WNL Round-up: Ziu hits hat-trick as Shelbourne rout Kilkenny while Galway put six past Limerick
Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)
Shelbourne top the table on goal difference at the end of the first round of Women’s National League fixtures after dishing out a 10-1 hammering to Kilkenny United in Thomastown.
Ireland international Jessica Ziu scored a hat-trick, new signing Jessica Gargan and Alex Kavanagh got two each, while Alannah McEvoy, Emily Whelan and Rebecca Creagh were also on target.
Winger Naima Chemaou scored a consolation for the home team on her debut after making the move from UCD Waves over Christmas.
The Reds took just four minutes to hit the front through McEvoy, before Ziu added a quick brace and Gargan made it 4-0 at half time on her 22nd birthday.
Ziu got her hat-trick midway through the second half and the floodgates opened, with Whelan and Kavanagh adding two in the space of a minute before Chemaou pulled one back.
Normal service resumed as Gargan added her second almost immediately, and there was time for Creagh to get on the scoresheet before Kavanagh rounded off the win with her second.
At the Markets Field, Limerick came out the wrong side of a nine-goal thriller with Galway, scoring three late goals to put the gloss on a 6-3 scoreline.
Sinead Donovan, Lynsey McKee and Aoife Thompson each managed a double for the Tribeswomen, while Sylvia Gee, Aoife Horgan and Sophie Liston pulled goals back in the final five minutes.
Saturday evening saw Wexford run out 3-0 winners over DLR Waves at Ferrycarrig Park thanks to a brace from Rianna Jarrett either side of a debut goal for Jenny Clifford.
In Greenogue, Peamount United overcame Cork City 2-1 thanks to goals from Amber Barrett and Aine O’Gorman after Katie McCarthy had given the visitors a first-minute lead.
All in all, the league saw 26 goals over four matches with Ziu heading the top scorers list with her triple, while a number of players sit just behind on two apiece.
