The SSE Airtricity Women's National League was back with a bang after the international break with a massive Dublin derby that saw Shamrock Rovers thrash Bohemians 4-0 at a sun-soaked Dalymount Park.
Although both sides sat eighth and ninth prior to kick-off, all form tends to go out the window with such heated rivalries and it was the Hoops, who not only took bragging rights back to Tallaght, but also earned their first win of the season in the process with a second half rout of the Gypsies.
A very healthy crowd of 1,011 watched on as the visitors started the match brightly, forcing the home side to sit deep and with just two minutes on the clock Bohs centre back Lisa Murphy was forced to stand up bravely to deny Aine O’Gorman from close range. The Gypsies grew into the game and looked a real threat down the right-hand flank as Sarah McKevitt got in behind the Hoops defence time after time.
A tense and tight duel ensued with both sets of players working tirelessly to cancel each other out, but as the game ticked over the half-hour mark it began to become a little more stretched.
Alannah McEvoy, whilst with the opposition last season earned an international call-up, cut inside for her new club Bohs and unleashed a thunderous strike with her right foot that narrowly missed the near post.
Stephanie Zambra responded immediately with a clever attempted lob over Rachael Kelly that sailed agonisingly over as both sides sensed a breakthrough wasn’t far away.
The Hoops started the second half in determined fashion and broke the deadlock just five minutes after the restart.
Following some relentless pressure the classy Jessica Hennessy rose highest in a crowded area, and at the back post, powered home a bullet header to silence the home support.
Bohs initially responded well to the set back creating a couple of really dangerous opportunities and it was McKevitt, who having switched sides onto the left now, stung the palms of Summer Lawless forcing the Shamrock Rovers stopper into a smart near post save.
But the wind was taken out of their sails just after the hour mark when Melissa O’Kane’s shot from distance wasn’t dealt with by Bohs skipper Rachael Kelly. The Gypsies keeper leapt well and got her fingertips to the shot but couldn’t get enough behind the ball as the ball eventually trickled over the line.
Áine O’Gorman made certain of her side's first three points of the season adding a third just a few moments later, scrambling home from close range.
Things went from bad to worse for the home side when O’Gorman turned provider, clipping in a ball from the left wing, to find Katie O’Reilly who glanced a beautifully floated header past the outstretched Kelly as the icing was well and truly put on the cake.
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly, Ciara Smith, Lisa Murphy, Fiona Donnelly, Aoibhe Brennan, Sarah McKevitt (Aoibhe Fleming, 75’), Alannah McEvoy, Katie Malone (Orlagh Fitzpatrick,69’) Savannah Kane (Tiegan Ruddy, 54’), Katie Lovely, Shauna Carroll
Shamrock Rovers: Summer Lawless, Jessica Hennessy, Maria Reynolds (Shauna Fox, 83’), Aoife Kelly, Stephanie Zambra (Jamie Thompson, 71’), Lia O’Leary (Ella Kelly, 87’), Aine O’Gorman, Joy Ralph (Anna Butler, 87’), Scarlett Herron, Melissa O’Kane, Katie O’Reilly (Alannah Prizeman, 84’)
Referee: Alan Franklin
Elsewhere, there was a change at the top of the table as Shelbourne made the most of a defeat for Galway United to usurp the westerners at the summit.
Shels won 1-0 at Treaty United thanks to an Eabha O'Mahony goal on the hour mark and coupled with Galway succumbing to a Wexford comeback, the Dubliners are two points clear at the top.
Galway, who had made a blistering start to the season, had been undefeated and looked to be on course to stay top of the table when Jenna Slattery broke the deadlock with ten minutes to go.
But Wexford rallied with two goals in the final five minutes from Ceola Bergin and Aoibheann Clancy to secure a 2-1 win and take all three points which lifts them up to fifth.
Reigning FAI Women's Cup holders Athlone Town are third, level on points with second-placed Galway, as Kerryanne Brown's 49th minute goal earned them a 1-0 win away at sixth-placed Cork City.
DLR Waves climbed off the foot of the table and left Sligo Rovers at the bottom after a 2-0 victory over the Bit o' Red.
Jess Gleeson and Rebecca McMahon got the goals for Waves as they picked up their first win of the season. Sligo remain winless after eight matches.
