Raheny United 5 - 0 Shamrock Rovers
Credit:
2014 started with a big bang for Raheny United picking up where they left off with a five goal to nil victory.
The hosts took the lead on 11 minutes, Katie McCabe blasting into the top right hand corner of the Rovers net from 30 yards.
Raheny sensed blood, less than two minutes had passed when Catherine Cronin danced into the Rovers box and pulled back for Noelle Murray to slide home.
The wind and rain played in favour of the visitors on the heavy Santry pitch, yet Terry Eviston’s stayed on the front foot with their short moving game.
McCabe drive after a tussle with Hoops right-full Orla Haran clipped the side of the post on 20 minutes. A brave sliding tackle from Shamrock Rovers left-full Grainne Walsh prevented Killeen from making it three.
The third goal came on 33 minutes, captain Creagh always the favourite from the spot after Watson hauled down Katie McCabe.
The second half started much the way of the first, Raheny slow out of the tramps and Rovers looking to get back into the game. In fact it was 10 minutes before the game came back to life in the miserable North Dublin weather.
Katie McCabe raced into the Rovers box, her pull back found Catherine Cronin who blasted high and wide.
This spurred the hosts on, the trickery of Killeen cutting in from the left and driving high for the outstretched Watson to tip the ball onto the bar.
Less than sixty seconds had passed before the hosts where four up when Murray and McCabe tangled as they bared down on goal, pulling the ball back for Catherine Cronin to slot home.
Rovers got their first chance of the game just past the hour, Megan Lynch raced down the line find Rosie Maguire in front of goal. Maguire squandered Rovers with a tame shot fired past the post with only Raheny keeper Niamh Reid Burke to beat.
The inevitable fifth Raheny goal game on 68 minutes, Cronin’s run and shot saved well by Watson but from a McCabe resulting corner the ball came off the head of the unfortunate Joanne Ennis and into the back of her own net.
The only worrying moment for Terry Eviston will be the injury to captain Rebecca Creagh as his team top the Bus Eireann National League.
Raheny United: Niamh Reid Burke, Shauna Newman, Pearl Slattery, Rachel Graham, Sinead O’Farrelly, Siobhan Killeen, Ciara Grant, Katie McCabe, Catherine Cronin, Rebecca Creagh, Noelle Murray
Subs: Lyndsey Hayden for Shauna Newman (40’), Clare Shine for Ciara Grant (71’), Niamh Walsh for Rebecca Creagh (89’)
Subs not used: Laura Ryan, Bethany Holdsworth
Shamrock Rovers: Michelle Watson, Orla Haran, Joan Daly, Joanne Ennis, Grainne Walsh, Rosie Maguire, Kate McKeever, Chelsey Spain, Megan Lynch, Laura Traynor, Ciara Splith
Subs: Lisa Murphy for Rosie Maguire (79’)
Subs Not used: Grace McAuley Ryan, Niamh Kenna, Kerrie Deegan, Laura Chambers, Megan McGuinness, Lisa Murphy, Stacy Nesbitt.
Yellow Cards: Michelle Watson
Referee: Rhona Daly (Dublin)
Extra Time player of the match: Catherine Cronin (Raheny United)
