Mayo FC to be part of new League of Ireland Women’s Development League

Mayo FC will be part of a new Women’s Development League for the 2026 League of Ireland season.

The Mayo FC senior women’s manager for this inaugural campaign is James Johnson and his backroom staff will be announced over the coming days.

The club is inviting expressions of interest from players interested in representing Mayo FC in the Women’s Development League. Players born before or during 2008 are eligible to play. Players can apply by completing the form at the following link. The deadline for applications is Sunday, October 5, with assessments to be held on Monday, October 6.

Endorsed by UEFA, as part of their Women’s League Development Fund, this new league will allow the current 12 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division clubs to enter an Under 23 team into a competitive league.

They will be joined by 10 clubs currently participating in the EA Sports LOI Academy Development Programme, which includes Mayo FC. These 10 clubs will have the opportunity to create a senior team for the first time.

The 10 clubs joining the Women’s Development League as senior teams are: Bray Wanderers, CK United, Cobh Ramblers, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Finn Harps, Kerry FC, Longford Town, Mayo FC, and St. Patrick’s Athletic.

This new Women's Development League will remain part of the EA Sports League of Ireland Development Programme but will replace the current EA Sports Women’s Under 19 League.

The Women’s Development League will help to strengthen the player pathway by providing more opportunities for players to compete at senior level and enable the players to continue to play at a national level beyond the age of 19.

The development league will be split into two groups. Mayo FC are in Group 1 alongside Athlone Town, Bohemians, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Finn Harps, Galway United, Longford Town, Peamount United, Shelbourne and Sligo Rovers. The teams in Group 2 are: Bray Wanderers, CK United, Cobh Ramblers, Cork City, DLR Waves, Kerry FC, St. Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers, Treaty United, Waterford FC and Wexford FC.

Each team will play 20 games in their respective group, on a home and away basis, which determines who qualifies for the Women's Development League knockout stage. The final will determine the overall winner of the league.

Promotion/relegation to the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division will not be in place for the inaugural season but will be reviewed at a later date.

Mayo FC will also get the opportunity to play in the expanded Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup from the first round.

There will now be three different tiers of League of Ireland Women’s football for the 2026 season: SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, Women’s Development League and EA Sports Women’s Under 17 League.

Future plans include additional LOI Academy Development Programmes for younger players, a recommendation which was highlighted in the recent Double Pass LOI Academy Audit.

League of Ireland director Mark Scanlon said: “It’s exciting to see the continued development of the League of Ireland, with this expansion helping to elevate 10 more clubs to senior level in the women’s domestic game and creating a bridge between academy and senior football.

“The clubs stepping up to this new Women’s Development League deserve huge credit for the work that they have done whilst being part of the EA SPORTS LOI Academy Development Programme over recent years. This new tier will provide greater opportunities for players and coaches to develop, as well as bringing League of Ireland football at women’s senior level to more communities around the country.”