Swansea City are one step away from reaching the Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final for the first time since 2018, with tier two Cwmbran Celtic standing in their way on Sunday (KO 2pm).
The last time the Swans made the final, they would go onto win the competition, coming from behind against Cardiff City to lift the cup for the third time in their history.
However, the club have gone the last three seasons without any form of silverware – unprecedented for historically one of the most decorated sides in Wales.
There is hope in SA1 though that that may change this term. Under Yzzy Taylor, a much-improved Swans team are five points behind Genero Adran Premier leaders Cardiff City – with a game in hand – and are in good form ahead of Sunday’s semi-final.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
Semi-Finals preview
“It’s a big occasion for us,” midfielder Maddy Murray says of the clash against Cwmbran Celtic. “We were knocked out of the Genero Adran Trophy by Cardiff which wasn’t a good representation of what we’ve worked for this season, so it would be nice to put that right and get ourselves to a final this season.
“We’re going into it like any other game. We’ve prepared well all week and we can’t underestimate them. They fought against Briton Ferry and came out on top.
“A semi-final is a big deal; it’s not the same as a normal league game. There’s heightened emotions and you have to win the game, so the energy is there to push and go and score. We all know what job we have to do on Sunday and we will try to our best to go to perform.
“The aim is always to win silverware. Obviously it’s been Cardiff and Wrexham, and people are very focused on that, but I don’t think we should be ruled out as a club. We are striving for whatever we can win this season, and in the seasons to come we’ll be pushing to win more silverware.”
After joining the club as assistant manager in 2024, Yzzy Taylor took up the role of manager at Swansea last year. A proven manager in the Genero Adran Premier with Cardiff Met, Taylor has led the Swans back into the top four, with the side still with a chance of the title.
“Yzzy’s done a fantastic job this season,” Murray said. “The squad we’ve got, we’ve come together as a team a lot more. The work Yzzy has done has helped massively. To be in a position we are now, it shows how much hard work everyone’s put in.
“Pre-season was tough, but we all stuck together and last season has driven us to push to be better, and I think we’ve all done that.”
Former Cymru U19s international Murray joined Swansea in 2024, and spent large parts of her first senior season as a centre back. It was a challenging experience in a challenging season for Swansea overall, but one that Murray believes has benefitted her in the long-term.
“Anyone’s first season in senior football isn’t going to be as smooth sailing as they probably think,” she explained. “You’re coming in and competing against girls that are a lot older than you and have a lot more knowledge of the game and this league.
“From my first game for Swansea I’m going to be nervous. Anyone who is younger is going to be nervous at the start, playing in a new league, playing in a new team, but I think the girls here made it really easy to be comfortable on the pitch. If you make a mistake they’ll have your back.
“It’s hard switching environments but I think for me to come in and start getting minutes at centre-back helped me a lot with my midfielder game.
“This season I’ve thrived as a midfielder and I do prefer it a lot more there, but definitely playing centre-back helped my game overall, and just to have that first season in women’s football, it was tough but I think I’ve grown into it now.
“For younger players it’s incredible to have such knowledgeable players, players who have played in this league for many years. Learning off them, you have [Chloe] Chivers who is doing incredible this season, to be around players like that helps push everyone in the team, not just the younger players, to be better and fight for their position. It’s vital that we learn off each other.”
