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Tom Maher
@tom-maher-tm.bsky.social
180 followers 200 following 150 posts
Women’s football journalist writing for The Halfway Line & The Sporting News 🇮🇪 🐝 🔫 ⚽️
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Tom Maher @tom-maher-tm.bsky.social · Nov 18
Links to my work ✍️ 🎙️

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The Halfway Line
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Tom Maher | Sporting News
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Ahead of Remembrance Day weekend, I’ve written about Irish players who did not wear a poppy last weekend in WSL & WSL 2.

They received unacceptable abuse online for their decision.

They need protection to ensure the mistakes of the past aren’t repeated.

thehalfwayline.com/2025/11/07/i...
Irish players have taken a principled stance, now they need to be protected - The Halfway Line
This weekend a number of Irish players in both the WSL and WSL 2 took the decision not to wear a poppy embroidered shirt.
thehalfwayline.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

A number of Irish WSL players did not wear a poppy last weekend and received abuse online, this must end writes @tom-maher-tm.bsky.social ✍️

thehalfwayline.com/2025/11/07/i...
Irish players have taken a principled stance, now they need to be protected - The Halfway Line
This weekend a number of Irish players in both the WSL and WSL 2 took the decision not to wear a poppy embroidered shirt.
thehalfwayline.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖

Let the team catch you up on all the latest from the WSL as Blackstenius boosts the Gunners!

Also hear updates from the WSL 2, NWSL, and of course enjoy another highly-anticipated round of 'goalless'.

#BarclaysWSL #NWSL #WSL2
November 4, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐡 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐧 ‘𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞’

🗣️Bompastor on Earps and Hampton, “I just think one of them is class, and Hannah [Hampton] is the class one.”

thehalfwayline.com/2025/11/01/b...
Bompastor labels Earps comments on Hampton 'not acceptable' - The Halfway Line
Sonia Bompastor has labelled Mary Earps' comments about Hannah Hampton and Sarina Wiegman "not acceptable."
thehalfwayline.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

FT: Chelsea 2-0 London City Lionesses

Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr both scored as Chelsea remain top of the WSL table.

thehalfwayline.com/2025/11/01/c...
Chelsea 2-0 London City: Player ratings as Tillies duo secure win - The Halfway Line
Chelsea beat London City Lionesses 2-0 in the WSL on Saturday thanks to goals from their Australian duo of Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr.
thehalfwayline.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐖𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭

Vital #WAFCON2026 qualifiers take place this week, with World Cup qualifying implications.

Our low down is below:
thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/22/w...
WAFCON 2026 Qualifying: Crunch time for Africa's finest - The Halfway Line
WAFCON 2026 is right around the corner and the crucial final qualifiers take place this October with 11 places set to be decided this month.
thehalfwayline.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞

FT: Athlone Town 3-2 Bohemians

Analysis on the FAI Cup final at Tallaght Stadium as Kelly Brady hat-trick steals the show in front of Carla Ward.
thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/19/a...
Athlone 3-2 Bohemians: Brady bags bunch to secure double delight - The Halfway Line
Kelly Brady scored a hat-trick in the FAI Cup final to ensure Athlone Town emerged victorious with a 3-2 victory over Bohemians.
thehalfwayline.com
October 19, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

The Netherlands legend bids farewell to international football as the most-capped European player ever.

thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/14/s...
Sherida Spitse announces retirement from international football - The Halfway Line
Netherlands legend Sherida Spitse has announced her retirement from international football as the most-capped European player in history.
thehalfwayline.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
Honourable mentions: Isabella Floccini (TRE), Kate Mooney (SHE), Roisin Molloy (ATH), Emma Doherty (GAL), Kylie Murphy (WEX), Noelle Murray (SHE), Ellen Dolan (PEA), Megan Plascho (ATH), Alex Kavagnah (SHE), Aiobheann Costello (GAL), Jess Fitzgerald (PEA), Katie McCarn (BOH)
October 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 - The Halfway Line edition

Deputy Editor @tom-maher-tm.bsky.social has assembled his Team of the Season in the WLOI.

Who makes your team? ☘️
October 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

The team look back over the weekend's Women's Super League action as Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, and Man City all picked up three crucial points.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts now 🍏🎧
October 13, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

The Champions League was back in action this week! Man United win in Europe, Chelsea stumble and Arsenal fumble #UWCL

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts now 🍏🎧
October 10, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡

With Courtney Brosnan likely to miss Ireland's next camp, The Halfway Line looks at who might replace her between the sticks.

