New Galway WFC CEO, Ruth Fahy has explained how the women's game can continue to develop in Ireland, with work still needed to keep talented players in the country.
Ruth Fahy took up the role of full-time CEO at Galway WFC, the first post of its kind in a women's game in Ireland, last week, hanging up her boots as a player in the process.
Speaking on OTBAM on Monday, Fahy outlined the importance of the Women's National League gaining increased exposure in the coming years and highlighted how continuing to improve visibility must be a high priority for all involved in the game.
"We have to remember that it (the league) was only established in 2011, but what I felt at that time was that we were at a very important point for us because this is a blank template.
"Our league still has time to mould itself into what it wants to be. Visibility of the league has increased so much even in the last year. LOI TV has provided a streaming service that I didn't think was going to come for a couple of years so. Every single game is streamed on LOI TV."
"It's been great for us as players and it's been brilliant bringing supporters into the league but obviously the next step is seeing if we can become televised.
"As we know the FAI Cup final is our showpiece, it's on at the end of every year in November. Unfortunately a cup final isn't always the greatest game to watch and we have incredible battles all throughout the season that people don't get to see if they don't actually physically go on and watch the streaming service.
Ruth Fahy continued by using the example of former Shelbourne midfielder Jamie Finn's recent move to WSL side Birmingham City, outlining that despite it being excellent for the 23-year-old, more needs to be done to keep players of her quality in Ireland.
"That's something that's going to change, it's already changing, it's just about time and patience. We want to see that now but it's about patience, it's coming. That'll help us with what we're trying to do out West as well. We saw Jamie Finn from Shelbourne who's the standout midfielder in our league , she's just signed for Birmingham.
"You see those announcements and it's amazing, it's amazing for Jamie and she absolutely deserves it but you also think about how we've lost a really bright talent in our league.
"We all have to work internally to maintain these players here because we would love our young girls to see our role models here in Ireland, but that's up to us then to provide structures and supports for them."
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