WDL: Drogheda United 2-6 Dundalk FC

Dundalk continued their fine start to the Women’s Development League with a 6-2 win over Drogheda United at Sullivan & Lambe Park on Sunday.

Megan O'Connor (Pic: Gerry Scully).

Dundalk began brightly and were ahead after six minutes when Megan O’Connor finished from an Alicia Maher assist. The lead was doubled in the 19th minute as Sophie Hanlon found the net, with Dundalk’s strong first-half performance also featuring plenty of threat from the wings and a series of well-worked attacking moves.

Ernesta Marut (Photo: Gerry Scully).

Ernesta Marut added two more goals just before the break to put Dundalk in a commanding position at half-time. Hanlon then completed her second successive hat-trick with goals in the 50th and 63rd minutes, extending the advantage further.

Drogheda United showed great spirit late on and pulled two goals back in the closing stages through Isabel Hetherton, but Dundalk managed the game well to see out the result.

Nana Michelle Koudjou (Photo: Ben McShane / Sportsfile).

Hanlon’s hat-trick was the standout attacking return, while Nana Michelle Koudjou impressed at centre-back and O’Connor was influential in central midfield.

Dundalk XI: Eden Laughton Tyler, Jessica Cox, Abigail Martin, Megan O’Connor, Alicia Maher, Macy Treanor, Rebekah Clavin, Shauna Smyth, Ernesta Marut, Nana Michelle Koudjou, Sophie Hanlon. Substitutions: Sarah Byrne for Marut (65); Siun Kirby for Hanlon (65); Ciara Bray for Treanor (65); Makenzie Crowley for Maher (82); Jennifer Freeman for O’Connor (88).