Shelbourne sink Wexford to retain Women's National League crown

Shelbourne are the SSE Airtricity Women's National League champions for the second year in succession after defeating Wexford Youths in the title showdown.

At the start of the 27th and final round of games, three teams were remarkably still in the title mix: Shels on 57 points, Wexford on 56 and Athlone on 55.

However, goals from Jessie Stapleton, Alex Kavanagh, Megan Smyth-Lynch and Abbie Larkin proved to be too much for the hosts as a hotly contested battle between the top two in the league turned into a title stroll for the Dublin club.

Shelbourne were first to settle, after 12 minutes of probing against a low Wexford block, Jess Gargan sprung clear on the right and fizzed a low ball across the box that Smyth-Lynch just missed on the slide.

The left-sided Smyth-Lynch snuck in moments later but slashed across the ball and her effort flew wide of the near post.

Wexford, without Ellen Molloy and Della Doherty through injury, did eventually settle and went close on 25 minutes when Ciara Rossiter controlled a Kylie Murphy cross but flashed her effort over the crossbar.

Kennedy sliced off target from the edge of the area in the 32nd minute but Shelbourne appeared the more likely to make the breakthrough as the half moved to a conclusion and the goal duly came in first half added-time.

Alex Kavanagh was afforded too much space 25 yards from goal and she unleashed a rocket. Maeve Williams got her hands to it but was only able to push it back into the middle of the box where Jessie Stapleton was on hand to take it around the hosts 'keeper and slide home from a tight angle.

GOAL ⚽️ | Wexford Youths 0-1 Shelbourne Jessie Stapleton breaks the deadlock at Ferrycarrig Park just before the break! What an important goal that could be…#WNL |