A goal in each half from Jess Gargan and Aine O'Gorman saw Shamrock Rovers get past a tough Wexford Youths challenge in Tallaght in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division.
The fans didn’t have to wait too long to see the opening exchanges of a tantalising battle that unfolded between O’Gorman and Ciara Rossiter with the Wexford native setting the tone early on and keeping close tabs on the Rovers captain close to goal.
Following some probing midfield exchanges, the game began to open up nicely as the first half progressed, Rovers enjoying plenty of possession but unable to ask any real questions of the Wexford defence.
Maeve Williams in the Wexford goal received her first test on 12 minutes, saving well from a close-range Thompson effort after a perfectly weighted cross from team mate Gargan.
Rianna Jarrett and Emily Corbet looked lively up front for Wexford with good movement in around the box but were forced to live off scraps for the majority of the opening half, the service letting the visitors down in attack.
The best chance of the half fell to Jarrett on 35 minutes as she received the ball yards from goal and poked an effort towards the corner only to be denied by a brilliant fingertip save by the experienced Amanda Budden.
It was a busy few minutes for Budden, who had to be just as sharp from the resulting corner to tip away another close-range effort, this time from Corbet after getting herself clear of the goalmouth scramble.
On the stroke of half time, Shamrock Rovers took the lead courtesy of the impressive Gargan.
The warning signs had come for Wexford just moments earlier when Abbie Larkin should have scored but hit the side-netting, having broken past the pressure from Rossiter and into the box.
The confidence was building in the home side and they found the opener as Gargan rose highest in the box to meet McEvoy’s cross and head past Williams.
🎥 | Jess Gargan… right-back and centre-forward?😂
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) March 29, 2023
A great header to get Shamrock Rovers ahead before the break!#LOIW | #SHAWEX pic.twitter.com/eOqz02qVth
A strong restart from the visitors was duly rewarded when a stunning long-range effort from Meabh Russell found its way straight past Budden and into the top corner of the net, no less than Wexford deserved.
But an entertaining tie was swung back in favour of the hosts when captain O’Gorman led by example, suppying a simple finish to a cross across the face of goal from Larkin.
It was a cruel blow for Wexford having responded so well to get themselves back into the game but a brilliant free-flowing move by Rovers.
Jarrett and Rossiter had chances late on in the game to ensure Wexford’s unbeaten start to the season would remain intact but it wasn’t to be.
Shannon Coady was introduced by Collie O’Neill for her debut with three minutes to go as Shamrock Rovers held on to stay third in the table before the international break.
Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden; Jess Gargan, Jessica Hennessy, Lia O’Leary, Abby Tuthill; Aine O’Gorman, Orlaith O’Mahony, Abbie Larkin, Alannah Prizeman (Melissa O’Kane 71); Alannah McEvoy (Lauren Kelly 78), Jaime Thompson (Shannon Coady 89)
Wexford Youths: Maeve Williams; Orlaith Conlon, Nicola Sinnott, Meabh Russell; Ciara Rossiter, Aoibheann Clancy, Kylie Murphy, Abbie Brophy, Michaela Lawrence (Edel Kennedy 61); Rianna Jarrett, Emily Corbet (Aine Walsh 81)
Attendance: 568
Elsewhere, Shelbourne were 4-1 winners at league leaders Peamount to close within two points.
Jamie Erickson and Abbie Callanan struck in the first half for Galway who held on to win 2-1 at Athlone Town despite Dana Scheriff pulling one back.
Bohemians beat 10-woman DLR Waves 3-0 at Dalymount Park.
Former GAA and AFLW star Sarah Rowe had already given the hosts the lead from the spot when Isobel Finnegan was sent off in the 40th minute.
Erica Burke added another before half-time and Kira Bates-Crosbie put the icing on the cake in the 67th minute.
Cork City secured their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw at Treaty United.
Laura Shine opened the scoring with her side's first goal of the campaign but Kiara Kilbey hit back for the hosts.
🎥 | Laura Shine bags her (and Cork's) first goal of the season and City lead.#LOIW | #TRECOR pic.twitter.com/CwcH8hZlPp
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) March 29, 2023
