The 2021 Airtricity Women’s National League kicked off in a sensational fashion at the weekend with 17 goals emerging from the four opening fixtures.
With all the games streamed live and for free on Watch League of Ireland TV the hype of the matches and players saw new levels of admiration and recognition of their talent being witnessed, to long-term spectator’s delight.
All of the results from the opening day of the #WNL.
- Shelbourne see off Athlone with 2 second-half goals
- Bohs put 6 past Treaty
- The points are shared at Galway
- A penalty miss and late goal see Peamount take the win
Bring on next weekend ? pic.twitter.com/HEkgimWSMC— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) March 27, 2021
Bohemians 6-2 Treaty United
The first match of the day saw an eight-goal thriller unfold between Bohemians and Treaty United.
Bronagh Kane bagged two goals in quick succession for her side in the opening stages, while Naima Chemaou added to Bohemian’s domination of the proceedings making it 3-0 inside the first 20 minutes.
Next to get on the score card was midfielder Sophie Watters, before Treaty responded just before the break in the form of Aoife Cronin, concluding the first half at 4-1.
Shannon Parbat capitalised on the away side’s early second half momentum putting the ball past goalkeeper Coombes, but any hope of a comeback was quickly nullified as Aoife Robinson scored the final two goals of the game, wrapping it up at 6-2 in Bohs’s favour.
A dream start for the Dublin side having finished bottom of the League last season they now stand top of the league in the opening weekend with the most goals scored.
In a game of 8 goals, this one might just be the best!
Naima Chemaou hits it sweetly on the half-volley ?@bfcdublin 6-2 @TreatyUnitedFC #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/sGXlpY4bwu— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) March 27, 2021
Athlone Town 0-2 Shelbourne
Shelbourne captain Pearl Slattery opened her team’s goal tally for the season for the second year in a row in their clash Vs Athlone Town at the weekend.
With the only goals of the game coming in the second half the stunning chip over Abbiegayle Royanne saw Noel King’s side go 1-0 up in the 68th minute.
This was supplemented with a second goal from the boot of Alex Kavanagh this time to make it 2-0 to the Reds in the 72nd minute
Pearl Slattery with a top corner finish to open the scoring against Athlone ? @AfcAthlone 0-2 @shelsfc #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/vHlyzVDogD
— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) March 27, 2021
Galway WFC 3-3 Cork City
One of the most eventful games of the opening weekend saw a hattrick hero crowned in Rachel Kearns who excelled upon her return to the WNL.
The former Castlebar Celtic star netted three goals in the first half and put on an unforgettable performance for Galway WFC.
The triple threat attacker started her record with a header, followed it up with a strike in the 21st minute after a good team sequence and finished off with a volley for the ages before halftime.
THAT IS SPECIAL! ?
What a goal from Rachel Kearns to seal her hat-trick against @CorkCityFCWomen
The technique! What a touch to set up an absolute picture-perfect volley into the far corner! ???@Raachkearns @FAI_WNL @LOI_TVOfficial #WNL #GWFC pic.twitter.com/XOxIikToOz
— GalwayWFC (@GalwayWFC) March 27, 2021
Before her third Cork had dragged their way back into the game as Sarah McKevitt found Lauren Egbuloniu at the end of a cross to make it 2-1 and Eabha O’Mahony equalised to 2-2.
As a result halftime saw a 3-2 lead for Galway but they let the lead slip late on as Becky Cassin finished things up with a long range strike ending the game at a 3-3 in Eamonn Deacy Park.
What a way to equalise ?
Becky Cassin with the long range effort to level the scores.@GalwayWFC 3-3 @CorkCityFCWomen #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/Vdurifrk6W
— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) March 27, 2021
Wexford Youths 0-1 Peamount United
An even game throughout, the highly anticipated fixture Wexford Youths Vs Peamount United didn’t break the deadlock until the closing minutes in ever dramatic fashion.
While the link up play between Aisling Frawley, Lynn Marie Grant and Kylie Murphy impressed many in the first half, Peamount’s triumph against a tenacious Wexford side came down to very fine margins after a penalty chance went askew for The Youth’s captain and came off the post.
Just minutes later The Peas fired home the only goal of the game but no doubt made up for the lack of action with this breathtaking strike of Eleanor Ryan Doyle’s to rob Wexford of the points on their home soil.
The champions pulled it out of the bag with this 85 minute winner from Eleanor Ryan Doyle ?
A step towards making it three titles in a row for the Peas ? @YouthsWomen 0-1 @peamountutd #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/lOM47Qk2Z6
— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) March 27, 2021
