Women’s National League Series 13 Preview

Women’s National League Series 13 Preview:

On Sunday afternoon as the race for the 2015-16 Women’s National League title heats up, there are three games up for decision as defending champions Wexford Youths travel to Buckley Park to play Kilkenny United. In Jackson Park, second placed UCD Waves host Shelbourne ladies while Cork City Women host Galway WFC at Knockgriffin Park in Midleton.

Kilkenny United -v- Wexford Youths

The hosts head into Sunday’s game aiming to collect a first victory of the season when they host Youths in the South-East derby.

The game welcomes an opportunity for Youths to return to winning ways after Will Doyle’s side suffered their first domestic defeat since the final day of last season when they lost 4-2 to Shelbourne Ladies in the League Cup semi-final.

Despite the defeat Youths know that they have their destiny in their own hands and three wins from their final four games would see them defend the crown they won for the first time last season.

With four games in 15 days on the road for Youths, Doyle may look at Sunday’s clash as a prime opportunity to rest some of his star players with players such as Aoibhin Webb waiting in the wings for the opportunity to shine.

UCD Waves -v- Shelbourne Ladies

Both side’s enter Sunday’s game knowing nothing less than a victory would all but end their title ambitions.

UCD Waves currently sit in second place level on points with the Wexford. However, Eileen Gleeson’s side has played two extra games. Shelbourne currently sit two points adrift of Waves having played one game less.

The two side’s come into Sunday’s Dublin derby on the back of impressive League Cup semi-final victories against Galway WFC and Wexford Youths respectively.

In the side’s only clash this season, UCD Waves were forced to come back from behind to snatch an equaliser after Dearbhaile Beirne had given Shelbourne the lead at Morton Stadium before Chloe Mustaki grabbed a second-half equaliser.

Aine O’Gorman heads into Sunday’s clash in impressive goal scoring form having netted ten times in UCD’s last seven games, while Noelle Murray has scored four goals in her last two games for Shelbourne.

Cork City -v- Galway WFC

Cork City Women host Galway WFC in their final home league game of the season on Sunday with the Leesiders hoping they can make up for last weekend’s loss against Shelbourne were despite taking the lead they were defeated 3-1.

Galway come into the clash aiming to end a run of four straight defeats which has seen them drop from top spot in the Women’s National League to fourth place and also exiting the League Cup at the semi-final stage.

Don O’Riordan’s side has struggled to find the back of the net since their 3-0 victory against Shelbourne. The Westerners have scored just once in their four defeats when Aisling Meany grabbed a late consolation goal against UCD Waves on Wednesday evening in the League Cup.

Like their opposition, Cork has also found goals hard to come by in recent games with Frank Kellehers side finding the net once since their 4-3 victory against Peamount six weeks ago.

In the side’s league meeting in February, Galway ran out comfortable victors in 4-0 win at Eamonn Deacy Park.