Tom Maher

WAFCON 2026 Qualifying: Crunch time for Africa's finest - The Halfway Line WAFCON 2026 is right around the corner and the crucial final qualifiers take place this October with 11 places set to be decided this month.

𝐖𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭

Vital #WAFCON2026 qualifiers take place this week, with World Cup qualifying implications.

Our low down is below:
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Athlone 3-2 Bohemians: Brady bags bunch to secure double delight - The Halfway Line Kelly Brady scored a hat-trick in the FAI Cup final to ensure Athlone Town emerged victorious with a 3-2 victory over Bohemians.

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞

FT: Athlone Town 3-2 Bohemians

Analysis on the FAI Cup final at Tallaght Stadium as Kelly Brady hat-trick steals the show in front of Carla Ward.
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Ah I’m with you, the FAI Cup final this weekend is exclusively on TG4 to round out the season at least!

Sherida Spitse announces retirement from international football - The Halfway Line Netherlands legend Sherida Spitse has announced her retirement from international football as the most-capped European player in history.

𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

The Netherlands legend bids farewell to international football as the most-capped European player ever.

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I know, it is a lot! To be honest the League does pretty comprehensive highlights packages on their YouTube channel too, all free of course! 😅

Hey Amy! So all the matches are available in the UK on LOI TV- about £10 a month. I do also use a VPN and watch the games on the TG4 app too I must admit!

Honourable mentions: Isabella Floccini (TRE), Kate Mooney (SHE), Roisin Molloy (ATH), Emma Doherty (GAL), Kylie Murphy (WEX), Noelle Murray (SHE), Ellen Dolan (PEA), Megan Plascho (ATH), Alex Kavagnah (SHE), Aiobheann Costello (GAL), Jess Fitzgerald (PEA), Katie McCarn (BOH)

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 - The Halfway Line edition

Deputy Editor @tom-maher-tm.bsky.social has assembled his Team of the Season in the WLOI.

Who makes your team? ☘️

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

The team look back over the weekend's Women's Super League action as Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, and Man City all picked up three crucial points.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts now 🍏🎧

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

The Champions League was back in action this week! Man United win in Europe, Chelsea stumble and Arsenal fumble #UWCL

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts now 🍏🎧

Carla Ward faces Irish Goalkeeper Dilemma for Belgium clash - The Halfway Line Carla Ward has been at the helm of Ireland for almost ten months and with Brosnan out, she has a goalkeeping dilemma to solve.

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡

With Courtney Brosnan likely to miss Ireland's next camp, The Halfway Line looks at who might replace her between the sticks.

#COYGIG
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Arsenal 1-2 Lyon: Player Ratings as Gunners slip up against Lyon - The Halfway Line Lyon beat Arsenal 2-1 at Meadow Park on a thrilling opening night of the UEFA Women's Champions League thanks to a Dumornay brace.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲

FT: Arsenal 1-2 Lyon

An electric brace from Melchie Dumornay saw the defending champions begin their #UWCL campaign with a defeat.

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Arsenal's Steph Catley talks 'special Champions League nights' - The Halfway Line Steph Catley has spoken about her dream of playing in 'special Champions League nights' from 'all the way over there in Australia' as a child.

𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 '𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬'

🗣️Steph Catley spoke to the media yesterday ahead of Arsenal's #UWCL clash against Lyon tonight.

Click below for some pre match reading ⬇️
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Renée Slegers says Chloe Kelly is '100% available' for Lyon test - The Halfway Line Renée Slegers has said that despite the strapping on her leg Chloe Kelly is '100% available to play' against Lyon on Tuesday night.

🗣️Heard from 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞́𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 this afternoon, I asked the Arsenal head coach about facing a Jonatan Giráldez team again.

She recalled fondly being invited for a 'study trip' in Barcelona by Giráldez when she was at Rosengård, read more ⬇️

#UWCL
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Gareth Taylor: 'Until we hear anything from the FA, Rafa [Borggräfe] is back in with us' - The Halfway Line Gareth Taylor spoke on the decision to bring Rafaela Borggräfe back into the fold after an alleged discriminatory remark.

'𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐀, 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐚 [𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐚̈𝐟𝐞] 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬'

🗣️Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor spoke to The Halfway Line following a 1-0 loss to London City. Read his comments below:

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Jocelyn Prêcheur: Freya Godfrey has 'such a great potential' - The Halfway Line Jocelyn Prêcheur has praised summer signing Freya Godfrey as a player with 'many qualities' after she returned to the squad on Sunday.

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 ‘𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥’

🗣️Jocelyn Prêcheur spoke to The Halfway Line about the returning Godfrey as well as London City's 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

#BarclaysWSL
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London City 1-0 Liverpool: Player ratings as Linari secures victory - The Halfway Line London City Lionesses got their first ever top flight victory at Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon as Elena Linari's penalty was the difference.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

FT: London City Lionesses 1-0 Liverpool

Liverpool remain winless as London City climb the table to seventh.

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📸 credit Daniëlle van de Donk on Instagram

Asked Prêchuer for an LCL Injury update: “Daniëlle (van de Donk) started to run now, so yesterday, when I saw (her) running so fast like this, (I thought) we can be optimistic for a quick return. But of course, we need to respect (this is) a different step.”

Prêchuer confirmed “Isa Kardinaal should return at the end of this month or beginning of the next one.”

Also confirmed the rehabilitation of Teyah Goldie, Poppy Pattinson, Maddi Wilde and Corrine Henson is going well.

#BarclaysWSL #LCL

📸 credit @lfcr.bsky.social

Asked Gareth Taylor about Leanne Kiernan’s absence: “Hopefully, it shouldn't be too much (time out). It’s a really severe kick she's had on the foot. Her foot was swollen, so she was really struggling to kick. But we'd like to think she'll be back and available next weekend.”

I felt it was important to ask Gareth Taylor about his decision to bring Rafaela Borggräfe back into the fold. This was after the FA confirmed they are investigating allegations of racial discrimination and before an outcome had been reached in the investigation, his response:

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

Aston Villa stun Arsenal again while Chelsea, Man United and Man City all take home three points.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts as the team break down another weekend of #BarclaysWSL drama🎧🍏

Sonia Bompastor: Nüsken is an 'important player for Chelsea' - The Halfway Line Sonia Bompastor spoke to the media after her Chelsea side were at their free flowing best on Sunday to beat West Ham.

𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐍𝐮̈𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 ‘𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚’

The Halfway Line spoke with Sonia Bompastor following Chelsea's dominant 4-0 victory over local rivals West Ham.

#BarclaysWSL #CFCW
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West Ham 0-4 Chelsea: Player ratings as Blues stay perfect - The Halfway Line Chelsea scored three goals in seven first half minutes on the way to a 4-0 victory over local rivals West Ham.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

FT: West Ham 0-4 Chelsea

Match report and player ratings from the Chigwell Construction Stadium are below.

#BarclaysWSL #CFCW
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Renée Slegers says Arsenal lacked 'conviction' in Aston Villa test - The Halfway Line Renée Slegers said that Arsenal were not 'at the level that we need' against Aston Villa to create enough big chances to win the match.

𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞́𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 '𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧' 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭

🗣️Arsenal's Dutch head coach spoke to the media following the Gunners 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in the WSL.

#BarclaysWSL
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Natalia Arroyo 'proud' of Aston Villa players who kept 'dreaming' - The Halfway Line Natalia Arroyo says that she is 'especially proud' of her Aston Villa players who kept 'dreaming' their plan would work.

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐨 '𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝' 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 '𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠'

🗣️The Aston Villa head coach spoke to the media following her side's dramatic late comeback against Arsenal.

#BarclaysWSL
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Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa: Player ratings as Villains steal shock point - The Halfway Line Aston Villa secured a point on the road against Arsenal thanks to a late Lucy Parker equaliser in the WSL on Saturday afternoon.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬

FT: Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa

✍️ @tom-maher-tm.bsky.social

#BarclaysWSL
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Title decider in Dublin: Shelbourne vs Athlone preview - The Halfway Line Fans of Ireland's top flight are set to be treated to a mouth watering title face off on Saturday afternoon as Athlone Town face Shelbourne.

🔴🐚 Shelbourne vs Athlone Town🔵⚫️

• 🥇 vs 🥈 only a point between them
• The League champions vs Cup holders 🤺
• The top scorer on 16 goals vs the second top scorer on 15 ⚽️
• The Shels vs the Town 🔥

Read our @thehalfwayline.bsky.social
preview here:

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