Dana Scheriff scored four goals as Athlone Town grabbed a huge three points on the road, overcoming a determined Bohemians side in the Women's Premier Division
Alexis Strickland added a late fifth in a thrilling, topsy-turvy encounter, a repeat of last season's FAI Cup final, that saw Aoibhe Brennan and Aoife Brophy reply for the hosts, as 663 onlookers were treated to a seven-goal thriller at Dalymount Park.
In an attacking line-up, with Scheriff starting just behind the pacey Hazel Donegan, Athlone were looking to really kickstart their season having failed to hit the high standards of last year.
The visitors got the dream start after an even enough opening few minutes when skipper Hanna Waesch burst into the area on the right-hand side but was clipped by Hanna Healy.
With nine minutes on the clock, Scheriff took responsibility, and nonchalantly fired past Rachael Kelly to give her side the lead.
With a spring in their step, The Town started to pop the ball around in the Dublin sunshine.
Having scored an astonishing five goals from corners, Madie Gibson was almost at it again, narrowly missing the far top corner with a left-footed inswinger minutes later.
Looking for their first victory over the double winners at their eight attempt, the hosts began to get a foothold midway through the first half.
A massive win on the road at Daylmount Park! C'MON THE TOWN 2-5 #BOHATH pic.twitter.com/RlM59klJcG
— Athlone Town AFC (@AthloneTownAFC) March 28, 2026
The in-form Sarah McKevitt, with two goals and two assists already this season, began to see more of the ball.
At the half-hour mark, Bohs got the first opportunity to cause trouble from a set-piece.
Much like her devilish deliveries a week previously against Cork City, McKevitt delivered another pinpoint ball to the back post, finding Ciara Maher, who rose brilliantly to win the first header.
Katie Malone kept the ball alive with her own header as it fell kindly for Brennan to spin sharply to volley home from close range.
Kerryanne Brown seemed to take the equaliser personally and hit two stunning long range efforts that initially forced Rachel Kelly into a full stretch finger tip save, before the Bohs skipper pulled off another world class save to touch the ball onto the post to keep her side level.
But Alan Murphy’s side were inches away from taking the lead on the stroke of half-time from yet another set-piece when Lisa Murphy, under serious pressure, glanced a header wide from just a couple of yards out.
Bohs were made to pay for the miss just eight minutes after the restart when the sharpshooter Scheriff took on all-comers just left of the area and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the far top corner to restore the lead.
Things went from bad to worse, as just three minutes later, Scheriff grabbed her third with a brave header. She managed to get in front of the onrushing Kelly to nod home from Gibson’s free-kick, grabbing her first hat-trick in the Premier Division.
With the game looking just out of reach, the home side showed tremendous grit and determination to haul themselves back into proceedings when Brophy’s deep cross from the right sailed over everyone and went straight in off the far post.
But again, Sheriff dashed the hopes of the raucous home support when she showed all her striker instincts to be in the right place, at the right time, to tap home having seen Noelle Murray’s effort come back off the post.
And with just seconds remaining, substitute Strickland was on hand to put the cherry on the icing on the cake as she rounded the helpless Kelly and slotted home into an empty net.
Meanwhile, Galway United remain the only side with a 100% record, but they were pushed hard in a 2-1 home win over Wexford.
The visitors led at the break through Megan Smyth-Lynch's close-range strike on the half-hour mark, but Galway found a route back into it through Aoibhinn Costello 52 minutes in.
Freya de Mange was dismissed for Wexford, and Galway made their numerical advantage count when Emma Doherty headed home with five minutes remaining.
Shelbourne were top the table on goal difference temporarily before the Galway result, with Aoibheann Clancy, Brianne Severns and Rebecca Watkins on target in the second half of their 3-0 win over DLR Waves at Tolka Park.
Shamrock Rovers recorded an impressive 5-0 win on the road against Sligo Rovers. Ellen Molloy and Katie O'Reilly struck before the break, with Mia Dodd and an Alice Buggle brace wrapping up the goalscoring.
Katie Lawlee scored both goals as Treaty United saw off Cork City 2-0 on Leeside.
Peamount United are up to a second after a routine 3-0 win at home to Waterford.
Eleanor Ryan-Doyle got them off the mark just two minutes in with Sorcha Melia and Aisling Spillane also scoring before half-time.
Bohemian FC: Rachael Kelly; Sarah Power, Ciara Maher, Lisa Murphy, Aoife Brophy; Aoibhe Brennan, Fiona Donnelly (Aoife Sheridan, 46’); Sarah McKevitt (Hannah O’Brien, 57’), Hanna Healy (Lauryn McCabe, 81’), Katie Malone (Leiagh Glennon, 71’); Alannah McEvoy (Savannah Kane, 81’).
Subs not used: Kate Foley, Katie Lovely, Robin Baird, Alex Devoy.
Athlone Town: Maria Matthaiou, Muireann Daly, Shauna Brennan, Natalie McNally, Kayleigh Shine; Kerryanne Brown (Emma Mooney, 62’), Hanna Waesch: Rosin Molloy (Isabel Ryan, 58’), Dana Scheriff, Madison Gibson (Alexis Strickland, 84’); Hazel Donegan (Noelle Murray, 58’).
Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Niamh Dundon, Melissa O’Kane, Danielle O’Neill, Lucy Fitzgerald.
Referee: Mark Houlihan.
