Shelbourne 7
Treaty United 2
Andrew Dempsey reports from Tolka Park
SHELBOURNE MAINTAINED THEIR imperious title-chase as they eased past Treaty United with a 7-2 scoreline at a sun-baked Tolka Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds won thanks to goals from Saoirse Noonan, Ciara Grant and Jess Stapleton. Ireland international Keeva Keenan also made her first start for the club, and scored following her arrival from Scottish giants Celtic.
Shels started the game in blistering fashion, racing into a three-nil lead after nine minutes. Noonan scored twice, with her second proving to be the pick of the bunch, after Emily Whelan had opened the scoring in the fifth minute, heading home from a Jamie Finn cross.
Finn produced an excellent first-half display, scoring once and setting up two as the Shannonsiders could do little about a dominant performance from the title-chasing
Reds.
Jessie Stapleton would make it four after 24 minutes with a superb free-kick that clipped in off the underside of the bar, before Noonan went from scorer to provider on the half-hour mark, crossing to Keenan who poked home in the six-yard box.
Ciara Grant would also get on in on the act in a sensational first-half performance from Shels, rounding Treaty goalkeeper Medbh Ryan to make it 6-0 after 40 minutes. Jenna Slattery did net for the visitors before the break, capitalising on some sloppy play from Shels to make it 6-1.
And it was Slattery’s goal that managed to stem the flow of Shelbourne goals, but the Reds remained a real threat through the second-half, with Noelle Murray seeing her volley crash off the inside of the post.
Shels finally broke down that Treaty resistance midway through the second period as substitute Mia Dodd finished off a fine attacking move for Noel King’s side after 72 minutes.
Murray would once again see an effort crash off the woodwork as the game came to a close. But it was Treaty who had the last say in the game, as Slattery scored her second of the game with a great turn and finish as Shels ran out 7-2 winners.
Elsewhere, Athlone Town lost 2-1 at home to Peamount United, who survived a late sending off and got the win courtesy of Aine O’Gorman’s superb winner. Earlier, Alannah McEvoy had cancelled out a surprise opener from Emily Corbett, who lobbed out-rushing keeper, Naoisha McAloon. Athlone were excellent and rattled Peamount’s crossbar twice.
Meanwhile, Kylie Murphy was the Wexford star as they won 4-1 against Cork City. Murphy scored twice early on, Ellen Molloy got a fine goal, too and Sinead Taylor also found the back of the net. Cork pulled a goal back through Eva Mangan. Wexford remain one point behind Shelbourne and Peamount in the title race.
Shelbourne: Amanda Budden (Sophie Lenehan 46); Jessie Stapleton (Shauna Fox 46 (Taylor White, 63)), Pearl Slattery (c), Rachel Graham, Jessica Gargan; Keeva Keenan (Taylor White 78), Ciara Grant, Jamie Finn; Emily Whelan (Abbie Larkin 46), Saoirse Noonan, Noelle Murray.
Treaty United: Maebh Ryan; Shannon Parbat, Eve O'Sullivan (Rebecca Horgan
39), Jesse Mendez; Aine Walsh (Eimear Carey 89), Jenna Slattery, Cara Griffin
(Alannah Mitchell 32), Olivia Gibson (Tara O'Gorman 46); Gillian Keenan, Aoife
Horgan (c), Aoife Cronin.
Referee: Sean Stephens.
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