Wexford Youths put seven goals past Athlone Town to aid their pursuit of second spot in the WNL, leapfrogging Shelbourne who previously possessed the spot.
The pair are level on all but goal difference, with four points now the gap between themselves and reigning champions Peamount United at the summit.
James O’Callaghan’s side picked up a routine 3-0 triumph against Bohemians, while Galway scraped away with the spoils against Treaty United and Cork City shocked DLR Waves in Turner’s Cross.
Wexford Youths move up to 2⃣nd place after series 22 ⬆️#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/mVePGfX7XX
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
Cork City 4-1 DLR Waves
And they're off!@CorkCityFCWomen 🆚 @DLRWaves @bfcdublin 🆚 @peamountutd
Tune in LIVE on https://t.co/sUht8CZ1IG#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/m6Hjvm0RnG
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
17-year-old Laura Shine was a bright light for Cork City on Saturday against DLR Waves, wrapping up her hattrick just 49 minutes into the surprise result at Turner’s Cross.
The triangular link up play between Sarah McKevitt, Shaunagh McCarthy and Eva Mangan worked wonders for Cork City as they dismantled the away team’s press to put on the burners up front.
Shuana Caroll did manage to put a remarkable strike into the back of the net in the first half but Shine’s display added to Becky Cassin’s insult to injury was just too much for the Waves on the day.
⚽️ GOAL | @laurashine04
It's been non-stop action in the opening 20 minutes of this game as Shine bags a second to put City back in front@CorkCityFCWomen 2-1 @DLRWaves
Tune in 👉 https://t.co/YoFjlEmfYf#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/9ltcZHIvcK
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
Bohemians 0-3 Peamount United
FULL-TIME@CorkCityFCWomen 4-1 @DLRWaves @bfcdublin 0-3 @peamountutd
Next up 👉 @GalwayWFC 🆚 @TreatyUnitedFC @ 16:00#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/cVzLUjm3Xu
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
A convincing exhibit from Peamount United saw them sustain their first placed position in the WNL comfortably at the weekend, Bohemians the victims on a 3-0 count at the Oscar Traynor Centre.
Stephanie Roche got the ball rolling for The Girls in Green with a header on the stroke of halftime, but it was Tiegan Ruddy’s penalty and Karen Duggan’s touch that really done damage to The Gypsies.
Erica Burke put up a fight upfront for Bohs but it was too much for the might of Peas’s defense. Teammate Yvonne Hedigan also had to leave the field of play after a nasty injury and so it was a day to forget for the home outfit.
For Sarah Power however it’s one she will always remember, replacing Aine O’Gorman late on to make her senior WNL debut.
⏰ HALF-TIME ⏰@CorkCityFCWomen 2-1 @DLRWaves @bfcdublin 0-1 @peamountutd @StephanieRoche9 put Peamount ahead just before the break 👇
Watch the next 45 on https://t.co/YoFjlEmfYf 🎥#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/0lyu4qZpeL
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
Galway WFC 1-0 Treaty United
FULL-TIME@GalwayWFC 1-0 @TreatyUnitedFC
The game was decided by Emma Starr's second-half strike ⭐️
Next up 👉 @YouthsWomen 🆚 @AthloneTownAFC @ 18:30#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/I5DwqxH7LJ
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
Just one line on the scoresheet separated Galway WFC and Treaty United at Eamonn Deacy Park, Emma Starr glimmering for the Tribeswomen with 62 minutes surpassed.
Micheala Mitchell was standout for the Limerick group in net, and if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know about the tenacity of Galway’s strike force nothing will.
Kate Slevin, Julie Ann Russell and Rachel Kearns all had their shooting boots packed for this 5th and 9th spot play off, but it was Starr who ultimately broke the deadlock.
Catching the ball on the volley to bullet home a screamer United worked hard for all three points and now find themselves trailing 10 behind DLR Waves but more crucially, four ahead of Bohemians.
⚽️ GOAL | Emma Starr
The home side finally find a breakthrough@GalwayWFC 1-0 @TreatyUnitedFC #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/ryCfAV5B41
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
Wexford Youths 7-1 Athlone Town
GOLDEN BOOT RACE ⚽️@ellenmolloy7 ⬆️#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/3DXvQXe0i8
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 26, 2021
Any goal with eight goals is bound to yield many a talking point and this 7-1 thriller at Ferrycarrig Park is no exception.
Sending shockwaves to Wexford’s team and onlooking fans it was actually Athlone who found the net first, Sligo’s Aoife Haran pelleting into the roof of Ciamh Gray’s net just five minutes in.
Order was restored when new signing Teegan Lynch came good with 12 minutes gone, supplementing with her second after the interval.
Ellen Molloy then gathered her double with two breathtaking efforts before Kira Bates Crosbie also got in on the action just five and three minutes from full time.
In case you needed further proof 👇 https://t.co/lB39wIC5AO pic.twitter.com/FUNAFq8yZV
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 25, 2021
Next week
NEXT UP | SERIES 23
🟣 @shelsfc v @DLRWaves will be LIVE on @SportTG4
🟣 All other games will be LIVE on https://t.co/8yFxgw8JLx#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/TPXmtYl8Z1
— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 26, 2021
Series 23 brings with it some live TV coverage of WNL activity as Shelbourne versus DLR Waves will be shown in real time on TG4 for a rival positional clash, while elsewhere Wexford play hosts to Galway, Cork head to Athlone and basement side Treaty United face Peamount United in a bid to eclipse the run-away leaders.
