Big change in Donegal Women's League as Brid McGinty steps down as secretary

A new era for the Donegal Women's League was ushered in on Tuesday night.

Brid McGinty has vacated the secretary's position after 16 years.

McGinty, who was recently named the Noel O'Reilly Coach of the Year, has been replaced in the role by Sean Treacy, who was elected at the Annual General Meeting in the Station House Hotel, Letterkenny.

A native of Mayo, Treacy previously was on the executive of the Mayo Women's League and is the current secretary of Raphoe Town FC.

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“A lot of new people will give a lot to the League in different roles.” the outgoing secretary McGinty said.

“The profile of the game is at an all-time high and 2023 will see the Republic of Ireland play in the World Cup for the first time.

“It has been great to see so many new teams and hopefully the good work will continue.”

McGinty is now the Head of Women's Football at Letterkenny Rovers, her involvement having been at Lagan Harps over the best part of the last two decades. McGinty remains on the committee as the Ulster FA representative.

Donegal Women's League Chairperson Dessie Kelly said the presence of 'more clubs, more players, more coaches and more managers' meant that the League showed real improvements in 2022.

“This is a big night for change,” Kelly said. “It's time for clubs and the people in the clubs to make the League their own.”

League registrar Helena Doherty told delegates that there were 1,504 registered players in the Donegal Women's League in 2022.

Letterbarrow Celtic are to enter the Donegal Women's League at underage level in 2023 while Letterkenny Rovers are to make a return and Swilly Rovers are expected to field at some underage grades.

“It's fantastic to see clubs embracing women's football and we now have a very big League,” Kelly said. “The women's game is improving to no end. If you look through the data, it is a very exciting time.

“Getting girls into clubs for coaching and playing, that's what it is all about.”

Discussions are ongoing regarding an amalgamation with the Donegal Underage League as part of an overhaul of the Football Association of Ireland. “This needs further work,” McGinty said.

PRO Sinead Hagan said clubs were 'brilliant' at the start of the season for providing information to be distributed through the media, but a gradual downturn was noticed throughout the year.

Donegal Women's League executive 2023: Chairperson – Dessie Kelly; Vice Chair – Paddy Colhoun; Secretary – Sean Treacy; Assistant Secretary – Olivia Sleigh; Treasurers – Helena Doherty, Bernard Doherty; PRO – Sinead Hagan; Referee Appointments – TBC; Children's Officer – Michael Fabisiak; Disciplinary Secretary – Terry Leyden; Ulster FA – Brid McGinty; Finn Harps Women's Partnership delegates – Ciaran Browne, Paddy Colhoun.