LAST UPDATE | 5 Sep 2020
WEXFORD YOUTHS PRODUCED a massive 3-0 win over reigning champions Peamount United and Galway Women’s FC brought current leaders Shelbourne’s perfect start to a halt on a busy day of Women’s National League [WNL] action.
There were also important wins for Cork City and Athlone Town — their first-ever in the league — in Matchweek 6, as the 2020 title race appears wide open.
While Shels remain top of the table, they were stopped in their tracks tonight while Peamount — who had also enjoyed a perfect start before this round — dropped points on the road too too.
2019 FAI Cup champions Wexford sent out a huge statement of intent after a stunning performance at Ferrycarrig Park.
An early opener from Youths stalwart Nicola Sinnott and a double from underage rising star Ellen Molloy — who was recently called up to Vera Pauw’s Ireland senior squad from the U17s — sealed the victory for Tom Elmes’ side by 53 minutes.
And Peamount, who until tonight were yet to concede a goal let alone drop a point, were left stunned at the death, unable to pull anything back.
Meanwhile, Galway and Shelbourne shared the spoils at Eamonn Deacy Park after a 1-1 draw. A 25-yard screamer from Chloe Singleton had the Westerners in the driving seat in the first half, before Shelbourne’s young Ireland international Jessica Ziu levelled matters in the 6oth minute.
With five wins and a draw from six outings, Shels stay top — though Peamount, four points behind in second, have a game in hand. Wexford go third after their huge win tonight, with the Tribeswomen in fourth — though both have two games in hand after several postponements.
Elsewhere, Ireland U17 star Laura Shine was ultimately Cork City’s match-winner as the Leesiders beat Bohemians 4-3 and earned their first points of the WNL season.
Substitute Shine, the rising talent who recently stepped up from the U17 set-up after coming through the club’s academy, scored her first and second senior goals this afternoon at Dublin’s Oscar Traynor Centre.
First-half goals from Lauren Egbuloniu and Christina Dring had the visitors in the driving seat, before league newcomers Bohs responded brilliantly through Aoife Robinson and Alannah Maxwell to level matters straight after the break.
Former Wilton United attacker Shine then rattled the net in the 71st and 80th minutes respectively and Cork did enough to hold on, despite Bohs pulling back a third goal four minutes from time in a strong second-half showing from the hosts.
In a boost for the Leesiders, Shaunagh McCarthy made her long-awaited return from a cruciate injury, while Jesse Mendez was also sprung from the bench for her senior debut.
City now move to sixth in the table having earning their first points of the season after several postponed games. They’ve played just three times. Bohs, on the other hand, sit bottom, still searching for their first points in their first campaign in the senior division.
Fellow newcomers Athlone Town earned theirs tonight, recording a first-ever WNL victory after a five-goal thriller with Treaty United.
The Midlanders came from behind twice to win 3-2 at Athlone Town Stadium, Kellie Brennan bagging the all-important winner early in the second half following previously-equalising goals from Kaitlin Keogh and Paula Doran.
Leading light Aoife Horgan was on the double for Limerick-based Treaty United in the latest kick-off of the day. DLR Waves weren’t in action this weekend.
Results / fixtures
- Bohemians 3-4 Cork City
- Galway WFC 1-1 Shelbourne
- Wexford Youths 3-0 Peamount United
- Athlone Town 3-2 Treaty United.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
