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Date Time League Season
15 May 2021 2:00 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Frantic Shels slot five past Galway

Shelbourne thrashed a helpless Galway 5-0 to move top of the Women’s National League, courtesy of goals from Jessica Ziu, Jamie Finn, Ciara Grant, Saoirse Noonan and Noelle Murray.

Shels are top of the league on goal difference, having played one game more than title rivals Peamount United, who are in action later today at home to Cork City.

Noel King’s side dominated the contest from start to finish and will now come mto believe that they are serious title contenders.

If it wasn’t for some decent saves from Galway goalkeeper Trish Fennelly Hunt, the score-line could have easily been worse.

Shelbourne opened the scoring after 17 minutes through Jess Ziu, after a first-time ball into the box by Noonan picked out Emily Whelan who struck the post but Ziu pounced on the loose ball for a tap-in.

Their lead was doubled 10 minutes later through Jamie Finn’s long-range effort, as the home sides relentless pressure proved costly.

Just past the half an hour mark, Shels made it three, as Grant got on the scoresheet with a long-range effort that beat Fennelly at her near post. The gulf in class between the two sides was now beginning to show.

Noonan made it a sensational four after just 37 minutes as she sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Shelbourne sat back for the majority of the second half, looking to see out the game and patiently counterattack.

But on 74 minutes they rounded off an emphatic win with a fifth goal scored by Murray that was a strong contender for goal of the weekend.

The forwards long-range effort looped over the head of Fennelly and into the back of the net to cap an impressive performance from the Republic of Ireland international.

Galway have now conceded a worrying 10 goals in their last two games but remain in fifth place, in direct contrast Shelbourne have scored 10 in their last two games.

Shelbourne

1Amanda Budden Goalkeeper
2Jessica Gargan Defender
3Jessie Stapleton Defender
4Pearl Slattery 17 Defender
12Ciara Grant 13 Midfielder 33'
5Jamie Finn 22 Midfielder 26'
7Jessica Ziu 21 Midfielder 17'
8Rachel Graham Defender
10Noelle Murray Forward 73'
11Saoirse Noonan Forward 37'
9Emily Whelan 18 Forward
16Sophie Lenehan Goalkeeper
13Mia Dodd 12 Defender
17Rachel Baynes 4 Defender
18Abbie Larkin 9 Midfielder
19Leah Doyle Defender
21Taylor White 7 Forward
22Ella O’Connell 5 Midfielder

Galway WFC

25Trish Fennelly Hunt Goalkeeper
3Savannah McCarthy Midfielder
4Shauna Fox Defender
6Shauna Brennan Defender
10Lynsey McKey Forward
11Sinead Donovan Midfielder
15Kate Slevin Defender
16Chloe Moloney Defender
18Elena van Niekerk 23 Forward
21Nicole McNamara Defender
1Maja Zajc Goalkeeper
2Aoife Walsh Defender
8Tessa Mullins Midfielder
19Saoirse Healey Forward
23Abbie Callanan 18 Forward
13Aoibheann Costello Midfielder
  • 90'

    Full time: Shelbourne 5-0 Galway

  • 90'

    Noonan has a shot from distance that is well saved by Fennelly.

  • 86'

    Noonan goes through one on one but she pokes the ball wide of the post and spurns the good opportunity.

  • 85'

    Excellent patient game management from the Shels as they keep hold off the ball and wait for opportunities to add to their lead. The future looks bright for the home side!

  • 74'

    GOAL! Commentators curse but Noelle Murray scores for Shelbourne against the run of play with a wonderful long range goal that catches out Fennelly in the Galway goal with a looping effort.

  • 73'

    Shelbourne seem to have shut up shop and look to see out the game by defending their healthy lead.

  • 72'

    Healey has a few chances to hit the target but good last ditch defending from the home side prevents her shots reaching the goal.

  • 68'

    Galway to their credit haven't dropped off and have kept pressing and searching for their opener, despite the hefty deficit.

  • 65'

    Shauna Fox rises from a free kick to head towards the corner of the net but is denied by a fantastic save from Amanda Budden.

  • 60'

    Grant has a shot which troubles Fennelly but the keeper juggles the ball and regains it before it crosses the line.

  • 58'

    The corner comes to nothing and Galway clear their lines.

  • 57'

    Shelbourne have a corner, looking to add to their four goal advantage.

  • 46'

    Back underway in the second half.

  • 45'

    Half time: Shelbourne 4-0 Galway

  • 43'

    Elena van Niekerk puts the ball in the net for Galway but the attacker is deemed offside.

  • 42'

    Grant's free kick sails over the bar and Galway desperately need to gain some possession and territory before the scoreline turns into a cricket score.

  • 41'

    Free kick to Shelbourne in a dangerous position. Ciara Grant is over the dead ball.

  • 37'

    And it's four to Shelbourne as Noonan sends the keeper the wrong way and the home side incredibly go further in front! This could get ugly for Galway.

  • 37'

    Penalty to Shelbourne!

  • 33'

    GOAL! Grant gets on the scoresheet with a long range effort that beats Fennelly at her near post with an audacious effort. Noticeable gulf in class between the two sides!

  • 30'

    The home side have enjoyed a dominant opening half an hour and look in cruise control to victory thus far with their two goal lead.

  • 26'

    GOAL! Jamie Finn extends Shelbourne's lead after relentless pressure from the home side proves costly.

  • 22'

    Ciara Grant has a shot on goal that is well saved by Galway keeper Trish Fennelly Hunt.

  • 17'

    GOAL! Jess Ziu opens the scoring with a tap in after a brilliant counter attacking move by Shelbourne. Noonen plays a great ball into the box and the keeper couldn't hold it and after hitting the post Ziu is there to pounce on the loose ball for a poachers finish.

  • 16'

    A poor delivery comes to nothing and Galway will look to build back up the pitch.

  • 15'

    Free kick in a dangerous position for the Shels.

  • 10'

    Tense opening 10 minutes with both sides enjoying possession and territory.

  • 1'

    We're underway.

  • The last time the two sides faced one another, they played out a 1-1 draw last season, after Chloe Singleton’s opener was cancelled out by Ziu’s second half strike.

  • During the week, Rachel Kearns was awarded the SSE Airtricity WNL Player of the Month award for April. Midfielder Kearns scored three goals in as many games, in what was an impressive month for Galway with big victories over Treaty United and Bohemians secured.

  • The Galway Girls go into the game off the back of a humiliating 5-0 defeat away to Wexford Youths and manager Billy Cleary will be expecting a reaction from his side today.

  • Noel King’s side moved up to third in the table and are just three points behind league leaders Peamount United, and one point behind second place Wexford Youths, who have played a game less than their title rivals.

  • The Shels go into the game off the back of an impressive 5-0 thrashing away to Treaty United, in which goals from Jessica Ziu, Jessie Stapleton, Emily Whelan and a brace from Noelle Murray secured the win.

  • The weather in Dublin is currently 10 degrees celsius with a 11 mph wind and 12% chance of rain.

  • Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of this afternoons Women's National League matchup between Shelbourne and Galway.

Past Meetings

(Series 2 - Group 1)
5 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Series 6)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 18)
3 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 13)
0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 5)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 17)
0 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 10)
2 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 3)
1 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

2 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

5 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

1 - 6
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

0 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

Ground

Tolka Park
Tolka Park (Shelbourne FC), Drumcondra South A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.