WNL Round-up: Barrett tops the goalscoring charts as Peamount stay five points clear at the top

Amber Barrett moved to the top of scoring charts as Peamount United restored their five-point lead in the Women’s National League with a 3-0 win over Cork City.

The Republic of Ireland international scored either side of captain Áine O’Gorman to move to ten goals – one clear of her international partner Rianna Jarrett.

The Donegal striker put the Peas a goal to the good inside the first minute as James O’Callaghan’s side looked to make it eight wins from eight in Bishopstown.

O’Gorman headed the visitors two up as she met Megan Smyth-Lynch’s left-wing cross before Barrett sprung the offside trap to slot home Eleanor Ryan Doyle’s pass.

Jarrett was one of several key players missing for Wexford on Saturday evening at Jackson Park as the champions sealed also a 3-0 win over DLR Waves.

Stand-in captain Katrina Parrock put a youthful Youths side, who were also missing regular captain Kylie Murphy, in front within nine minutes.

An own goal from Nadine Clare made it 2-0 two minutes into the second half before Ciara Delaney’s punt from her own half deceived Erica Turner to make it 3-0.

Earlier that afternoon in Tolka Park, Shelbourne ran riot in the latter stages to condemn bottom-placed Kilkenny United to an 8-1 defeat.

Emily Whelan fired Shels in front on the half-hour but Carla McManus replied for the visitors five minutes before the break.

Noelle Murray missed a penalty before Alex Kavanagh struck from the spot on the stroke of half time, and the midfielder added two in quick succession late in the second half.

Naima Chemaou’s second yellow card opened the floodgates as Shels registered six in the final 20 minutes with Murray, Whelan, Jamie Finn and Jessica Ziu also on target.

Galway consolidated fourth place with a 3-0 win over Limerick at Deacy Park as Chloe Singleton and Sinead Donovan scored in the second half to add to Lynsey McKee’s opener.