LAST UPDATE | 8 Aug 2020
STEPHANIE ROCHE WAS among the goalscorers as Peamount United began their defence of the Women’s National League with a 5-0 win over Treaty United.
Roche was making her first appearance in the league after a six-year absence, and capped off a comfortable restart for the champions. Aine O’Gorman scored twice in the opening 25 minutes, which preceded a deflected goal along with strikes by Alannah McEvoy and Roche.
Today marked the league debuts of Treaty United and Bohemians, who fell to a 4-1 defeat to Wexford Youths. Irish U17 international Ellen Molloy scored a debut goal for Wexford, after Lauren Kelly opened the scoring. Vanessa Ogbonna added a third before Molloy scored again. Chloe Darby pulled a goal back for Bohs.
Earlier in the day, Shelbourne beat Cork City 3-1 in the opening game of the season.
The Dublin side, who finished just two points behind champions Peamount last year, got off to a positive start at Tolka Park, with club captain Pearl Slattery giving them the lead in the 16th minute.
Irish international Ciara Grant then doubled the hosts’ advantage on the brink of half-time, before Rebecca Cooke effectively ended the game as a contest with Shels’ third just after the break.
And the first goal of 2020 #WNL season is scored by...@shelsfc captain @pearl_slattery 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/rRjjmkAklc
— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) August 8, 2020
Saoirse Noonan then scored a late consolation for the visitors from the penalty spot, after Christina Dring was fouled.
There was at least one positive to the game for Cork, as Lauren Egbuloniu replaced Sophie Liston in the 74th minute, making her return after more than a year out injured.
Elsewhere, Galway and DLR Waves drew 1-1. Aoife Thompson gave Galway the lead, but Katie Malone equalised for DLR Waves in the second half.
