Champions Start With Emphatic Win As WNL Kicks-Off

Champions Peamount United picked up where they left off last season by collecting a big win on the opening day of the 2020 Women's National League campaign.

Shelbourne and Wexford Youths also collected three points each, while the spoils were shared between Galway WFC and DLR Waves.

Both Bohemians and Treaty United made their League debuts, with Athlone Town sitting out this week as part of the nine-team structure.

Results - Week 1

Shelbourne 3-1 Cork City
Galway WFC 1-1 DLR Waves
Peamount United 5-0 Treaty United
Wexford Youths 4-1 Bohemians

Shelbourne 3-1 Cork City

Shelbourne and Cork City opened the long-awaited 10th season of the Women's National League as the two sides clashed at Tolka Park.

It didn’t take long for Shels to seize control of the game early on, as the Dublin side’s captain, Pearl Slattery rose highest inside the Cork penalty area to head home after meeting a corner kick in the 16th minute.

Irish international Dr. Ciara Grant, who was making her debut for The Reds after a short absence, doubled the advantage on the brink of half-time. Grant steered in a header after a clever late burst into the box. The Dublin side took a stranglehold onto the game and added a third with Rebecca Cooke’s lobbed effort.

Cork registered a late rally, with substitutes Nadine Seward and Lauren Egbuloniu catching the eye, before Saoirse Noonan converted a penalty for the visitors.

A strong start to the season for Shelbourne who finished two points behind last year’s champions Peamout United.

Pearl Slattery of Shelbourne, left, celebates with team-mate Rebecca Cooke after scoring her side's first goal during the FAI Women's National League match between Shelbourne and Cork City at Tolka Park in Dublin. (Photo Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile)

Galway WFC 1-1 DLR Waves

Aoife Thompson could have put Galway ahead inside the opening minutes but the striker failed to find the back of the net as DLR were caught out.

Thompson did make amends when she found herself in the right place at the right time to fire in from a lofted free-kick from experienced defender Shauna Fox.

DLR were on the back foot for a lot of the first period, with newcomer Jamie Turrentine standing out for the home team, but they fought their way back into the contest.

Katie Malone, who was named Player Of The Week, was a danger throughout and her persistence paid off when she equalised for the visitors in the second half. Galway could have snatched the win late on but Savannah McCarthy headed wide.

Peamount United 5-0 Treaty United

Champions, Peamount United began their defence of the Women's National League with an emphatic 5-0 victory over newcomers Treaty United.

It was never going to be a welcoming party to Treaty United at Greenogue with Peamount exhibiting their ruthless streak.

The Champions didn’t waste any time as they took a swift two-nil lead inside 25 minutes. The first goal had a hint of fortune as a lovely exchange down the right-hand-side saw Aine O'Gorman's low cross deflected in for an own goal by Chloe Connolly.

If the first goal was lucky, the second was anything but. A fine through ball played by Eleanor Ryan-Doyle found Aine O'Gorman who neatly found the far corner on the inside right channel.

Mitchell pulled off a number of excellent saves as Treaty, who were set up well by manager Dave Rooney, tried to fight back. Peamount's power ultimately proved too much as Ryan-Doyle whipped in a third from just outside the box.

Goal number four saw new signing McEvoy elegantly curl in for a debut goal with a touch of class before Republic of Ireland international Stephanie Roche, who has returned to Peamount after six years of playing in Italy grabbed the final goal of the game to seal victory.

Peamount United's Stephanie Roche celebrates scoring on her return to the Women's National League in a win over Treaty United. (Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile)

Wexford Youths 4-1 Bohemians

Coming into the season, there has been high hopes amongst Wexford supporters that they can mount a title challenge this season and on this showing that may well turn out to be the case.

Lauren Kelly got them off the mark after linking up with fellow striker Vanessa Ogbonna, before Irish U17 international and Youths debutant Ellen Molloy, popped up on the half hour to smash in her first goal.

Like Treaty United, this was Bohemians’ league debut and they displayed a fighting spirit and lots of individual skill that suggests they will improve as a unit with the more games that they play.

Wexford, however, kept the pressure on and Ogbonna added their third goal before Molloy got her second of the game. Bohs hit back through Chloe Darby and that consolation goal will give them some heart for a gutsy performance.