WNL Previews - Gameweek 3

With Peamount United not in action this week, Raheny United will have the opportunity to increase their Women's National League lead as they travel across the city to face Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium (kick-off 2pm).

The Hoops were unfortunate 2-1 losers in Cork in their opening game and face a Raheny side that has won each of its two fixtures so far (Cork 3-1 and DLR Waves 6-1) as well as progressing to the FAI Women's Senior Cup Final. 

Last season Raheny United had a clean sweep over the Hoops, winning three from three. Despite the victories, Raheny manager Ger McDermott is looking for improvement in certain areas.

"I'm a perfectionist. First and foremost, we need to go to Tallaght and not look to concede. We've had a good start but I know we've room for improvement. 

"Rovers have improved as a side. Every team has improved after the first year and that'll continue to be the case as we progress through the season."

Cork Women's FC and Wexford Youths are set for a  titanic battle at Turner's Cross on Sunday. Last season, each team notched up an away victory before drawing 1-1 on the last day of the season. That draw handed Cork third place in the table over Youths on goal difference.

Cork boss Maurice Farrell will be boosted this week having strengthened the squad due to the local leagues campaigns ending.

"We are both in similar positions and each club is looking to get stronger and try to close the gap to the big two Peamount and Raheny," said Farrell. 

"We've strengthen our squad recently due to the local leagues finishing so I'm confident we will get stronger in the coming weeks."

The other game taking place sees DLR Waves host Castlebar Celtic at Jackson Park, Kiternan, as the home side look to secure their first points as a Bus Eireann Women's National League club.

The Dun Laoghaire Rathdown outfit had a tough start to this level with a 6-1 loss to Raheny United first time out but manager Larry Mahony was pleased that they showed up much better next time out against Wexford Youths, when they lost 3-0.

"The opening two fixtures have been tough for us as a newly formed entity and we are still looking at players in every route we can to try to develop our squad," said Mahony.

"I felt that we were 100 per cent better in the second game than the first and I feel we are 75 per cent where we'd be looking to be. I am confident we'll give a better display on Sunday."

Castlebar Celtic head to Dublin looking to open their own tally for the season having lost 2-0 to champions Peamount United first time out.

Follow all the Women's National League action on our Match tracker or visit our dedicated Women's National League portal