All-Island Cup 2024: All the information you require about the international competition

The All Island Cup resumes on Saturday with 11 teams from the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division and five teams from the Northern Ireland Women’s Premiership taking part.

In the draw earlier this month, 16 teams were divided into four groups.

The tournament has been expanded since last year, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.

The tournament will be held from March 23rd until the final on August 18th.

Galway won the first All Island Cup last year, defeating Cliftonville 1-0 in the final at Sligo Showgrounds.

BBC Sport NI takes a look at how each group of Women’s Premiership teams are shaping up ahead of kick-off this weekend.

All-Island Cup Groups

Group A: Linfield, Bohemians, Peamount United, Lisburn Ladies

Group B: Wexford, Cliftonville, Cork City, Shelbourne

Group C: Crusaders, Treaty United, DLR Waves, Shamrock Rovers

Group D: Galway United, Glentoran, Sligo Rovers, Athlone Town

Fixtures

Group Stage round one – March 23

Group Stage round two – April 20

Group Stage round three – May 18

Quarter-finals – June 22

Semi-finals – July 21

Final – August 18

Lisburn face tough test

Lisburn Ladies are taking part in the tournament for the first time as Northern Ireland’s fifth representative, replacing Syon Swifts who withdrew from the Women’s Premiership this season.

They had just one victory—a 1-0 triumph against Crusaders—against the five teams above them in their maiden season in the top division last year, and they are expected to struggle in this challenging group.

The Blues, who have strengthened well ahead of the new domestic season, will enjoy their chances of duplicating that result for a fourth time. Phil Lewis’s team was defeated 5-0 by Linfield on three occasions in the league last year.

Linfield’s unbeaten record in Group A last season was due to their lack of wins, and since the Women’s Premiership doesn’t begin until May, their youthful team will face significant challenges.

Peamount United, the team most likely to win the Women’s Premier Division last year, will compete with an inconsistent Bohemians for second place.

Reds seeking retribution

Out of the five Northern Irish teams competing in this event last year, Cliftonville delivered their best performance because they were the only team to advance from their group.

They could make it all of the manner to the final [one of four cup finals they made last season] have been they have been edged through Galway, however they may be seeking to pass one higher and raise the trophy this campaign.

The Reds had been grouped with Cork City, who they beat in final year`s semi-final, in addition to Wexford Youths and Shelbourne, a name-chasing facet who will offer a difficult examination.

They host Shelbourne first in what’s going to be, like all of the Northern Irish facets on this tournament, their first aggressive sport of the brand new campaign.

Dusting off the cobwebs beforehand of seeking to regain the Women’s Premiership name can be their important intention of their beginning sport, however they may be assured of progressing from the group.

Crues hopeful of progressing

There are a few acquainted faces for Crusaders in Group C, as they’ll another time meet Treaty United and DLR Waves.

The Crues beat Treaty closing year, however misplaced towards DLR Waves as they completed 1/3 withinside the organization.

Jonny Tuffey`s aspect will wish to make it out of the organization level this time around, specially as they revel in domestic gain for 2 in their games, towards Treaty and Shamrock Rovers.

Rovers, who, like Crusaders completed 1/3 withinside the league closing year, will wish to top the organization, however the north Belfast aspect might be aiming to clinch 2d and a quarter-very last place.

With Cliftonville and Glentoran set to another time conflict it out for the league title, Crusaders will flip to the cups for the wish of silverware, and a terrific cup run on this opposition might be a terrific region to start.

Glens paired with holders Galway

An exciting recreation lies in advance in Group D as Women`s Premiership and Irish Cup holders Glentoran face the All-Island Cup holders and contemporary Women’s Premier Division leaders Galway withinside the 2nd spherical of fixtures.

The Glens have been knocked out withinside the institution ranges final year, after being drawn in a set of death, however that did not prevent going the home season unbeaten in addition to preserving the Irish Cup.

Whilst preserving the ones trophies can be of paramount significance this year, Glentoran will need to construct momentum withinside the cup competitions.

They face President Cup winners Athlone Town and both Larne or Derry withinside the Northern Irish League Cup in advance in their home season opener in opposition to Crusaders in May.

Galway meanwhile, will appearance to hold their fine begin to the league season on this opposition as they goal to win lower back-to-lower back All-Island Cups.

The Glens can be up in opposition to a acquainted face of their commencing recreation, with former winger Casey Howe now lining out for Athlone, who completed 5th withinside the Premier Division final year.

Completing the institution are suffering Sligo Rovers, with Galway and the Glens the favourites to make it out of Group D.