WNL Report: Shelbourne Ladies 5 - 1 Cork City WFC

Shelbourne Ladies kept up their fight for a first Women’s National League Title with an impressive 5-1 victory against Cork City Women at Morton Stadium.

A brace from Siobhan Killeen along with goals from Megan Lynch, Dearbhaile Beirne and Leanne Kiernan ensured the Reds kept alive their title ambitions for at least another 24 hours.

After a strong start from the home side, they were not forced to wait long for the game’s first goal. In the tenth minute, after Killeen nipped in to dispossess Danielle Burke, the winger raced through on goal before rounding Trish Fennelly and firing into an empty net.

Soon after, Cork had an excellent chance to draw level. Evelyn Daly played a lovely weighted through ball to Katie McCarthy, who raced in behind the last defender, but she could only fire wide past the onrushing Amanda McQuillan from close range.

As the home side continued to press forward and create chance after chance they doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute after Lynch curled home a free-kick from 25 yards - the Shels star's second in consecutive games.

Shels extended their lead again less than 90 seconds into the second-half after Killeen knocked the ball past the Cork defender. She raced onto her own ball before calmly slotting low past Fennelly in the Cork goal.

With less than six minutes played in the second period the home side added a fourth goal when Beirne raced onto a long ball forward before lifting the ball over the onrushing Fennelly and into an empty net.

Cork pulled a goal back soon after when Tara O’Gorman finished well from outside the box. The Leesiders had another great chance soon after, this time Saoirse Noonan forcing a good save from McQuillan, who palmed away her low close-range effort.

Noonan was again involved in Cork's next opportunity this time she dispossessed Annie Timoney before racing through on goal. However, McQuillan was alert the situation and raced off her line to prevent the underage international from pulling the trigger.

Shelbourne sealed the points with a fifth goal eight minutes from time when Kiernan spotted the Cork keeper off her goal line before lobbing the shot-stopper from the right touchline.

The victory for Shelbourne moves them back up to second position in the Women’s National League table, two points behind leaders Wexford Youths, who can secure back to back league titles with victory against Galway WFC on Sunday afternoon.

Shelbourne Ladies: Amanda McQuillan; Keeva Keenan, Niamh Walsh, Pearl Slattery, Annie Timoney; Dearbhaile Beirne, Rachel Graham (Niamh Barnes 55), Sophie Watters, Siobhan Killeen; Megan Lynch (Kim Turner 85), Leanne Kiernan.

Sub Not Used: None.

Cork City Women: Trish Fennelly; Nathalie O’Brien (Barbara O’Connell 64), Ciara McNamara, Angie Carry, Danielle Burke; Roisin O’Connell (Kate O’Donovan HT), Evelyn Daly (Sophie Hurley 71), Katie McCarthy, Tara O’Gorman; Saoirse Noonan, Maggie Duncliffe.

Subs Not Used: Amy O’Reilly.

Referee: Olivia Sneyd.

Attendance: 55 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dearbhaile Beirne (Shelbourne Ladies).

You can see Peter Fitzpatrick's images from the game here.