WNL fans around the country would have been rejoicing the weekend gone by after the league’s comeback post the mid-season break.
With explosive fixtures on show and extreme consequences feasible they weren’t to be disappointed with series 11’s action.
Shelbourne 1-0 Cork City
FULL-TIME RESULTS @shelsfc 1-0 @CorkCityFCWomen @bfcdublin 1-1 @GalwayWFC
Next up ? @YouthsWomen ? @DLRWaves @ 18:30#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/UxaXvqZwmY— Women’s National League (@LoiWomen) June 26, 2021
The match up with arguably the most ramifications this round was that of Shelbourne’s battle with bottom of the table Cork City.
Ahead of kick off on Saturday The Reds would have been well aware that 3 points in Tolka Park would draw them level with reigning champions Peamount United at the summit of the WNL, but Noel King’s side kept their heads to show they could win when it matters most under such pressures.
Ciara Grant, Emily Whelan, Saoirse Noonan and Jessica Ziu were all on top form for Shels but it was Noelle Murray’s rocket that was to be the only tally on the scoresheet come the final whistle.
Cork, who are still yet to register a win this season, could come away from the match with their heads held high given their competitive performance against the now tied league leaders.
⚽ GOAL | @NoelleM11
Murray loves a screamer ?@shelsfc 1-0 @CorkCityFCWomen
Follow the game LIVE on https://t.co/sUht8CZ1IG#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/pt8Cb4iuAx— Women’s National League (@LoiWomen) June 26, 2021
Bohemians 1-1 Galway WFC
Pix from Sat’s 1-1 thriller @LoiWomen @bfcdublin v @GalwayWFC at Dalyer. For more: https://t.co/GibHWUhpeJ #wnl @DarbyRosemary @bohemiangirlsfc pic.twitter.com/dgjGJ92WLQ
— Stephen Burke (@BohsABaldiemann) June 27, 2021
The simultaneous 2 o’clock kick off between Bohemians and Galway was an evenly disputed affair that saw both sides fight until the bitter end.
As the home team at Dalymount Park Bohs would have been despondent to have conceded a long range effort from Sinead Donovan 24 minutes in to the game, but made up for this concession with their perseverance in pushing for an equaliser.
Not rearing its head until four minutes before the final whistle via a Chloe Darby freekick, both groups would testify to the fact that the scoreline accurately reflected proceedings and ensures all parties come away with a share of the spoils.
⚽ GOAL | @chloedarbyx1
Bohs grab a late equaliser through Darby’s freekick, will either team produce a winner?@bfcdublin 1-1 @GalwayWFC
Tune in on https://t.co/sUht8CZ1IG ?#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/rFFYF1AtH6— Women’s National League (@LoiWomen) June 26, 2021
Wexford Youths 3-1 DLR Waves
The other big name clash of the weekend saw 3rd and 4th spot Wexford Youths and DLR Waves wrestle out a 3-1 clamour that could prove pivotal in terms of their end of the season position.
Had DLR won in Ferrycarrig Park they would have leapfrogged The Youth’s and into third place with a game in hand, an outcome which would have proved detrimental to the home side’s ambitions this year.
Luckily for them that event did not transpire and thanks to a Lynn Marie Grant header, Orlaith Conlon tap in and Niamh Barnes OG the team without Tom Elmes in charge for the first time in over three years walked away with the victory.
Carla McManus did manage to pick up a conciliation goal through a penalty kick but overall DLR never seemed to rise to the occasion that was a major opportunity to cement themselves amongst the big players.
⚽GOAL | Lynn Marie Grant
Youths open the scoring at Ferrycarrig Park through a well-worked set-piece@YouthsWomen 1-0 @DLRWaves #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/TLUVrEcoTi— Women’s National League (@LoiWomen) June 26, 2021
Treaty United 2-2 Athlone Town
?️ FULLTIME
A point each! Even in this heat our girls never gave up fighting! As always we are very proud of their performance!
Treaty UTD 2⃣-2⃣ Athlone Town AFC
? Next week sees us away to @YouthsWomen #TreatyUTD pic.twitter.com/a1cJEISShN
— Treaty United FC (@TreatyUnitedFC) June 27, 2021
Four goals in Jackman Park under a scorching sun saw a sweltering match unfold between Treaty United and Athlone Town.
Aoife Cronin bagged the first goal of the game when she hit the back of the net on the half hour mark, with Katelyn Keogh firing home the equaliser before halftime seeing things tied at 1-1 at the interval.
66 minutes in Melissa O’Kane surely thought she had secured the win for Athlone, but it wasn’t to be as Cronin went on to check off the brace and go level with Rebecca Horgan as Treaty’s top goalscorer.
⚽ GOAL | Aoife Cronin
Treaty take the lead through Cronin’s strike@TreatyUnitedFC 1-0 @AfcAthlone #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/8LWIVd0pUK— Women’s National League (@LoiWomen) June 27, 2021
Next week
Shelbourne’s win at the weekend means their match versus Peamount in series 12 is unbelievably far reaching in nature as to see either come away with three points would be momentous in the title race at this stage.
Elsewhere Treaty travel to Wexford, Galway take on DLR who will be venging for points lost and Cork City face Bohemians in search of their first triumph in 2021.