Shelbourne and Peamount United remain joint top of the SSE Airtricity Women's National League after a thrilling weekend of action.
Sligo Rovers 3-1 Treaty United
On paper, this game was a fairly even contest. Sligo were missing taliswoman Emma Hansberry and in-form goalkeeper Kristen Sample. It was the home side though who really deserved the win, their first at The Showgrounds.
Both teams started the game well. Treaty got the opening goal after a dangerous cross from Heidi O’Sullivan was deflected in by Sligo defender Leah Kelly. Sligo took that as a wakeup call, and they really started playing from then on.
Sligo’s defending was brilliant when they didn’t have the ball, closing down the Treaty players immediately. Aoife Brennan was superb for Sligo, scoring two terrific free kicks. Striker Emma Doherty scored as well, and she gave Sligo that option to put the ball up the field knowing she’d make something out of it.
A positive for Treaty was Michaela Lawrence in the centre of midfield. The U17 player of the year was a real shining light for them and created some good chances for them throughout the game although they were behind. All in all, a deserved three points for Sligo.
Bohemians 0-0 DLR Waves
It’s usually a tight game between these two sides, and today’s contest was no different.
Bohemians came into the game in eight, with one win in their last five games, while DLR Waves sat in fourth. Both sides put in good performances, and both had the chances to take all three points at Dalymount Park.
Isobel Finnegan and Lisa Murphy had good chances for Bohemians in the first half, while Avril Brierley’s effort almost put Waves ahead.
Danielle Murray went closest for the hosts in the closing stages before Katie Malone’s strike was expertly saved by Rachael Kelly. Waves will feel that they could have got more from the game, as they drop to fifth in the table. The point sees Bohemians move up one place to seventh ahead of the visit of Galway next week.
Galway WFC 0-2 Shelbourne
Shelbourne stayed joint top of the league following a tough contest at Eamonn Deacy Park.
The hosts started the game poorly, with Therese Kinneavy giving a penalty away on 11 minutes. Noelle Murray converted the spot kick to put the champions ahead.
Galway’s defence stayed compact, and they restricted Shelbourne to very little throughout the game. Abbie Larkin put in a stand-out performance for the visitors and was unlucky not to score herself.
Shauna Fox put Shelbourne two in front on the hour mark with an incredible back-heel. Galway can be proud of the performance however, as they travel to Dalymount Park next weekend.
Wexford Youths 5-1 Cork City
A phenomenal performance from Ireland international Ellen Molloy helped Wexford Youths to a dominant win over struggling Cork City at Ferrycarrig Park.
The home side pressed Cork high up the pitch from the very start, and it took Molloy just two minutes to hit the net with a cool left-footed strike past Abbie McCarthy. Ten minutes later, Orlaith Conlon’s fabulous through ball put Molloy in, who rounded the keeper and slotted her second.
Wexford scored a goal of the season contender minutes later, a terrific passing move finished off by Molloy’s strike into the top corner for her hat-trick. Cork pulled one back just before the hour mark through Becky Cassin’s header, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.
Molloy’s pass cut through the Cork defence and found Kylie Murphy, who skipped past the goalkeeper to score into an empty net on 40 minutes. Cork to their credit did try to fight their way back into the contest, but Murphy’s header on the hour mark sealed three points for Wexford, who host Sligo Rovers next week.
Athlone Town 1-2 Peamount United
Peamount maintained their place joint top of the league with a hard-fought win over Athlone Town in Lissywollen.
Athlone, who sat in seventh coming into the game, took the lead on 12 minutes. Dana Scheriff’s effort was spilled by Niamh Reid-Burke and Roisín Molloy was first to pounce, tapping in from close range. The visitors fought their way back into the game and went close through Laura Shine and Dora Gorman.
Stephanie Roche went through one on one on the half hour mark, but her effort flew over the bar. Sadhbh Doyle equalised with the last kick of the half, finishing coolly after the ball dropped to her at the back post.
Sheriff had a huge chance in the second half to put Athlone back in front, but Reid-Burke redeemed herself with an excellent save to keep the scores level.
Peamount’s winner came from birthday-girl Tiegan Ruddy, who scored a fabulous free kick with 15 minutes remaining. Doyle almost scored a second late on, but her point blank shot was well saved by Niamh Coombes.
