Shamrock Rovers 0 - 5 Raheny United

Raheny United positioned themselves amongst the early favourites for the Bus Eireann Women's National League with a convincing 5-0 opening day win over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Sunday  afternoon.

Ciara Grant gave Raheny the lead on the stroke of half time after some spirited Rovers defending. The lead was extended by Rebecca Creagh before a Katie McCabe double and a further goal from substitute Siobhan Killeen.

Katie McCabe missed a clear chance to put Raheny ahead on 13 minutes. A cross from the right wing came in and found McCabe well-placed and alone, about five yards from goal. McCabe's headed ball fell just over though, letting Rovers off the hook. Raheny were in the ascendancy for most of the first half, with Rovers barely having a clear chance on goal in the first 45 minutes. 

Captain Rebecca Creagh went close just before the half hour mark, sliding in ahead of Rovers 'keeper Sarah Devlin in the Hoops box. The ball fell just wide, but it seemed the writing was on the wall for Rovers as Raheny had chance after chance. Sandra Mulhall consistently threatened when she got the ball, running at the Rovers full backs.

Creagh went close again soon afterwards, meeting a deep Sandra Mulhall cross from the left in the Rovers box. Creagh was able to nudge the ball towards goal, but it fell just wide of the post. She just missed a connection with another cross minutes later, this time at the far post.

It still seemed like a matter of time until Raheny took the lead, so dominant were they with the ball. Rovers, when they did fend their opponents off, were unable to move the ball into attack. At last Raheny took the lead just on the stroke of half time. Irish international Ciara Grant was put through on the right wing and cut inside before finishing well past Devlin.

Siobhan Killeen came on seven minutes after the break and always looked like she could crack the Rovers defence. On 69 minutes, her hard work paid off when she finished a lovely Raheny move. Elaine Murray passed down the left for Rebecca Creagh to cross. Her cross was met by the foot of Killeen at the left post, giving Devlin no chance of saving it.

Raheny weren't content with the two goal lead either, immediately looking for more goals. And two came in the space of two minutes in the 74th and 76th minutes. For the third goal, Katie McCabe nodded the ball in after a corner was taken short and crossed. Not long afterwards, captain Rebecca Creagh drove the ball into the bottom left corner of the Hoops goal from about ten yards out for four.

The Northside club capped a fantastic performance with an their fifth goal in the 88th minute. Substitute Kate Flood turned around two of her markers on the right wing before crossing across the face of goal. Katie McCabe had a simple tap in for her second goal.

Shamrock Rovers: Sarah Devlin; Carol Conlon, Zara Dillon, Joanne Ennis; Laura Chambers, Aisling Cusack, Niamh Kinsella [Angelina Angelova '67], Grainne Walsh; Aoife Maloney, Orlagh Nolan.
Subs Not Used: Emma Dunne, Lisa Fallon, Bethany Holdsworth.

Raheny United: Niamh Reid Burke; Elaine Murray, Megan Campbell, Shauna Newman, Seana Cooke, Rebecca Creagh (c), Rachel Graham, Katie McCabe, Sandra Mulhall [Siobhan Killeen '53], Joan Daly  [Christina Byrne HT], Ciara Grant.
Subs Not Used: Carla Moran, Anna McCormack, Catherine Cronin, Lynn Bradley, Kate Flood.

Referee: Rhona Daly

Attendance: 250 (unofficial estimate)

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Rebecca Creagh