WNL League Report: UCD Waves 0 - 2 Shelbourne Ladies

Shelbourne Ladies kept alive their slim chances of wrestling away the Women’s National League title from Wexford Youths thanks to a 2-0 victory against UCD Waves at Jackson Park on Sunday afternoon.

In a game where both sides knew that nothing less than a victory would be good enough in their quest for league glory, two second-half free-kicks from Noelle Murray and Megan Lynch ensured Shelbourne replaced UCD  in second place of the league standings.

There was plenty of tension in the air before kick-off and the sides exchanged chances early on. First Jetta Berrill fired over from inside the box after she latched onto a Niamh Prior cross before Leanne Kiernan forced a good stop from Monica McGuirk at the other end moments later.

With the aid of a strong breeze in the opening 45 minutes, the home side continued to press forward. However, they struggled to test Amanda McQuillan in the visiting goal with Karen Duggan’s long range being easily gathered by the Shels keeper.

As chances on target continued to be limited, Duggan will again feel she should have done better after the Ireland international stole possession inside the Shels half before racing towards goal. However, her tame strike was easily gathered by McQuillan.

Despite the home side having a strong foothold in possession in the opening period, McGuirk was forced to race off her line to deny Leanne Kiernan after the forward raced through on goal after beating the last defender.

Soon after, Emily Cahill headed wide for Waves from a corner before Aine O’Gorman outpaced Niamh Walsh and striking from outside the box. However, her effort was gathered by the McQuillan at the second time of asking.

When the side’s resumed after the interval Siobhan Killeen will feel she should have given her side the lead after she dispossessed Chloe Mustaki deep inside the Waves half and raced through on goal, but her low, right footed effort went the wrong side of the far post.

After Killeen missed a great chance to give her side the lead, O’Gorman thought she had opened the scoring for Waves soon after, when her first time volley from a Berrill cross smashed off the woodwork before Eleanor Ryan-Doyle’s rebound went out for a corner.

Just after the hour mark Shelbourne opened the scoring through a Murray free-kick. The forward’s effort from an acute angle sailed past the Waves keeper who will be disappointed to have been beaten.

Moments later, O’Gorman had a chance to respond for the Waves, but she could only fire wide from outside the box.

With a little over 20 minutes remaining, Shelbourne doubled their advantage after a Lynch free-kick from the right side touchline sailed into the top corner after being missed by both sets of players.

Despite some late pressure from the Waves, they failed to trouble the visiting goalkeeper with Prior, Duggan and O’Gorman all firing wide from distance late on.

The 2-0 victory for Shelbourne sees them remain two points behind league leaders Wexford Youths. The Reds will host Cork City Women in their next outing on Sunday. Meanwhile UCD Waves host Kilkenny United on Wednesday evening in their final league game of the season before the sides meet once again in the 2016 League Cup Final on May 15th.

UCD Waves: Monica McGuirk; Ciara Grant, Susan Hackett, Emily Cahill, Chloe Mustaki (Ruth Comerford 86); Jetta Berrill (Catherine Cronin 75), Karen Duggan, Orlaigh Nolan, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle, Niamh Prior; Aine O’Gorman.

Subs Not Used: Ali Brien, Sarah Clune, Amy McLaughlin.

Yellow Cards: Chloe Mustaki (85).

Shelbourne Ladies: Amanda McQuillan; Keeva Keenan (Annie Timoney 86), Niamh Walsh, Pearl Slattery (c), Dearbhaile Beirne; Siobhan Killeen, Rachel Graham (Megan Lynch 13), Rebecca Creagh, Sophie Watters; Leanne Kiernan, Noelle Murray.

Subs Not Used: Niamh Reid Burke.

Yellow Cards: None.

Referee: Deirdre Nolan.

Attendance: 100 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Leanne Kiernan (Shelbourne Ladies).