Tanya Oxtoby’s first full year in charge of the Northern Ireland senior women’s team was an eventful one.
The year began with two play-off matches and it ended with two play-off matches.
One of those play-offs brought success, while the other saw the senior women’s team coming up against world class opposition.
In between there were plenty of highs and not too many lows as Oxtoby, who took the reins in September last year, continued to shape her squad, which is a blend of youth and experience.
During 2024 they played 12 matches. They won five, drew three and lost four. The defeats came against Portugal and Norway, two sides who will be competing at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland next summer.
And in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking the team moved up four places during the year to 44th position.
A busy year of competitive football for Northern Ireland Women began back in February with a promotion/relegation play-off.
They eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Montenegro in the first leg of a UEFA Women’s Nations League play-off for a place in League B of the UEFA Women’s Nations League later in the year.
Second half goals from winger Lauren Wade and left back Demi Vance secured the deserved win at the Gradski Stadion in Podgorica.
It was back to Belfast, and the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, for the second leg.
The Montenegrins were much more direct and aggressive than during the 2-0 defeat in Podgorica, however Northern Ireland did enough in front of just over 4000 fans at the National Stadium to secure a 3-1 aggregate win.
The visitors took the lead on 67 minutes through Medina Desic before striker Simone Magill levelled things up just six minutes later. Later in the year Magill would be chosen by Oxtoby to be the team’s permanent captain after long-serving skipper Marissa Callaghan stepped down from the role.
From the play-off against Montenegro it was on to qualifiers for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Northern Ireland faced Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malta in League B Group 3 in the European Qualifiers phase of the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
First up was a home game against the Maltese at the National Football Stadium in April.
Oxtoby’s team dominated possession in the B3 encounter, in which midfielder Connie Scofield made her debut, however they had to settle for a point in Belfast after failing to break down the visitors’ resolute defence. The game ended 0 -0.
Northern Ireland got their qualification campaign back on track with a fine 3-1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina a few days later.
After a flat first half in sweltering conditions they sprang to life after the break and goals from Wade, Megan Bell and Magill helped to secure the victory at the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Training Centre in Zenica.
Coach Stuart McLaren took charge of the team after manager Tanya Oxtoby was unable to travel to Bosnia due to illness.
The following month the senior women’s team were defeated 4-0 by Portugal, the top seeds in the group.
Oxtoby’s side were under pressure throughout the 90-plus minutes at Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria.
They battled hard against a team who at the time were 25 places above them in the world rankings, but Portugal’s quality shone through.
Goalkeeper Jackie Burns was Northern Ireland’s player of the match as she produced several fine stops.
Northern Ireland were much more competitive in the reverse fixture, which was played in Lurgan in early June.
Wade was on target again in front of 1711 spectators at Mourneview Park, while Kika Nazareth and Andreia Norton netted for the Portuguese.
Northern Ireland opened the scoring after just five minutes with a great team goal. Keri Halliday fed fellow striker Magill down the right and she raced towards goal before squaring for Wade to slide the ball into the net.
Portugal drew level on 18 minutes through Nazareth and they scored what proved to be the winner before half-time. Burns captained Northern Ireland as she reached the 50-cap milestone for her country.
In July an own goal in the first half and a lovely goal from striker Kerry Beattie after the break ensured Oxtoby’s side secured all three points in their away B3 encounter against Malta.
The victory at the Centenary Stadium in Ta’Qali meant Northern Ireland were guaranteed a spot in the first round of play-offs for places at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
The same month the senior women’s team cemented second place in their qualifying group with a solid 2-0 home victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Going in to the qualifier Oxtoby’s side were neck and neck with the Bosnians in League B Group 3 – on seven points and just ahead of them on goal difference.
But second half goals from midfielder Joely Andrews and substitute Wade at the National Football Stadium ensured Northern Ireland finished second in the group behind Portugal with 10 points from six games.
The runners-up spot in B3 meant Northern Ireland were seeded in the draw for round one of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 play-offs.
And in the first round they were drawn to face Croatia.
In the first leg, played at the end of October, Northern Ireland battled hard to secure a 1-1 draw against the Croatians at the Stadion Varteks in Varazdin.
Oxtoby’s side dominated possession during the game but had to rely on an own goal in second half injury time to grab the draw after Croatia had netted an early penalty. Centre back Laura Rafferty wore the captain’s armband as she reached the 50 caps milestone for her country.
A Wade wonder goal helped the girls in green and white across the line in the second leg in front of 3935 fans at the National Football Stadium.
Wade’s superb strike was enough to earn Oxtoby’s side a 1-0 win and set up a play-off against Norway for a place at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
The goal came in the 114th minute of a game in which gilt-edged chances were few and far between. Debutant Natalie Johnson made an important goal-line clearance during the game.
The two-legged play-off against the Norwegians, ranked 16th in the world, proved to be a step too far for Oxtoby’s side.
In the first instalment of the play-off final - it was staged at the end of last month - Norway turned on the power from the start in front of 1866 fans at Inver Park in Larne and ran out comfortable winners by four goals to nil.
A first half double from captain and player of the match Caroline Graham Hansen and goals from Tuva Hansen and Guro Bergsvand saw Norway establish a strong foothold in the tie ahead of the second leg in Oslo.
The Northern Ireland defence and midfield worked tirelessly throughout the game, closing players down and blocking shots, but the Norwegians stroked the ball around impressively and were ruthlessly efficient.
Norway won the second instalment of the play-off final - it was staged at the start of this month - by three goals to nil at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.
Northern Ireland put in a solid, gutsy performance in chilly conditions against star-studded opposition.
In the game Graham Hansen netted her 50th international goal. Frida Maanum and Synne Jensen were the other scorers for the Norwegians as they booked their place at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
