Data dive: Mean defences hallmark of top Women's Premier Division teams

Many of Europe's big leagues are kicking off this time of year with comments about how nothing can be won in August. But in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division, a lot will be decided this weekend.

In the league, Shelbourne and Athlone Town have the opportunity to take pole position in the title race with six games left. They go into their game at Tolka Park level on points.

In the Avenir Sports Women's All-Island Cup, Galway United and Shamrock Rovers play for the chance to take home the first trophy of the season.

It’s clear to see how three of these four teams have put themselves in a position for success.

Athlone, Shelbourne and Galway all have outstanding defensive records. On the other hand, Shamrock Rovers have defied their league form to produce an unexpected run of cup results.

The following are the fewest goals per game conceded in the history of the women’s league, with this year’s totals obviously not being over a full season yet.

Even if the three teams don’t maintain their pace for a full season, it is incredible to have three all-time defences competing in the one season.

Shelbourne and Galway have followed on from last year, where they shared the best record in the league at a stingy 0.65 per game.

So how have Shelbourne done it?

The best place to find an answer may be Cork City, who have scored two of the three goals Eoin Wearen’s have conceded this season.

However, there is one other team who Shels are yet to have a clean sheet against and that is Athlone Town.

That covers two games as they also met in the Avenir All-Island Cup. Both goals were excellent strikes by star players Maddie Gibson and Casey Howe, demonstrating how something special is required to breach the defences of Shels.

While a significant team effort is required to achieve this record, for Shelbourne a lot of the credit can go to their goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan. She is third in the league for saves made with 34. Her shot-stopping differs to how Athlone and Galway have kept goals out.

Athlone’s strong defensive showing has been based around a mid-season run of five consecutive clean sheets, which was at the heart of an eight-game winning streak. It included a stretch of 570 minutes without Katie Keane’s goal being beaten or 650 minutes if you discount a penalty.

A key part of their success has been the continuity with Keane, the entire back four and defensive midfielder Laurie Ryan all starting every league game in 2024. All were also at the club last season helping to build familiarity.

Defending Avenir All-Island Cup winners Galway United, like Athlone, produced their best defensive production on a long run of clean sheets.

From June 2023 to June 2024, they had 13 clean sheets in 15 league games. Until the end of May, they were equal with Shels for having conceded just twice.

In the Avenir All-Island Cup, their defensive reliability has helped them to 10 matches unbeaten in the competition. The only team they failed to beat has been Athlone Town, while Wexford required penalties to dispatch. In all other games, they have won at an aggregate score of 11-0.

The basis of their success has been to dominate possession and restrict their opponents’ opportunities. They have second-most of the ball in the league at 58.5%. As a result, they have faced the fewest shots at just 73, 13 fewer than next on the list Athlone Town.

Their ability to utilise this will be put to this test on Saturday at they face Shamrock Rovers, who are the only team to lead them in possession at 59.4%. In the two recent league meetings, Phil Trill's side came out on top both times 1-0. In those two wins their average possession was 53.5%, which is below their overall average for the season.

Shamrock Rovers began their return to the league in 2023 with defensive record to match any of their peers having allowed just nine goals in their first 15. But eight were put past them in the last five and that was a sign of things to come.

Only four teams have been scored against more than the Hoops this year and they haven’t enjoyed continuity between the sticks, with both Amanda Budden and Summer Lawless having spells in goals. At home they are joined by Sligo Rovers as the only team without a win.

But Collie O’Neill’s side have been a different entity away from the league.

They have two wins from two in their Avenir All-Island Cup home games, with seven goals scored surpassing the five they’ve managed in six league games. Both wins brought clean sheets, something they are yet to have in the league.

With the cup final being played on their home ground of Tallaght Stadium, they’ll be hoping they can continue the form that gave them their wins over DLR Waves and Peamount United so far.

Cup finals and league games that feel like a cup final can typically be tight occasions with few goalscoring chances. That, combined with the proven defensive records of Shelbourne, Athlone and Galway and in part by Shamrock Rovers indicate two tight contests on Saturday.

While only the cup will be decided for sure this week, the significance of Shels-Athlone cannot be understated with so few points being dropped by both teams.

Shels are yet to lose this season while Athlone won’t play another team in the top five until the last day of the season.

It may only be August, but silverware will certainly be on the minds of four of the top sides in the country when Saturday comes.

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