All you need to know about the Women's Premiership

Another Women's Premiership season is upon us and there have been a few changes from the last campaign.

Mid-Ulster were relegated to the Championship but no one was promoted, leaving the top-flight with just eight teams.

Despite that, there is still plenty to play for as champions Cliftonville and Glentoran are expected to go head-to-head for the title, whilst others will be keen to challenge the top two clubs.

Ahead of the start of the 2025 campaign, BBC Sport NI looks at how each team is shaping up for the season ahead.

Manager: John McGrady 2024 Position: 1st Captain: Kelsie Burrows Key Player: Caitlin McGuinness One to watch: Katie Markey

Cliftonville enjoyed a stellar 2024 season with a dominant domestic campaign resulting in a treble-winning year for the Reds and an 'invincible' Women's Premiership campaign.

Their success has meant they have lost a number of key performers from last season to clubs in England and Scotland.

Northern Ireland internationals Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel have gone to Burnley whilst Toni-Leigh Finnegan has ed Aberdeen and Hannah Doherty has switched to Linfield.

Maxwell's loss will be keenly felt as she was named the league's Player of the Year for a second successive season after scoring 11 league goals.

The Reds have signed Teegan Lynch to replace Finnegan but have turned to their academy for other replacements, with Katie Markey and Orleigha McGuinness set to be given the chance to establish themselves in the first team after some bright cameos last year.

They have also added Grace McKimm, who was part of the side that won the title in 2022, returning to the team after a stint in America.

Aoibhe O'Neill and Naomi McLaughlin are set to feature more this year after playing bit-part roles last season and the Reds were boosted by the news that former Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan has elected to keep playing.

Despite the calibre of players they have lost, they still have a talented squad and with the goals of Caitlin McGuinness, the Reds will target retaining all the silverware they won last season.

Manager: Kim Turner 2024 Position: 2nd Captain: Jess Foy Key Player: Demi Vance One to watch: Kascie Weir

The 2024 campaign was a disappointing one for Glentoran, who surrendered their league title to Cliftonville.

The mid-season loss of both Kerry Beattie and Joely Andrews to Hearts was keenly felt as the Glens lost both meetings against Cliftonville, including a 6-0 hammering by the Reds in the penultimate league game which ultimately decided the league.

They did get the better of John McGrady's side in the County Antrim Cup final and also put in some impressive displays in the Women's Champions League.

Kim Turner has a lot of talented young players at her disposal including the likes of Sofia Keenan, Aimee Kerr and Kascie Weir, the latter two having already been called up to the Northern Ireland senior side.

Weir scored her first goal for her country on her fourth cap against Romania and is set for a big league campaign after breaking through last year.

The Glens have only added Mia Moore, another exciting young player, to the squad after she ed from Crusaders.

They will be heavily reliant on goals from Weir, Emily Wilson and Demi Vance, who managed 12 in the league last term, the most of any Glens player.

The Glens will start the season without NI international Chloe McCarron, who is recovering from an injury sustained in pre-season.

Glentoran will be targeting retaining the County Antrim Cup as well trying to reclaim the Women's Premiership title. It is set to be a tight race for the title.

Manager: Ryan McConville 2024 Position: 3rd Captain: Ashley Hutton Key Player: Cora Chambers One to watch: Keri Loughrey

Could this be the year Linfield kick on and challenge the top two?

With Cora Chambers and Eve Reilly up front and Northern Ireland international Keri Halliday in behind, they do have a really exciting frontline.

Chambers and Reilly formed an impressive partnership last year, with the former scoring 19 goals and the latter 15 as they finished as the league's two highest goal scorers.

The Blues have signed full-back Hannah Doherty from champions Cliftonville, a huge coup given how integral she was to the Reds' success last year to try and strengthen their defence.

They have also added Republic of Ireland under-19 international midfielder Keri Loughrey, who scored on her debut against Lisburn Rangers in the revamped League Cup.

Ryan McConville's side were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Cliftonville in their second League Cup game, which suggests they are ready to compete against the Reds and the Glens this year.

To do so, they will need to pick up wins against the top two, something they failed to do last year, but that they have the chance rectify on the first day of the season against Cliftonville at Solitude.

The Blues will also be desperate to end the six-year wait for a trophy by putting together a few cup runs in the different competitions, something they have failed to do the last few years.

Manager: Alistair Dickson 2024 Position: 4th Captain: Helen Parker Key Player: Gracie Conway One to watch: Lucy Johnston

Last year's surprise package, newly promoted Lisburn Rangers managed an impressive fourth place finish in their first ever season in the top-flight.

They also had a few close encounters against Cliftonville and Glentoran towards the end of the campaign after suffering heavy defeats against the big two earlier in the season, showing that they adapted quickly to the league.

The Reds required a last-minute winner from Caitlin McGuinness at Solitude to win 3-2 against Alistair Dickson's side.

The only disappointment for Rangers from a largely positive campaign will have been their showings in the League Cup and Irish Cup finals which they lost comfortably against Cliftonville.

