The 2016 FAI Womens National League champions were ruthless on Wednesday night in their rescheduled fixture against Kilkenny United. The game was originally due to be played on 6 May but unplayable pitch conditions at The Watershed postponed the fixture.
Still on the hunt for a new manager following the departure of Pedro Rodrigues earlier this week – their third managerial change this season – Kilkenny found themselves 4-0 down at half time.
With Kilkenny getting the game under way just after 7pm, it was Shelbourne Ladies to open the scoring first with Roma McLoughlin setting up Leanne Kiernan to fire home inside the first quarter hour. With Kilkenny holding their own for periods of the first half, a late flurry from Shels produced goals from Siobhan Killeen, Roma McLaughlin and a second from Leanne Kiernan to make it 4-0 to the hosts at half time.
When you’re ahead by a four goal margin, there’s two roads you can go down – you could introduce fresh legs, ease the pace of place and control the game for the win. Or, like Shels, you can dig in, show why you were last year’s champions and press on looking for more goals.
A hat-trick on her debut for Carla Mora, followed by strikes from Leanne Kiernan, Tiegan Ruddy, Chloe McNamee and a final nail in the coffee from Roma McLaughlin sent Kilkenny packing 11-0.
Shelbourne’s win lifts the Dublin side to fourth in the table, leap-frogging Cork City Womens FC. Peamount United top the table by two points from UCD Waves with seven games played.
There’s a break in league play for the month of June with Kilkenny out next in League action against UCD Waves, with that game expected to be played at United Park, Thomastown.
Shelbourne Ladies: Niamh Reid Burke, Seana Cooke, Tiegan Ruddy, Leanne Kiernan, Rachel Graham, Roma McLaughlin, Siobhan Killeen, Jamie Finn, Courtney Higgins, Niamh Prior, Fiona Donnelly. Subs: Amanda McQuillan, Kate Mooney, Chloe McNamee, Lynn Craven, Carla Moran.
