2021 Women's National League (Ireland)
The 2021 Women's National League, known as the SSE Airtricity WNL for sponsorship reasons, is the 11th season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland since its establishment in 2011. Peamount United were the defending champions, having won their third league title the previous season.
| Season | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 27 March 2021 – 13 November 2021 |
| Champions | Shelbourne 2nd title |
| Champions League | Shelbourne |
| Matches played | 108 |
| Top goalscorer | Áine O'Gorman (16 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Peamount United 8–1 Cork City (30 October 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Treaty United 0–10 Peamount United (3 October 2021) |
| Highest scoring | Treaty United 0–10 Peamount United (3 October 2021) |
| Highest attendance | 1,007 Cork City 3–1 Treaty United (6 November 2021) |
← 2020 2022 →
All statistics correct as of 13 November 2021. | |
In January 2021 the League attracted a new title sponsor, as SSE Airtricity agreed a two-year renewal of their existing deal with the (men's) League of Ireland and extended it to also cover the WNL. The Bank of Ireland also signed a three-year deal as an associate sponsor of the League of Ireland and WNL. This followed a season without a WNL sponsorship deal in 2020.
The 1,007 spectators at Cork City's 3–1 win over Treaty United on 6 November 2021 at Turners Cross set a new WNL record for the highest attendance.
A dramatic conclusion to the season saw defending champions Peamount United unexpectedly squander a two-goal lead to lose 5–2 at home to Galway on the final match day, allowing Shelbourne to claim the title with their 3–2 win over Wexford Youths. Both matches were subject to live television coverage, following the WNL's agreement of a broadcast arrangement with TG4 in September 2021.
During the season a number of players transferred to professional clubs in England and Scotland. Peamount manager James O'Callaghan called for the formation of a task force, to examine the possibility of making the WNL semi-professional in future: "It's great for those players that they are getting to play professionally, but it's not great for the league to be losing them."