WNL Report: UCD Waves 0 - 7 Shelbourne Ladies

Shelbourne laid down a marker in the hunt for the Women's National League title as the put UCD Waves to the sword on their own patch at Jackson Park on Sunday afternoon.

Leanne Kiernan moved joint-top of the goalscoring charts with a well-taken hat-trick, while a brace from Isibeal Atkinson and one apiece from Noelle Murray and Fiona Donnelly completed the rout.

The teams took to the field under a barrage of rain, the early afternoon sunshine having given away to the dull cover of dark grey clouds, and the early minutes reflected the miserable conditions.

Playing with a stiff breeze in the first half, Shels were uncharacteristically direct in the early stages and found UCD's central defensive partnership of Aisling Dunbar and Róisín McGovern equal to it.

There were early warning signs for the home side, however: Murray was inches from connecting with Rachel Graham's through-ball, before Alex Kavanagh shot wide from a half-cleared set-piece.

It was captain Murray to set up the opening goal with 16 minutes on the clock, lofting a volley over the top of the defence for Kiernan to chase, and she shot across Erica Turner to put Shels in front.

UCD struggled to keep their foot on the ball in the opening period, but they manufactured a chance when McGovern's free kick was headed to the edge of the area, but Sinead Gaynor drove wide.

The home side were struggling to deal defensively with set-pieces, and when Atkinson's corner wasn't cleared out of the box, Turner had to be alert to deal with Kavanagh's cushioned volley.

Kiernan, Kate Mooney and Murray squandered good opportunities as UCD looked set to make it to half time just the one goal in arrears in spite of seeing such little possession.

A mistake from Dunbar, however, saw Atkinson block down the defender's clearance and stroll in on goal, rounding Turner before slotting home to make it two on the stroke of half time.

Shels upped the tempo after the break and Donnelly – on at half-time for the lively Mooney – had a chance within seconds of the resumption but drove the ball past the post.

It took the visitors just six minutes to add to their lead as Waves spurned several chances to clear the lines before Atkinson took it upon herself to cut inside and smash the ball past Turner.

Donnelly – impressive in her 45-minute cameo – chipped a ball over the top for Kiernan that should have seen the Ireland striker add to her tally, but Turner managed to block the shot with her face.

Kiernan returned the favour midway through the second half as she elected to tee up Donnelly rather than shoot herself, and the winger got the goal her play deserved.

Atkinson went on the hunt for her hat-trick late on and was taken down in the box by the trailing leg of McGovern, presenting Murray an opportunity to make it five from the spot.

A succession of missed one-on-ones suggested it might not be Kiernan's day in front of goal, but she doubled her personal tally two minutes from time as she rounded Turner.

And she bagged the match ball in the final minute of normal time as a despondent Waves defence parted in the face of a red sea of attack and she slotted home to complete the humiliation.

UCD manager Noel Kealy kept the Students back on the field for 20 minutes after their warm-down as last season's cup finalists learned some harsh lessons, while Shels go from strength to strength.

UCD Waves: Erica Turner; Chelsea Snell, Aisling Dunbar, Róisín McGovern, Caolan Carroll (Orla Haran 66); Sinead Gaynor (Sophie O'Donoghue 59), Chloe Mustaki, Avril Brierly (Jenny Chambers 59); Kerri Letmon, Dearbhaile Beirne, Leanne Payne.

Subs not used: Eimear Lafferty, Keelin McEntee, Naima Chemaou, Amy Guilfoyle. 

Booked: Aisling Dunbar (9).

Shelbourne Ladies: Amanda McQuillan; Lynn Craven, Jessica Gleeson, Pearl Slattery, Niamh Prior; Alex Kavanagh (Jamie Finn 70), Rachel Graham, Noelle Murray; Kate Mooney (Fiona Donnelly 46), Isibeal Atkinson, Leanne Kiernan.

Subs not used: Rachael Kelly (gk), Seana Cooke, Alannah McEvoy.

Booked: None.

Referee: Paula Brady.

Attendance: 60 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Leanne Kiernan (Shelbourne).