sit third in the WNL so its a big weekend for Whitehall, as well as the other three intermediate teams competing in the shape of Finglas United, Bonagee United and Douglas Hall. Goalkeeper McAuley Ryan said the team is excited for the game and reckons they have a very good chance.

“It’s a very athletic league, teams play exactly how they are supposed to. Some times teams don’t know what to do in the final third because they’ve been working on defence and transition and that last part often isn’t there, “said McAuley Ryan.

The 35-year old is well qualified to make these claims due to her plethora of experience with women’s football. She began as a Whitehall Rangers player but joined St. Catherine’s in 2011 where she won a Senior All-Ireland.

She also played with Raheny and Shamrock Rovers in the WNL before returning to intermediate and winning the Intermediate Senior Cup in 2019. Well accustomed to both levels of football, she believes the differences may cause Athlone to underestimate Whitehall on Sunday.

“We’d have a lot of good footballers but these girls only know football and we’re well aware of that. However I think in Women’s Intermediate football its a bit more physical, so I think we can bring a bit of that to the game.”

She did acknowledge the step-up that comes at national level though, especially in terms of athleticism. “There’s a big step-up to the WNL, but its because of how the WNL has gone over the last while. It’s created a lot more athletes. Speed and fitness is massive.”

McAuley Ryan is also experienced with women’s football off the pitch in recent times thanks to her added free time playing at intermediate level. She attributes this as a reason why the drop in footballing standard isn’t as big as it may seem.

“We play at a high level and we play at Intermediate because we have things going on in our lives and football isn’t the be all and end all for us, which is what is expected off you in the National League. I’ve more free-time now. I’m on the coach education pathway and I’m also a committee member with the EWFL and the Metropolitan Girl’s League.”

She noted coach John Morgan as another element that will help the Dublin side. “I’ve coached women’s teams and worked with some of the best coaches and I can tell you John Morgan is one of the best. There’s a psychological element of John’s coaching that I hadn’t really seen.”

“I think now the standard has improved in the Eastern Women’s Football League, we’re attracting in a better type of coach and getting more coverage through the FAI and different media sources like yourselves and that’s helping bridge that gap with the WNL.”