WNL Cup Round-up: Shels knock out holders Peamount United to set up Wexford Youths final

There will be no back-to-back Women’s National League Cup success for Peamount Unitede in 2019 as Shelbourne overcame the holders at Tolka Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds came from behind to win thanks to second-half goals from teenagers Emily Whelan and Rebecca Cooke after Eleanor Ryan Doyle had put the Peas in front early on.

The visitors recorded their first defeat in all competitions this season as Dave Bell’s side recovered from a half-time deficit to book their first league cup final in two years.

Ryan Doyle had already tested Shels keeper Rachel Kelly inside the first minute when she was presented with a simple finish to open the scoring after 11 minutes.

Ireland striker Amber Barrett ran the channel and squared to Deirbhaile Beirne and her shot was saved by Kelly, but the keeper could do nothing about the follow-up.

Kelly justified Bell’s faith in handing her a rare start by denying Megan Smyth-Lynch early in the second half, and gradually the home side began to test keeper Naoisha McAloon.

They levelled things up midway through the second period as Ireland senior international Whelan raced onto a through ball and planted her low shot in the net.

And the turnaround was complete 13 minutes from time as a Shels free kick was let bounce in the box and Cooke sent the loose ball looping over McAloon and into the net.

Shelbourne will face Wexford Youths in the final as the 2018 treble winners brushed aside Limerick 5-0 to book their place in the final for the second year running.

Goals from Rianna Jarrett, Edel Kennedy and Vanessa Ogbonna saw Youths to a comfortable victory over a side they’ve already beaten 6-1 in the league this season.



Republic of Ireland striker Jarrett opened the scoring after 18 minutes when she got on the end of a cross from Hawaiian playmaker McKenna Davidson.

Kennedy squandered a good chance from close range before she doubled Youths’ tally on the half-hour, nipping in ahead of Karen Connolly to slot home.

And striker Ogbonna – handed a rare start alongside Jarrett – added goal number three on the hour mark as she applied the finish to a swift counter attack.

Ogbonna was replaced by Blessing Kingsley and the winger added a fourth four minutes from time before Aisling Frawley tapped home Jarrett’s cross late on.

Galway host Kilkenny United at 5.30pm in this weekend’s only Women’s National League game.