Niamh Fahey doesn’t take unnecessary risks, so when she quit a full-time job to pursue a dream of being a professional footballer it was a calculated move.

All-Ireland winning Cork Ladies football coach Eamonn Ryan believes women’s sport needs a stronger following — from women.

The British Football Association has taken the first step towards filling the void left by the collapse of Setanta by selling the rights for the Community Shield to Sky Sports for the next three seasons.