#COYGIG
thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/09/c...
Carla Ward faces Irish Goalkeeper Dilemma for Belgium clash - The Halfway Line
Carla Ward has been at the helm of Ireland for almost ten months and with Brosnan out, she has a goalkeeping dilemma to solve.
thehalfwayline.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲

FT: Arsenal 1-2 Lyon

An electric brace from Melchie Dumornay saw the defending champions begin their #UWCL campaign with a defeat.

thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/07/a...
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon: Player Ratings as Gunners slip up against Lyon - The Halfway Line
Lyon beat Arsenal 2-1 at Meadow Park on a thrilling opening night of the UEFA Women's Champions League thanks to a Dumornay brace.
thehalfwayline.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 '𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬'

🗣️Steph Catley spoke to the media yesterday ahead of Arsenal's #UWCL clash against Lyon tonight.

Click below for some pre match reading ⬇️
thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/07/s...
Arsenal's Steph Catley talks 'special Champions League nights' - The Halfway Line
Steph Catley has spoken about her dream of playing in 'special Champions League nights' from 'all the way over there in Australia' as a child.
thehalfwayline.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
tom-maher-tm.bsky.social
🗣️Heard from 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞́𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 this afternoon, I asked the Arsenal head coach about facing a Jonatan Giráldez team again.

She recalled fondly being invited for a 'study trip' in Barcelona by Giráldez when she was at Rosengård, read more ⬇️

#UWCL
thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/06/r...
Renée Slegers says Chloe Kelly is '100% available' for Lyon test - The Halfway Line
Renée Slegers has said that despite the strapping on her leg Chloe Kelly is '100% available to play' against Lyon on Tuesday night.
thehalfwayline.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
'𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐀, 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐚 [𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐚̈𝐟𝐞] 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬'

🗣️Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor spoke to The Halfway Line following a 1-0 loss to London City. Read his comments below:

thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/05/g...
Gareth Taylor: 'Until we hear anything from the FA, Rafa [Borggräfe] is back in with us' - The Halfway Line
Gareth Taylor spoke on the decision to bring Rafaela Borggräfe back into the fold after an alleged discriminatory remark.
thehalfwayline.com
October 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 ‘𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥’

🗣️Jocelyn Prêcheur spoke to The Halfway Line about the returning Godfrey as well as London City's 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

#BarclaysWSL
thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/05/j...
Jocelyn Prêcheur: Freya Godfrey has 'such a great potential' - The Halfway Line
Jocelyn Prêcheur has praised summer signing Freya Godfrey as a player with 'many qualities' after she returned to the squad on Sunday.
thehalfwayline.com
October 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

FT: London City Lionesses 1-0 Liverpool

Liverpool remain winless as London City climb the table to seventh.

thehalfwayline.com/2025/10/05/l...
London City 1-0 Liverpool: Player ratings as Linari secures victory - The Halfway Line
London City Lionesses got their first ever top flight victory at Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon as Elena Linari's penalty was the difference.
thehalfwayline.com
October 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
tom-maher-tm.bsky.social
Asked Prêchuer for an LCL Injury update: “Daniëlle (van de Donk) started to run now, so yesterday, when I saw (her) running so fast like this, (I thought) we can be optimistic for a quick return. But of course, we need to respect (this is) a different step.”
October 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
tom-maher-tm.bsky.social
Prêchuer confirmed “Isa Kardinaal should return at the end of this month or beginning of the next one.”

Also confirmed the rehabilitation of Teyah Goldie, Poppy Pattinson, Maddi Wilde and Corrine Henson is going well.

#BarclaysWSL #LCL
October 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
tom-maher-tm.bsky.social
Asked Gareth Taylor about Leanne Kiernan’s absence: “Hopefully, it shouldn't be too much (time out). It’s a really severe kick she's had on the foot. Her foot was swollen, so she was really struggling to kick. But we'd like to think she'll be back and available next weekend.”
October 5, 2025 at 2:09 PM
tom-maher-tm.bsky.social
I felt it was important to ask Gareth Taylor about his decision to bring Rafaela Borggräfe back into the fold. This was after the FA confirmed they are investigating allegations of racial discrimination and before an outcome had been reached in the investigation, his response:
October 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

Aston Villa stun Arsenal again while Chelsea, Man United and Man City all take home three points.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts as the team break down another weekend of #BarclaysWSL drama🎧🍏
September 30, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Reposted by Tom Maher
thehalfwayline.bsky.social
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐍𝐮̈𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 ‘𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚’

The Halfway Line spoke with Sonia Bompastor following Chelsea's dominant 4-0 victory over local rivals West Ham.

#BarclaysWSL #CFCW
thehalfwayline.com/2025/09/28/s...
Sonia Bompastor: Nüsken is an 'important player for Chelsea' - The Halfway Line
Sonia Bompastor spoke to the media after her Chelsea side were at their free flowing best on Sunday to beat West Ham.
thehalfwayline.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM