Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

✨ SAVE THE DATE ✨

🏆 NIWFA AWARDS NIGHT 2026 🏆

It’s time to celebrate the people, teams and achievements that make women’s football in Northern Ireland so special. 💙⚽️

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we come together to recognise and celebrate the incredible talent, dedication and contribution across the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Association.

📅 Saturday 17 October 2026
📍 Hilton Belfast
🥂 NIWFA Awards Night

Expect a night of celebration, recognition and plenty of reasons to raise a glass! 🥂✨

Save the date — you won’t want to miss this one!

More details coming soon. 👀

WomenInFootball SaveTheDate

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

🏆💙 DIVISION 1 CUP FINAL – CHAMPIONS! 💙🏆

What a final! 🔥⚽

Comber Rec Ladies are the Division 1 Cup Champions, edging out Lisbellaw Utd Ladies 3–2 in a thrilling final at Ambassadors Arena! 🏆👏

Five goals, plenty of drama and a fantastic showcase of women’s football from start to finish. 🙌

🎉 Congratulations to Comber Rec Ladies on lifting the trophy — what an achievement!

👏 And a huge well done to Lisbellaw Utd Ladies for an incredible cup run and for playing their part in such a fantastic final.

Thank you to everyone who came along to support both teams and help make it such a memorable night! 💙

📸 A few moments from a brilliant Division 1 Cup Final…

Congratulations to Ballymacash Rangers Ladies who finished top of the NIWFA Barclays Football Pathway East 🏆

Dan from Barclays UK presented the team with their trophy after their match last week. 🏆🏅❤️🙂

🏆🔥 DIVISION 4 CUP FINAL 🔥🏆

Another NIWFA Cup Final is ready to go — and this one promises to be a cracker! ⚽🙌

Greenisland II Ladies 🆚 Portadown Ladies will go head-to-head for Division 4 Cup glory! 🏆

📅 Saturday 29th August
⏰ 7.30pm
📍 Bluebell Stadium, Lisburn

Two teams. One trophy. One chance to make history. 💪🏆

Get yourselves along to the Bluebell Stadium, bring the noise 📣 and show your support for both teams as they battle it out in what promises to be a fantastic afternoon of women’s football!

Good luck to both finalists — we’ll see you there! 💙⚽

CupFinalDay GirlsInFootball

🏆🔥 DIVISION 1 CUP FINAL 🔥🏆

It’s FINALS NIGHT! 🙌⚽

The stage is set for a huge Division 1 Cup Final as Comber Rec Ladies 🆚 Lisbellaw Utd Ladies go head-to-head for the trophy! 🏆

📅 Friday 28th August
⏰ 7:45pm
📍 Ambassadors Arena, Craigavon

Two teams. One final. One trophy. 🏆

Come along and get behind the players as they battle it out for Division 1 Cup glory under the lights! 🌟

🎟️ Admission:
Adults – £5
Senior Citizens – £3
U16s – FREE
NIWFA players in club gear – FREE

Bring your family, bring your friends and bring the noise! 📣👏

Good luck to Comber Rec Ladies and Lisbellaw Utd Ladies — we can’t wait to see you both battle it out on Friday night! 💙⚽

CupFinalNight GirlsInFootball

Congratulations to Carniny AYFC Ladies who finished top of the NIWFA Barclays Football Pathway West division of 9 new NIWFA teams, with two games to spare.

Danielle from Barclays UK presented the team with their trophy after their match last week. 🏆🏅❤️🙂

Photos from todays Division 6 League Cup final between Newhill FC women and Wellington Rec Women Athletic

A great match to kick off the league cup finals, Congratulations to Newhill , match highlights from 1880 Video Productions CIC / VAR Rundown Website to follow