Last day drama as Shels claim Women's National League title

Shelbourne secured the 2021 Women’s National League title with a 3-2 win over Wexford after a night of incredible drama in Dublin.

A brace from Jessie Stapleton along with a penalty from Noelle Murray were enough to see Shels over the line after Wexford fought back with second half goals from Kylie Murphy and Sinead Taylor.

Galway ran out as 5-2 winners away to Peamount having been 2-0 down to do Shels the almightiest of favours in making sure the trophy came to Tolka Park.

The game was open and played at a fast tempo from the start as neither side could make significant inroads in the opening stages.

Peamount took a 1-0 lead after four minutes, making Shels’ title chances look increasingly slim, but the Drumcondra side focused on getting their side of the job done and began to turn the screw looking for the opening goal.

Chloe Mustaki provided a useful outlet from the left back position and was instrumental in creating the first real chance of the evening, bursting from defence and playing a clever one two before the ball was crossed to Noelle Murray whose effort flew inches away from the top corner.

Shels threatened down the opposite wing minutes later, with Saoirse Noonan unleashing a powerful effort which Edel Kennedy was able to gather at the second attempt.

Wexford almost grabbed the lead with their only clear chance of the half as Della Doherty missed a guilt edged opportunity from a corner, failing to get the ball out of her feet and hitting a tame effort into the arms of Amanda Budden from close range.

The home side quickly retook the initiative as Murray hit another long-range effort just wide of the post, but her team took the lead just a couple of minutes later from a corner of their own.

Jessie Stapleton managed to get her foot on the end of corner and direct the ball past Kennedy to give Shels a deserved lead.

Shelbourne doubled their lead just moments later as Jessica Ziu stormed into the penalty area and was tripped by Kennedy, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

Murray stepped up and left Kennedy with no chance, hammering the spot kick into the top corner and putting her side firmly in the driving seat.

However, it seemed as though all Shels good work was not going to be enough as Peamount went two goals ahead, meaning Shels needed Galway to score three unanswered goals away from home against a team 35 points ahead of them in the league.

In an unlikely turn of events, Galway hit two past Peamount, coming within just one goal of an unbelievable comeback before half-time.

Saoirse Noonan came close to giving her side a three-goal cushion just before the break with a looping effort that dropped just over the crossbar, but Shels went in at the break with their title dreams still alive, despite looking dead and just buried just 20 minutes earlier.

The home side got their all important three goal cushion just two minutes after the restart as Stapleton got her boot on another set piece to give her team considerable breathing room.

Wexford hit back ten minutes later as Ellen Molloy squared the ball to Kylie Murphy who produced a composed finish past Budden to spark hopes of a Wexford comeback.

Just after the hour mark, the news that the Tolka Park faithful had been waiting for filtered into the ground.

Galway had completed an unthinkable turnaround in Greenogue and now led 3-2 against Peamount, and the title was coming to Shels as it stood.

The Shelbourne players were well aware of the score at Peamount due to the loud celebrations of their supporters and began to push harder for a decisive fourth goal.

Stapleton almost completed her hat-trick after Kennedy spilled a cross from the right wing, but the midfielder couldn’t keep her effort under the crossbar.

The away side looked to capitalise on the nerves beginning to spread around the ground as they enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Ciara Rossiter got free and fired a shot at goal, but her strike flew the wrong side of the post and into the side netting.

Stapleton came agonisingly close to scoring her third of the night once again as she struck a shot that came thundering back off the upright, but the home crowd had enough to cheer about as Galway added a fourth against Peamount, meaning that a two-goal swing was required in both games to stop the title coming to Shels.

Galway soon added a fifth, putting an end to any potential Peamount comeback, but Wexford did their best to spoil the celebrations, scoring a second goal with five minutes to go.

Kylie Murphy got her head on a deep cross and neither Budden nor her defence could keep the effort out as Shels headed into a tense end to the game.

However, Shels managed not to cough up any further opportunities and hold on for a fairy tale title win after an evening of incredible drama.

Peamount completely collapsed, taking just one point from games against the DLR Waves and Galway, but Shels remained on their heels until the very end and received their just reward.

Shelbourne and Wexford will contest next Sunday’s WFAI Cup final in Tallaght as Noel King’s side chase a league and cup double.

Shelbourne FC: Amanda Budden; Jessie Stapleton, Pearl Slattery, Chloe Mustaki, Jessica Gargan, Shauna Fox; Ciara Grant, Rachel Graham, Jessica Ziu; Saoirse Noonan, Noelle Murray (Alex Kavanagh 90).
Subs not used: Sophie Lenehan, Leah F Doyle, Mia Dodd, Keeva Keenan, Rebecca Creagh, Taylor White, Abbie Larkin.
Booked: Shauna Fox (65).
Sent off: None.

Wexford Youths Women: Edel Kennedy; Della Doherty, Lynn Craven, Orlaith Conlon, Teegan Lynch (Sinead Taylor 81), Ciara Rossiter (Freya DeMange 90); Aoibheann Clancy, Ellen Molloy, Kylie Murphy (c), Nicola Sinnott; Lynn Marie Grant.
Subs not used: Fiona Ryan, Kira Bates-Crosbie, Katie Law, Síun Murdiff, Emma Walker.
Booked: Edel Kennedy (24) .
Sent off: None.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Jessie Stapleton

Stephen Kenny: 'I think we're improving as a team overall; we still need to improve again.' https://t.co/MpKJ6dKATOpic.twitter.com/zxT3OmbyLF

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) November 14, 2021