30/08/2026
NIWFA REVIEW 23/08/26 to 29/08/26
With most of our teams in the NIWFA now having completed their seasons here's our shortened version of all that's gone on this week.
BARCLAYS NIWFA CHAMPIONSHIP
Only 12 months ago, Strabane Athletic and Craigavon City were celebrating promotion to the NIWFA Championship; however, it’s been a very different story this season, with defeats for both sides this week sadly ensuring they'll return to Division One next season following relegation.
Strabane's fate was sealed as they lost 2-8 at home to Ballyclare Comrades on Wednesday night, with Craigavon also sliding down the same relegation path when they lost 1-3 to St. James's Swifts on Friday night. Both sides gave it their best shot in the Championship but ultimately couldn’t get enough points, although there's no doubt both will be challenging to bounce back at the first time of asking next season.
Despite their relegation, Strabane have a chance to end their season in style when they take on St James Swifts in the Championship League Cup final in a few weeks.
Elsewhere, Ballymena United and Mid Ulster drew in a highly entertaining 3-3 draw with League Champions Sion Swifts winning 3-2 at Greenisland.
BARCLAYS NIWFA PATHWAY LEAGUES
Our Pathway leagues both came to an end this season, with Ballymacash Rangers celebrating their title success by defeating Civil Service in Pathway East, where there were also wins for Cloughey and Castle Ladies, with Crewe United and Willowbank drawing 3-3.
Meanwhile, in Pathway West, league winners Carniny, Lisbellaw United Reserves, Coagh United and Omagh Town secured end-of-season victories.
Well done to all Pathway teams on completing their first seasons within the NIWFA.
NIWFA MFC Super Cup QUARTER FINALS
Championship side Ballymena United Women are through to the semi-finals of this season's Super Cup following a comfortable 5-0 win over Comber Rec from Division One thanks to goals from Rebecca Curry (x 3), Megan Henry and Zoe McDowell. Sion Swifts gained a walkover win over Maiden City to claim their place in the last four, with the semi-final draw pitting Bangor against Ballyclare Comrades and Ballymena coming up against Sion Swifts.
NIWFA DIVISIONAL LEAGUE CUP FINALS
Our first two Divisional League finals took place this week, and what entertaining games they were.
The first game, the Division Six League Cup final, took place at Parkway in Comber last Sunday afternoon. When Newhill scored in the first minute through Bronagh Rooney, it seemed like it would be a long afternoon for their opponents, Wellington Rec Athletic.
Things continued to get worse for Wellington as Newhill built a 4-1 halftime lead with further goals from Sorcha McAleenan, Lauren Wilson and Dearbhla Smyth, with only Kay Wilson's sole strike giving the Rec something to cheer about.
Smyth added her second and Newhills' fifth in the 55th minute, but after that the tide and the flow of goals changed. Rachel Williamson made it 2-5, then added a second to make it 3-5, and when Cathy McMaster scored to reduce the deficit to only one goal, the comeback miracle seemed on; however, it wasn't to be. Newhill scored again through Rooney on 84 minutes, and that was that as Newhill secured the trophy with a hard-fought 6-4 win.
In the weeks other Divisional League Cup final, this time Division One, there was another great comeback on view at the Ambassadors Arena. In this instance, league winners Lisbellaw United, after a quiet first half, eventually broke the deadlock against Comber Rec Ladies through an own goal in the 62nd minute. When Anna Magolan added a second in the 69th minute, it seemed to signal game over. Cue the influence of Comber's Claire Oakley, who pulled one back for the Rec on 70 minutes, then levelled the game on 74 minutes to set up a dramatic finale and what a finale it was.
With the game deep into added time and penalties looming, Comber were awarded a corner kick, and when the ball was swept in, Danielle Boyd was well placed to head home what would be the winning goal to complete the comeback for the Co. Down-based side.
Report by Colin Hopkins
uhlsport UK Barclays Football Barclays UK MFC Sports
