Shelbourne goalkeeper Courtney Maguire has hailed the inclusion of the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup in this year’s calendar.
The Reds have been drawn against Athlone Town, Linfield and Galway United in a tricky Group 1, in the first cross-border competition in the women's club game.
“I think we got a tough group with Athlone Galway and Linfield, but I’m looking forward to it,” said Maguire.
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“I think the competition is a great addition, the standards are only going to go up now against new teams.
“There hasn't been a League Cup now in a while so I think it did come as a bit of a surprise but great timing now with the World Cup coming up this summer.
“It’s a long break. If we didn’t have this it would have been two months off so I’m excited to get going.
“You don’t know what you are coming up against with the teams from Northern Ireland so we all have to put out our strongest teams and put in our best performance to get the results.”
DRAW
Group 1: Galway United, Athlone Town, Linfield, Shelbourne
Group 2: Wexford Youths, Shamrock Rovers, Glentoran, Peamount
Group 3: Derry City, Sligo Rovers, Cliftonville, Bohemians
Group 4: DLR Waves, Treaty United, Cork City, Crusaders,
SCHEDULE
Group Stage, Round 1: June 18
Group Stage, Round 2: June 25
Group Stage, Round 3: July 2
Semi-Finals: July 9
Final: July 16
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