A rampant Shelbourne took bragging rights with a clinical performance over an exciting looking Bohemians side who more than played their part in a nine-goal thriller despite what the scoreline might suggest.
The feisty opening period was encapsulated perfectly with strong challenges all over the pitch, but in the breathless end-to-end encounter, it didn't take long for chances to flow at both ends.
Rebecca Cooke signalled her side's intentions, stinging Bohs' skipper Rachael Kelly’s palms just a couple of minutes in. Following some goal mouth pinball in which the hosts defended bravely to deny Cooke on a couple of occasions, it was their turn to go agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.
Ireland Under-19-star Aoibhe Brennan, fresh from her goal against France during the international break, played an outstanding long ball over the top to find former Shels starlet Katie McCarn whose low shot was sharply turned behind by Amanda McQuillan.
The visitors punished the timely miss with less than a quarter of an hour on the clock when player of the match Mackenzie Anthony was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from Kate Mooney’s delivery, following a collision between Kelly and Cooke.
But the boisterous home crowd didn't have to wait long for their side to level in a breath-taking opening. A neat first-time passing move in the middle involving the former Shels duo of Healy and McCarn resulted in the latter releasing Katie Malone in behind who made no mistake, slotting past the onrushing McQuillan.
What a start to this game on @SportTG4 😳
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) April 12, 2025
Mackenzie Anthony had Shels in front, but Katie Malone kept her cool to get Bohs back level 👊 pic.twitter.com/ylxC3vAvWJ
In the ascendancy, the home side spurned a couple of glorious chances to take the lead having just got back on terms. This time it was Healy who found herself with a clear run on goal but, instead of squaring to the free Alannah McEvoy, opted to go herself shooting straight at McQuillan who stood big to tip over.
But the wind was then knocked out of the hosts' sails as Shels regained the lead with some controversy surrounding the awarding of the corner that led to the goal. Initially Cooke flew down the right wing and shot across goal, in which Rachael Kelly dived across goal to cover her angle claiming she didn't touch the ball on its way behind.
There was a moment's hesitation between the officials before a corner was eventually given much to the the chagrin of the Bohs stopper and from the resulting set-piece, Cooke made no mistake rifling into the roof of the net to restore her side's advantage
Regardless of the claims, the visitors showed their ruthless side punishing Alban Hysa’s youthful side with two further goals in quick succession with another set-piece proving their undoing. Ireland International Aoibheann Clancy delivered a dangerously whipped ball cleverly helped on by Leah Doyle into the far post.
And two minutes later, Anthony made it four with her second of the evening in the most delightful manner, scooping a delicate chip over the helpless Kelly who tried her best to close down the American attacker.
Shels' three-goal lead seemed to take some of the sting after the restart but just before the hour mark, Bohs reduced the deficit to two in bizarre circumstances.
From Sarah McKevitt’s outswing corner, birthday girl Pearl Slattery and Jess Gargan challenged for the same ball, which fired back towards their own goal. Rachel Graham tried her best to clear but the ball skimmed off the top of her head and into her own net.
The goals weren’t done just yet as the Shels skipper was determined to make amends at the opposite end to ensure it was a birthday to remember, getting not one but two headers in quick succession making it five and six. T
Frustration got the better of the Bohs boss, Hysa, who was shown a second yellow late on and with a couple of minutes remaining Kate Mooney got her customary goal to put the cherry on top.
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly; Sarah McKevitt (Abbie O’Hara, 67’), Roisin McGovern, Sarah Power, Roisin McGovern; Aoibhe Brennan, Fiona Donnelly; Alannah McEvoy (Leiagh Glennon, 79’), Hannah Healy (Mia Dodd, 67’), Katie McCarn; Katherine Malone (Hanna O’Brien, 79’).
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Keeva Keenan (Nia Hannon, 82’), Pearl Slattery, Jess Gargan, Leah Doyle; Alex Kavanagh (Lucy O’Rourke, 74’), Rachel Graham (Roma McLoughlin, 68’), Aoibheann Clancy; Rebecca Cooke (Rebecca Devereux, 68’), Mackenzie Anthony (Gabriella Del Pico, 74’), Kate Mooney.
Referee: Claire Purcell.
Athlone Town's unbeaten start to the league season continued with an empathic 5-0 win over DLR Waves.
Madie Gibson got the visitors off the mark after 23 minutes as she showed good control inside the box and an equally fine finish, and that’s how it stayed until the break.
Athlone dominated the second half though with Kelly Brady, Katherine Sullivan and Hazel Donegan adding to their tally before Brady grabbed her second in the 88th minute.
Ruesha Littlejohn curled home a brilliant free-kick, but Shamrock Rovers were pegged back by Peamount United in a 1-1 draw.
Littlejohn broke the deadlock with a fine strike in the 54th minute, but Mary Phillips scored 16 minutes from time to ensure it was honours even in the Dublin derby.
Sligo’s wait for their first win goes on as Treaty United strolled to a 3-0 victory to ensure they stay a point behind leaders Athlone.
Sligo battled hard at Markets Field but they came unstuck in the 42nd minute as Isabella Flocchini beat visiting keeper Bonnie McKiernan in a foot race for the ball and chipped her from the edge of the box.
Madelyn Robbins doubled her side’s advantage in the 72nd minute before Amy Tierney grabbed her first senior goal late on.
Cork City leapfrogged Waterford in the table as they won 4-2 at home.
Colleen Kennedy-O'Connell put the home side ahead after 14 minutes as she reacted sharpest after the ball rebounded off the crossbar, but Aoibh Thomas quickly equalised to ensure it was level at the break.
The winning of the game came in seven second-half minutes as Lauren Homan, Eva Mangan and Ciara Fitzpatrick all found the net with Erin O’Brien replying for Waterford in the 79th minute.
There was late drama as Galway and Wexford played out a 1-1 draw.
Amanda Smith thought she had won it for Galway with an 88th minute penalty, but Charlotte Cromack showed great composure to grab a draw just as the clocked ticked into the red.
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