League Report: Shamrock Rovers 0 – 2 Peamount United

Christine Allen reports from Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers suffered a 2-0 defeat to last year's Women’s Premier Division Champions Peamount United in a contest that simmered from the tip-off.

Erin McLaughlin's brace netted three points for the visitors who now sit in fourth place in the league table.

The Hoops made one change to the team that defeated DLR Waves a fortnight ago, Shauna Fox replacing Stephanie Zambra.

Eileen Gleeson watched on from the West Stand in Dublin 24, along with Irish international Abbie Larkin who was all smiles having gained promotion to the Women's Super League with Crystal Palace.

Peamount took to the turf in their away strip of sky blue as the Hoops lined out in their familiar green and white kit.

Rovers’ skipper Áine O’Gorman and Peas Captain Karen Duggan trotted to the centre of the park, the former teammates exchanging handshake pleasantries as the toss was decided.

The home side started with four at the back while the visitors lined out with three.

Avril Brierley claimed the first attempt on goal in the fourth minute, pulling the ball wide and to the left of Amanda Budden’s post.

Duggan marked Shamrock Rovers' March player of the month Joy Ralph tightly in what proved to be a hotly contested battle that would last until the Greenhills native gave way to Zambra in the 78th minute.

Ralph almost opened the scoring for the home side in the 8th minute when she turned Duggan on foot of a visionary pass from Melissa O’Kane, reacting quickly to drive her foot through the ball in response to a backpedalling Burke. 

Peas manager James O’Callaghan, who looked on from the sidelines with one knee to the turf, had his prayers answered when the ball pinged off the underside of the crossbar and fell harmlessly to his goalkeeper's backline.

Peamount responded with an intense press and clocked off two shots from long range - McLaughlin skying one effort over Budden’s head, while Ellen Dolan cut too much under the ball and sent it sailing over the crossbar.

Dynamic duo Lia O’Leary and Ralph almost linked up once again for the women in green and white. O’Gorman pickpocketed the ball from Toni Ceno and laid it to Ralph who charged in space down the right flank.

A deflection by Lauryn O’Callaghan did just enough to take Ralph’s delivery off course, the ball bouncing awkwardly as marauding winger O’Leary lined up to shoot.

The Portmarnock native had another chance at goal when she deftly cut inside Jessica Fitzgerald and opted to shoot on her weaker right foot, her attempt flashing wide of Burke's sticks.

The game continued with a frenetic tempo. Rovers goalkeeper Budden urging her teammates to ‘calm down’ in the 17th minute while Collie O’Neill instructed his number 19 Ralph to stay up top.

The Hoops goal minder would go on to make several fine saves in both the first and second half but was beaten in the 19th minute when Jetta Berrill linked up with McLaughlin whose first touch and finish were untouchable.

As the floodlights came to life and the game approached the end of the first half, McLaughlin made it a brace, curling the ball past both Hennessy and Budden into the top right-hand bin.

Extending her arms in an ‘and what?’ gesture, the 21-year-old beamed as the women in sky blue raced from their respective positions to congratulate her.

Rovers entered the dressing room 2-0 down with Hennessy, O’Kane and Budden to thank for keeping the scoreline within their reach.

At the restart, 17-year-old Academy talent Katie O’Reilly replaced Scarlett Herron for the home side and soon found her footing down the right channel, cutting inside Rebecca Watkins and winning the physical contest with a strength beyond her years.

In the 52nd minute, O’Gorman played a perfectly weighted pass to the Under 17’s Hoops skipper who quickly read Ralph’s charge into the box and whipped it towards the 19-year-old assassin whose momentum took the ball inches past the far left-hand post.

The Hoops dominated possession for the remainder of the second half, O’Gorman looking for another trademark smash from the lip of the box, her attempt flashing wide and to the right of the post.

As the 70th minute approached, O’Callaghan looked on in consternation, his arms folded, while Collie O’Neill marched along the sidelines, quietly contemplating his next move.

The Peas however continued to look dangerous as they hit Rovers on the counter.

With five minutes to go they had a chance to kill the game when Fitzgerald played a pass worthy of a Michelin star to Freya Healy. McLaughlin took the ball at her feet and shot on the turn but the Ireland international was denied by an on-form Budden.

In the 90th minute, with three additional minutes left to play, Hennessy almost snatched a consolation prize for the home side when she headed the ball forward and deep within Peamount United's six-yard box.

The number five opted to strike rather than roll the ball to substitute Zambra, who had muscled towards the front post.

Zambra touched the grass in frustration when the Mullingar native struck the ball high and over the crossbar.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard glowed green in Tallaght Stadium, yet it was to be a day for the women in sky blue.

Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden; Shauna Fox, Jessica Hennessy, Scarlett Herron (Katie O'Reilly 46), Melissa O'Kane (Ella Kelly 90); Aoife Kelly, Aine O'Gorman, Lia O'Leary (Shannon Coady 90), Maria Reynolds, Jaime Thompson (Lauren Kelly 78); Joy Ralph (Stephanie Zambra 78).
Subs not used: Summer Lawless, Alannah Prizeman.
Booked: Jaime Thompson (57).

Peamount United: Niamh Reid Burke; Toni Ceno (Chloe Moloney 63), Karen Duggan, Lauryn O'Callaghan; Jetta Berrill, Ellen Dolan, Jessica Fitzgerald, Freya Healy (Louise Masterson 90), Erin McLaughlin, Becky Watkins; Avril Brierley (Ciara Maher 71).
Subs not used: Niamh Coombes, Niamh Richardson, Lille Noonan, Keelin Dermody, Carla McManus, Alicia Maher.
Booked: Erin McLaughlin (81).

Referee: Ian O’Keefe
extratime.com Player of the Match: Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United)

Interim Longford Town boss Wayne Groves: ‘We just need that little bit of luck for things to turn’ - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/10UXWg69ii

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) May 5, 2024