The 2011–12 Women's National League season was the inaugural season of the Women's National League. The season was sponsored by Bus Éireann. Originally seven clubs were invited to join the league. However shortly before the start of the season Bray Wanderers/St. Joseph's pulled out due to a lack of competitive players. This left six teams –

Peamount United Peamount United Football Club () is an Irish association football club based in Newcastle, South Dublin. The club is best known for its senior women's team who in 2011–12 became founder members and inaugural champions of the Women's National ...

, Castlebar Celtic, Cork Women's F.C., Raheny United, Shamrock Rovers and Wexford Youths – to play the inaugural season. The season began on 13 November 2011 with Wexford Youths and Castlebar Celtic drawing 2–2, Raheny United defeating Shamrock Rovers 5–0 and Stephanie Roche scoring a hat-trick as Peamount United defeated Cork Women's F.C. 6–1. On 12 February 2012 Roche scored six goals as Peamount United defeated Castlebar Celtic 13–0 at home. The return fixture on 15 April saw Peamount United win 9–0 with Roche scoring another hat-trick. The final round of games was played on 22 April 2012. Peamount United were the inaugural champions, finishing three points clear of second placed Raheny United. They also completed a league double by winning the WNL Cup, defeating Shamrock Rovers 1–0 in the final on 6 May 2012. Roche was the league's top goalscorer with 24 goals in the league itself plus two in the WNL Cup. She scored the winner in the WNL Cup final. Roche formed a "devastating" strike partnership with

Sara Lawlor Sara Lawlor (born 11 November 1987) is an Irish international footballer who played for Peamount United of the Women's National League (WNL). She made her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in February 2012. A f ...

who contributed 15 goals to Peamount United's league success. Lawlor was named Player of the Season at the inaugural end of season awards ceremony, while

Emma Hansberry Emma Hansberry (born 26 May 1994) is an Irish footballer and coach who plays for Women's National League (WNL) club Sligo Rovers. She previously represented Castlebar Celtic and Wexford Youths. An attacking midfielder, she has also represented ...

of Castlebar Celtic won the Young Player of the Season.

Final table

Top goalscorers

Team of the Season

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2011-12 Women's National League (Ireland) Women's National League (Ireland) seasons

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Women A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...