The aim this year will be to consolidate fourth place again, grab a result against the top two and maybe even push Linfield for third place.

To do so, they have brought in some more young players, who crucially have Premiership experience.

Lucy Johnston is a big g from Linfield whilst they have also brought in Northern Ireland underage international Anastasija Stanyte from the Blues and Niamh O'Donnell from Mid-Ulster.

The cup competitions will also be key again for Rangers, who also are taking part in the All-Island Cup this year, as they look to right the wrongs of the 2024 final defeats.

Manager: Paul Dixon 2024 Position: 5th Captain: Shannon Dunne Key Player: Tara O'Connor One to watch: Rachel McIntyre

Last year was a terrific year for Derry City, who recorded their highest ever Women's Premiership finish after pipping Crusaders to fifth place.

Following a few turbulent years and various relegation scraps, the Candystripes have benefitted from the stability head coach Paul Dixon has brought since his appointment two years ago.

They have also recruited well, with Tara O'Connor a standout g last year, netting 12 goals in 17 games in all competitions for the Brandywell side.

Dixon looks to have made some shrewd gs once again with Rachel McIntyre returning to the club after a spell with Glentoran and Caitlin Doherty and Stacey Johnston arriving from Finn Harps.

Cache Crumlish is an intriguing addition from Sion Swifts as she won the Championship Player of the Year last year and will hope to kick on and adapt to the top-flight.

Derry's aim will be to consolidate fifth place and target progression in the cup competitions as they have not fared well in those in recent years.

Manager: Jonny Tuffey 2024 Position: 6th Captain: Julie Nelson Key Player: Maddy Harvey-Clifford One to watch: Bernie Ferreira

It is fair to say the 2024 season is one that Crusaders will want to forget.

A club that has for the past few seasons finished as best of the rest in third place and proved difficult to beat, was anything but that last year.

Jonny Tuffey's side lost half of the 16 league games they played, managing just 24 goals.

There were high hopes that midfielder Mia Moore, would drive the Crues on to challenge Linfield for third place last year, but she tore her ACL in one of her first games for the club and missed the entire season.

She has since moved onto Glentoran and scored on her debut in the League Cup and Crusaders will wonder what could have been if she was fit last year.

In an effort to improve the squad and their league position, Tuffey has brought in well-travelled striker Michelle McDaid, who returns to the game after taking a year out and NI under-19 international Sophie Gargan from Linfield.

With no other additions, it seems the Crues will be battling it out with Derry City for fifth place as they will be heavily reliant on their academy for young players again.

The north Belfast side did beat Lisburn Rangers in their opening League Cup game however, which will be cause for optimism and they can really see where they are compared to Derry when they play the Candystripes on the opening day of the season.

Manager: Donald Malomo-Paris 2024 Position: 7th Captain: Christine Clews Key Player: Aimee-Lee Peachey One to watch: Anna Wilson

There has been a lot of upheaval at Lisburn Ladies in the off-season after another positive campaign.

Lisburn managed to consolidate their place in the Premiership again and picked up four wins and two draws from their 16 games.

Phil Lewis, who has helped Lisburn to establish themselves in the top-flight, stepped down at the end of the campaign and has been replaced by Donald Malomo-Paris.

Malomo-Paris is no stranger to the league after spending two seasons in charge at Larne, but he has a tough first league game as Lisburn host Glentoran.

To develop their squad depth, Lisburn have brought in seven players, many young and inexperienced at this level.

The only two who have featured in the top-flight are Anna Wilson, who res from Lisburn Rangers and Aoibhin Gallen who played for Mid-Ulster in the Premiership last year.

They have also lost experienced striker Abbie Burnett due to work commitments, and it is hard to see where the goals are going to come from.

Avoiding finish bottom of the table and trying to replicate last year will be seen as another good season for a side that lack the quality of those above them.

Manager: Daniel Carlisle 2024 Position: 8th Captain: Aimee Nellins Key Player: Hollie Johnston One to watch: Erin Montgomery

It was another tough season for Larne in the Women's Premiership as they picked up just nine points from their 16 league games on their way to finishing second from bottom.

They managed two wins and three draws but were comfortably safe from relegation by virtue of the fact Mid-Ulster picked up just one point.

The Inver side have appointed a new manager after the departure of Malomo-Paris, with Daniel Carlisle coming in.

Carlisle was previously assistant coach at men's side Moyola Park and most recently had a short stint in charge of Premier Intermediate outfit PSNI.

They have not added much to a squad that is crying out for some Premiership quality with youngsters Aoife McCann and Tazmin Watson coming in and Leanne Glass returning to Inver Park.

Carlisle's main focus will be making Larne difficult to beat - they finished with a -46 goal difference last year after some heavy defeats against the big sides.

That is easier said than done as Carlisle found out in his first game, a 9-2 thrashing at the hands of the Glens in the League Cup.

They face a tough first league game of the season against Lisburn Rangers and their aim this year will be to avoid finishing bottom of the table.