Shelbourne extend lead at the top with victory over Peamount

Jessie Stapleton fired home her fourth goal of the season as Shelbourne edged out Peamount United 1-0 at Tolka Park to extend their lead at the top of the Women's National League.

The midfielder smashed home on the half-hour amid a scramble in the box as the Reds moved five points clear of their Dublin rivals at the summit.

Shels came into the game with a two-point advantage after Peas were held by Bohemians in another derby seven days ago.

And the champions extended their lead at the top with one of their best performances of the season, as they hit the woodwork three times in a commanding performance.

It was the visitors who began the game the stronger, however, and they had the first clear chance when Karen Duggan narrowly missed the target from the edge of the box.

Shels had a chance of their own moments later, a clever short corner routine seeing Jess Ziu find Shauna Fox in the box, but she scuffed her effort.

Noel King’s charges broke the deadlock on the half-hour as Jess Gargan took a Ziu pass and did brilliantly to beat Lauryn O’Callaghan and surge into the box.

Her cross, aimed for Saoirse Noonan, looked to be handled by Tiegan Ruddy and Stapleton may have done the Peas defender a favour by slotting home and saving her a red card.

Gargan could have had a goal of her own five minutes later as she met Noelle Murray's corner with a firm header, but Niamh Reid-Burke did brilliantly to tip it onto the bar.

Peas finished the half as they started it, on the front foot, as Steph Roche’s well-struck volley was comfortably saved by former Ireland keeper Amanda Budden.

Shels upped the tempo after the break and Ziu should have doubled the Reds’ lead as she met a Murray corner with her head, but she couldn’t keep it down.

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