The second run around of opposition got well and truly underway at the weekend with Galway, Shelbourne, Treaty all securing three points while the headline game saw a draw between Peamount United and Wexford Youths.
Going into the mid-season break the table is shaping up to make for interesting matches upon the return of the WNL at the end of the month.
How they stand going into mid-season break...#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/ruWxB9zn4X
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) June 6, 2021
Cork City 0-2 Galway WFC
Facebook link to photos from this afternoons game between @CorkCityFCWomen and @GalwayWFC at Turners Cross: https://t.co/UN8ptiJEjh
Flickr: https://t.co/OC03ms8Xxe pic.twitter.com/K6FsDM9ogL
— Doug Minihane (@DougMinihane) June 5, 2021
Stephen Lally’s side shot to success against Cork City on Saturday in what was only his second game in charge.
Chloe Moloney got on the end of a corner kick for a goal to set the victory in motion, before Aoife Thompson netted her first of the season and Galway’s second of the game with a diving header.
The result marks the away sides first win since April 24th and they will be hoping to build on their form when the WNL returns on the 26th of June where they are to play Shelbourne in Tolka Park.
⚽ GOAL | Aoife Thompson
Galway double their lead with another fantastic header@CorkCityFCWomen 0-2 @GalwayWFC #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/PUkfGIxl37
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) June 5, 2021
Peamount United 2-2 Wexford Youths
For the first time this season Peamount United didn’t pick up all three points in the weekend of WNL action, although they managed to hang onto the draw against the ever courageous Wexford Youths.
Megan Smyth-Lynch and Aine O’Gorman ensured that Wexford went into halftime two goals down, but a late brace of goals from Nicole Sinnott and captain Kylie Murphy saw them share the points with the girls in green on Tom Elmes’ final game as manager.
Speaking after the game Murphy told Kara Kelly that it was “it was a game of two halves” but that she was “proud” of the teams comeback.
“I don’t think we showed up at all in the first half and if you let a team like Peamount play they’re going to absolutely hammer you” she said.
“Going in at the break two goals down we knew it was just going to take everything. We just had a little tweak in our formation to go a bit more attacking because it was all or nothing. If we had dropped all three points today we would have pretty much been out of the running for the league. The point is better than nothing but again we have a long road ahead of us.”
⚽️ GOAL | @Murphy10Kylie
That's what leaders do...step up when it's needed most.
A crucial goal from the Wexford captain as she heads in from a @ciararossy cross@peamountutd 2-2 @YouthsWomen
#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/jTEzNBhBbO
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) June 5, 2021
Shelbourne 5-0 Athlone Town
Abbie Larkin’s first goal for Shelbourne yesterday ?
The Reds have closed the gap at the top to three points after yesterday’s win over Athlone. #RedsTogether | #DublinsFinest
? @SportsFansPics pic.twitter.com/yj0U127GaB
— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) June 6, 2021
The Reds were on fire on Saturday as Noel Kings’girls put five beyond Athlone in Tolka Park.
11 minutes in Jamie Finn notched a goal onto the scoreboard when she chipped the ball into an empty net, with the next scores coming from Women’s National Team squad members Ciara Grant and Saoirse Noonan.
Rebecca Cooke and debutant Abbie Larkin rounded things off as their efforts found the back of the net and Shels cement themselves as real players in the title race.
⚽ GOAL | @saoirse_noonan
And that's why she's in the Ireland WNT squad...
Bravery + Quality = Goal@shelsfc 3-0 @AthloneTownAFC
#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/3P9A6YJVV5
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) June 5, 2021
Treaty United 2-1 Bohemians
?️ POST MATCH INTERVIEW! ?
We caught up with Michaela MITCHELL to hear what she had to say about their performance after yesterday's fantastic 2⃣ - 1⃣ win against Bohemian FC!#TreatyUTD pic.twitter.com/x6MPXmWPYl
— Treaty United FC (@TreatyUnitedFC) June 7, 2021
Somewhat of an upset characterized Treaty’s 2-1 triumph over Bohemians, a 90 minute winner being the difference maker.
Jenna Slattery put away a penalty in the first half to get proceedings going, with Bohemians scoring the equaliser at the foot of Abbie Brophy with less than 10 minutes to go.
It was to be Niall Connolly and Treaty’s day however as an even later goal from Anna Shanagher concluded the match at 2-1 in the Limerick ladies favour.
⚽ GOAL | Anna Shanagher
What a response from Treaty, they take the lead again!@TreatyUnitedFC 2-1 @bfcdublin #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/KfSPgx7Aqv
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) June 6, 2021
Next up
While the mid-season break now commences everyone’s appetite for more WNL games will be ravenous as the business end of the season approaches.
