Reigning Champions Shelbourne made it two wins from two as they emerged victorious in a keenly contested Dublin Derby with rivals Bohemians.
In front of a crowd of over 600 brave souls, and despite the treacherous conditions, both sides were determined to put on a show as a Jessie Stapleton double ensured bragging rights and all three points made the short trip back to Tolka Park.
Having both made winning starts to the season, the two sides came into the derby in a confident mood and the battle for midfield superiority took centre stage early on.
Last week's match winner away at Treaty United, Rachel Doyle and goal scorer in Shels' massive 6-0 victory, Alex Kavanagh, looked like a good battle in the engine room, as the latter looked to dictate in her usual fashion.
The defending double winners, with eyes firmly on making it a hat-trick of league titles in a row despite competition from all angles, get their noses in front 18-minutes in when Megan Smyth-Lynch delivered a dangerous in-swinging corner, powerfully headed home from Jessie Stapleton
The visitors were beginning to find their rhythm and Kavanagh had two chances in quick succession just before the half hour mark. But both shots from the talented midfielder were well held by last season's player of the year, Rachael Kelly.
The visitors deservedly doubled their lead in the 38th minute and it was the same combination that did the damage, and again, from another set piece. Smyth-Lynch's wand of a left foot delivered from wide right into the danger area at pace, but Bohs stopper Kelly was unable to deal with the slick ball pushing it in the air and Stapleton, amongst a crowd of bodies looked to bundle it home.
Player of the game, Kayla Hamric, operating in the attacking midfield role was causing the home side all sorts of problems. And fresh from her opening day brace rattled the crossbar twice in quick succession, both from 25 yards out just before the break.
As the sideways rain battered Phibsboro, on the field Bohs battled bravely to grab a foothold in the game but just failed to make the ball stick in the final third, turning over possession way too easy. And just after the hour mark The Reds almost made them pay.
The pacey Kerri Letmon burst down the right and delivered a pin-point cross onto the head of Kavanagh who finished smartly, only to see the flag go up. The Bohs bench became incensed with something in the aftermath of the disallowed goal with players and staff getting involved, eventually ending with a dismissal for Gypsies boss, Sean Byrne.
The games between the two last season tended to be tight affairs, but with just 10-minutes remaining the rampant Reds forced Kelly into another two outstanding saves. Hamric, unable to get the goal her performance deserved, stung the palms of Kelly from the edge of the area before Kavanagh turned on a six-pence in the area, cleverly making a yard of space but again brilliantly denied again.
Noel Kings’ charges march on with an impressive win, as their quality just showed in the end and could have added to their tally, but the battling Bohs, with the relentless work ethic of Sarah Rowe up front, won’t be too disheartened with some real signs of positivity in defeat as the new look side take shape.
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly, Lynn Craven, Ciara Maher, Lisa Murphy, Kate Lovely, Kira Bates-Crosbie, Rachel Doyle, Fiona Donnelly, Niamh Prior (Lara Phipps, 74’), Mia Dodd, Sarah Rowe.
Subs not used: Medbh Ryan, Aoife Robinson, Erica Byrne, Abbie O’Hara, Leah Hughes, Sophie Hanlon, Sadhbh Moran, Amy Ellis
Shelbourne: Courtney Maguire, Margaret Pierce, Pearl Slattery, Jessie Stapleton, Keeva Keenan, Kerri Letmon (Ruvimbo Mucherera, 75’), Alex Kavanagh, Rachel Graham, Smyth-Lynch (Christie Gray, 87), Kayla Hamric (Nadine Clare, 84’), Noelle Murray (Sophie Watters, 84’).
Subs not used: Katie Keane, Leah Doyle, Jemma Quinn, Taylor White, Leah Riley
Referee: Mark Houlihan
