Series 17 of Women’s National League football unusually took place midweek, but what wasn’t inconsistent is that of the top-quality play and fascinating results.
Shelbourne secured a late 3-2 victory at home to ensure they didn’t drop points while the other league leaders Peamount also pulled off a tough triumph versus a determined DLR Waves.
Cork City picked up a vital win away to Treaty that sees them form a gap in the table too, while Galway beat Athlone Town 2-1 after an Anna Fahey header sent Stephen Lally’s home happy.
Team of the Week | Series 17
🟣 7️⃣ clubs represented from midweek games
🟣 @CorkCityFCWomen dominate selection#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/3MoR6u4jzo
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) August 5, 2021
Shelbourne 3-2 Bohemians
📸 When you score a late, late winner!!!@shelsfc captain @pearl_slattery has reason to smile 😄 pic.twitter.com/jIEPd6vStX
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) August 4, 2021
The red hot game of the series was that of the Dublin Derby between Shelbourne and Bohemians that was brimming with both turmoil and excitement.
The visitors opened the scoring when Lisa Murphy headed the ball clear of Amanda Budden and into the back of the net upon the 7th minute.
Shels then had to regroup and continue to probe at Bohs’s defence, only breaking through in the 38th minute via Saoirse Noonan, meaning it was left at 1-1 a piece heading into the break.
After halftime Jessie Stapleton and Chloe Darby both earned themselves a spot on the scoresheet, but the talking point of the round came just when it looked as if things were about to finish up.
Captain fantastic Pearl Slattery grasped the result from the dying embers when in the 99th minute she capitalised on some dodgy defending to send her side back level at the top of the table and Tolka Park into scenes of celebration.
⚽️ GOAL | @pearl_slattery
THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN!
Slattery wins it in the dying seconds 🤯@shelsfc 3-2 @bfcdublin #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/0rk6FsSCY6
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) August 4, 2021
Peamount United 2-1 DLR Waves
Good Morning @peamountutd 😄
A nice time for @lauryncallo to get her first goal of the season ⚽️#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/kKm2BY9Xu9
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) August 4, 2021
Peamount United once again reigned supreme in the Women’s National League with their three goal thriller against DLR Waves at PRL Park.
No goal in the first half, Aine O’Gorman’s effort saw United go 1-0 to the good in the 61st minute and her tie up her 10th goal this season.
With Doyle’s infamous in front of goal for The Girls in Green it was in fact the Sky Blue’s Rachel that was next to have an addition to the score-line, having only been two minutes on the field!
Lauryn O'Callaghan then restored order before the final whistle as she netted in the 78th minute to wrap up the three points in a bow for The Peas.
🗣Managers Thoughts | James O’Callaghan talks about tonight’s tight win over DLR🟢⚫️ pic.twitter.com/raBSmzcpni
— Peamount Utd FC (@peamountutd) August 3, 2021
Treaty United 1-2 Cork City
Munster Derby bragging rights for our Womens side this evening 💪🏻#CCFC84 https://t.co/J9N02PsHdK
— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) August 4, 2021
The Munster rivalry between Cork City and Treaty United was settled on Wednesday, securing 6th position for the Rebels.
Leah Murphy bagged the first of the day at Jackman Park within two minutes to give United the advantage early on, but it didn’t take long before it was cancelled out with a long range Jenna Slattery thunderbolt.
The winner came in the form of a Nathalie O’Brien peno just seven minutes after the interval and while the Shannonsiders pushed for an equaliser it never materialised.
The consequence yields a leapfrog of their opposition in the table for Cork as they now lie on 10 points in comparison to Treaty’s nine with rival bragging rights all to play for in the coming matches.
And here's Nathalie O'Brien's second half penalty that sealed the victory over @TreatyUnitedFC 🎯#CCFC84 pic.twitter.com/2xBfKaEK5f
— Cork City FC Women (@CorkCityFCWomen) August 5, 2021
Athlone Town 1-2 Galway WFC
.@ChloeSingleton0 - Back with a Bang 🚀🚀🚀🚀
Chloe made her first start last night after being out injured and made an instant impact after 21 mins firing us ahead.
📸 Bernie O'Farrell pic.twitter.com/Tyanyb3FL9
— GalwayWFC (@GalwayWFC) August 4, 2021
Galway travelled to Lissywollen to face bottom placed Athlone Town on Tuesday where they picked up an imperative success.
Stephen Lally’s outfit will have come away with plenty of positives from their dominant showing where an 86th minute Anna Fahey strike proved decisive.
Chloe Singleton also scored for the Tribeswomen in the 7th minute, with the only tally against them that of Lucy Jane Grant’s superb wondergoal in the 57th.
Post match reaction to our hard fought 1-2 win against @AfcAthlone from Anna Fahey.
Anna grabbed the winner with a stunning header five minutes from time. What a way to bag your first senior goal. pic.twitter.com/rRFiY22XbV
— GalwayWFC (@GalwayWFC) August 3, 2021
Player of the month
Despite Wexford Youths not being in action this series their captain also shone bright to impress onlookers recently, attaining an award in the process.
Kylie Murphy was presented with the Player of the Month trophy in recent days for her exceptional performances and impressive total of goals.
With four goals aiding her team’s six wins since the last allocation to Eleanor Ryan Doyle in May she aims to continue her side’s strive for a higher spot up the table.
Next week
On Saturday fans will bear witness to DLR vs Treaty United, Wexford battling it out with Shelbourne, Peamount United migrating to Galway in search of a win and Bohemians and Athlone Town challenging for a share of the spoils in Dalymount Park.
Coming your way this Saturday...
ALL LIVE on https://t.co/8yFxgw8JLx 💻#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/UPKkRqKl1V
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) August 6, 2021