WNL Preview: Shelbourne Ladies -v- Peamount United

SHELBOURNE LADIES

A venue change for Shelbourne's opening home fixture of the seasons sees the Reds host Peamount United at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbottstown (kick-off 12pm).

Danny Crowley's side saw their first game of the season against Wexford Youths, scheduled for Ferrycarrig Park last week, called off due to an unplayable pitch.

There will be no such issues in Dublin this week as the derby clash will take place on the pristine facilities in Blanch.

Having endured a disappointing campaign in 2017, which saw them relinquish their title with weeks to spare, the Red Pandas will be raring to get back.

“Peamount have got Aine [O'Gorman], Karen [Duggan] and Niamh Reid-Burke, who's a great signing for them,” Shels midfielder Rachel Graham told extratime.ie.

“It's good for the league that it does go down to the wire and there's not just one or two teams challenging like there has been before.

“Last year, we were conceding goals we never would have conceded beforehand.

“I definitely think you need to be more of an all-rounder this year – it's not enough that if you score one goal we'll score two.

“It's not going to work like that anymore, so we need to get the balance right.”

PEAMOUNT UNITED

Like Shelbourne, Peamount saw their league opener fall victim to the elements as their curtain-raiser at home to UCD Waves was postponed.

Aine O'Gorman is one of two full internationals, along with Karen Duggan, to swap UCD for Peamount over the winter break.

And the Enniskerry native

“I'm really looking forward to [returning to action],” O'Gorman told extratime.ie.

“Everyone is looking forward to the first game of the season with loads of energy and is really excited.

“We hope to be in the mix. I think Shels will have improved from last season – they've added a few more players to their squad.”

Referee: TBC

MATCH STATS

The sides met four times in total during 2017, three times in the league and in the WNL Cup final in September.

Peamount won all three league meetings between the sides, although the first was awarded as a walkover for Shels fielding an ineligible player in the initial 2-2 draw.

The Reds would get one over on their cross-city rivals in the league cup final, however, Rachel Graham scoring the decisive penalty in a 5-4 shootout victory.

BETTING

N/A

PREDICTION

Shelbourne Ladies 2 – 2 Peamount United

Shelbourne Ladies

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

Peamount United

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.