Leeside management happy with their team's progression this season to become challengers

Winning silverware was never a priority- but instead making progress and retaining premier division status was the main aim for Leeside Fc women’s side this season.

It was their first season playing premier division football and the main aim from management team of John and Ricky Gettings was simply just to stay up, and not be relegated straight back down to first division.

They’ve managed to stay up and did superbly by finishing third. 

But, more impressively, they have produced some great performances throughout the season which saw them come close to league champions Wilton and runners up Douglas Hall. 

Those strong performances gave Gettings’ young side huge belief and confidence in which helped them finish the season strong. 

Some of their stand out moment were when they knocked Wilton out of the Steve Quinn cup and they also had a great run in the FAI Intermediate Shield in which they bowed out at the semi final stage against Dublin outfit St Francis. 

Here John tells us about how his season went and how it is a huge stepping stone for the progression of the club going forward.

“Going into the season the main objective for the players and myself was to make sure we stayed up in the premier league and compete against the better teams,” said John. 

"It turned out that the players completely blew me away with the progress they made this season. 

"We are in the final of the Steve Quinn Cup, we reached the semi final of the FAI amateur intermediate shield cup and got to the semi final of the Munster junior cup.

“What has changed this season for the squad is learning how to win close games. 

"In our squad we have some players who have never played in really tough, competitive games. 

"This season we are learning how to hold on to leads and finish out games. A massive improvement from the last two seasons and I have no doubt it’s a huge foundation going forward.

“This is year three for our squad and because of the players hard work we have progressed up the divisions each season. 

"2023 was our first season. I have a picture of a panel of 21 when we won the league in 2023. Only eight remain with the first team from that picture. 

"Thankfully, we started a second team which allows players who can’t commit to a premier team to continue playing.

“We have a squad that is very honest and hard working but every team needs class and we are lucky to have that with the likes of Ava Lotty, Julia White, and Ellen Boyle. 

"We also have plenty of younger players coming through with the likes of Beth Coomey, Lydia Pasiecznik, and the Harnett sisters, Maria and Lisa.

“A big shout out to my daughter Amy (Gettings) who is back from an ACL injury and also a speedy recovery to Julia Pasiecznik, who has done her ACL.

“We added experience this season with Carissa Sheehan and Claire Cooney coming in and we also have a very calm and experienced captain in Caitlin Mulcahy.

“Last Sunday's loss to an excellent St Francis’ team again wasn’t a huge disappointment because of the manner of how the girls played. 

"Huge credit as they came from three down and they never gave up and nearly scraped out a result narrowly losing out 4-3. 

"Again we'll take positives going forward.

“As regards silverware this season I don’t believe that winning trophies is what any manager should think about. 

"Every season and game is about performance and progression. If you get that right then trophies will automatically follow. 

"The performance and progression this season has been outstanding and this is the reason for us being third in the league and involved in the final stages of cups.

“Until this season the squad was very naive and didn’t have that bit of fight that every good team needs. 

"My brother Richard Gettings got involved with us and slowly taught them not to be so naive and also he brings that bit of fight when you need it.

“Next season we just need to continue in the same vein performance and progression. 

"We had some great results this season but going forward we need to do this consistently. The squad and coaches are looking forward to the challenges of next season.”