WPD Preview - DLR Waves
Things can only get better for DLR Waves as Laura Heffernan hopes to re-energise the squad and become the dark horses of the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
Anything that could go wrong in 2024 did go wrong for the Dublin side: injuries to key players, surprise departures, missed opportunities, dropped points and a frustration in not being able to build up any consistency. But there were signs towards the season’s end that that tide was starting to turn.
Heffernan will be able to point to the emergence of Keelin Dodd has a two-way midfielder, the return of Neema Nygassi from a serious injury and the breakthrough of the talented Aisling Meehan as reasons to be upbeat and aiming higher up the table.
DLR can also now turn to an experienced core of players to lead them. The likes of Eve Badana, Jess Gleeson, Bronagh Kane and Rachel Doyle have been around the League long enough to know what is required to grind out results. They will be important voices in the dressing room, at training sessions and on the pitch.
In terms of freshening things up, Heffernan has brought two familiar faces back to the club in midfielder Nadine Clare and striker Michelle Doonan. Both should immediately become important players once they get up to speed with Clare’s range of passing and Doonan’s finishing being two skillsets that they desperatedly need.
Even though the mantra needs to be: win now, DLR have always kept one eye on the future and have an impressive record of giving young players a chance. Expect to see Ciara Richardson join that list as the latest potential star looking for an opportunity to shine.
