April- Women in Sport Update

This month has been filled lots of sporting action! Cricket Ireland commenced their next tour with two games in the Thailand series, held on the 16th and 18th of this month. Laura Delany, who captains the women’s team, achieved her 200th cap, becoming the first player on the women’s side to do so. The women’s team clinched victories in both matches, ultimately securing the series. Additionally, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier began in the UAE, featuring warm-up games against Scotland and USA. The remainder of the games will be played in the UAE, concluding on the 3rd with a match against the Netherlands.

The women’s team pursuit team has successfully qualified for the Olympics, marking a historic milestone as this is first time ever! This qualification ensures Ireland’s participation in the Women’s Omnium and Women’s Madison events on the track. The team comprises Alice Sharpe, Kelly Murphy, Lara Gillespie, Mia Griffin, Emily Kay, and Erin Creighton, with Erin and Alice hailing from Northern Ireland. Congratulations to the entire team on this remarkable achievement.

Following Olympic qualification, both GB and Irish boats showcased strong performances at the World Rowing Cup I 2024. Notably, NI women Rebecca Edwards, Hannah Scott, and Rebecca Shorten rowed for GB, with Rebecca Shorten and the women’s 4 securing gold. Rebecca Edwards and Hannah Scott participated in the quad sculls and women’s pair events, respectively, with both boats finishing 4th in the final. While no Northern Irish women currently row for the Irish team, the women’s pair of Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh claimed second place, underscoring the talent in rowing across the island.

In the final weekend of April, during the Women’s 6 Nations, Ireland secured a victory against Scotland, securing 3rd place in the tournament. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given last year’s bottom-of-the-table performance, demonstrating significant improvement. Notably, Ireland scored all 15 points in the second half of the game, making for an exciting match. Congratulations to the team on their success, which also guarantees their participation in the World Cup next year.

In swimming, several major meets took place in preparation for the Olympic Trials. The McCullagh International showcased impressive swims, with Grace Davison (Ards) and Alana Burns Atkin (Banbridge SC) achieving qualification times for the 2024 European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships. Danielle Hill (Larne) set two senior Irish records in the 100 Backstroke and 50 Butterfly, while Victoria Catterson delivered a strong performance in the 400 Free. Athletes will continue striving for Olympic qualification in May. Additionally, the 2024 European Para Swimming Championships saw Dearbhaile Brady (Derry) clinch bronze in the 50 Freestyle S6, contributing to a record medal haul for the team.

Camogie remains a dynamic sport at all levels, with minor finals held this weekend. Armagh lost to Kildare in the All-Ireland Minor B final, while Tyrone emerged victorious in the All-Ireland Minor C final. Earlier in the month, the Very Camogie League concluded with Armagh securing victory against Laois in the Div 3A final, showcasing the continuous action within the sport.

Armagh enjoyed success in various sports this month, notably with their Ladies Gaelic Team triumphing against Kerry in the LIDL NFL final. Consequently, seven players from Armagh were selected for the LGFA All-Star committee, including Grace Ferguson, captain Clodagh McCambridge, Lauren McConville, Caroline O’Hanlon, Aoife McCoy, leading scorer Aimee Mackin, and Kelly Mallon. In Division 2, Tyrone’s runner-up position earned five players a spot on the All-Star team: Jayne Lyons, Meabh Corrigan, captain Aoibhinn McHugh, Emma Jane Gervin, and Maria Canavan. Congratulations to all those selected!

April has been a bustling month, not only in sports but also in academia, with new research papers published on media, mental health, and women’s sport. For more information and links, check out the NISF Sportswatch.