Castlebar Celtic 5 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers travelled west this week with hopes of redemption following their disappointing result against Raheny last Sunday. Unfortunately for the visitors, Castlebar Celtic were in no mood to provide a venue for such atonement- the Mayo side determined to produce a performance to impress their home fans and earn their first three points of their Women's National League campaign. 

Celtic started the brighter, displaying some crisp passing and intelligent movement. The combined pace of wingers Shaunagh Jackson and Aileen Gilroy, supplemented with the uncontainable Emma Mullin, heaped immediate pressure on the Rovers defence. Celtic's unrelenting drives forward soon paid off mid-way through the opening half when Rovers defender Lyndsey Hayden was unlucky to turn a Mullin cross into her own net as she attempted to clear. 

Credit to Rovers however as they responded positively to the own goal, creating some neat passing exchanges in midfield, with Aisling Cusack and Niamh Kinsella growing in confidence as Rovers enjoyed a brief spell of possession. One particularly intelligent move saw Grainne Walsh find herself open just inside the Celtic 18 yard box and her first-time shot curled just inches around keeper Ashling Concannon's right post. Moments later a perfectly executed through ball caught both Celtic centre half's unaware and it took a last-gasp tackle from right back Carol Hegarty to prevent what would have been a two on one goal-scoring opportunity for Rovers. Hegarty raced 50 odd meters to dive to Celtic's rescue, ensuring her side entered the dressing room in the lead, although by the narrowest of margins. 

Celtic's right side duo of Hegarty and Gilroy had dominated affairs in the opening forty-five minutes and they continued to terrorise the Rovers defence in the second half; Gilroy the catalyst for Celtic's second goal as she bolted past the Rovers defender, slipped the ball through to Mullin who switched to Hansbury just inside the six yard box. The little number 10 coolly rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net for Celtics third.

Any questions of the home side sitting back on a two-goal lead were quickly answered with a display of some sublime skill by Mullin with what was undoubtedly the goal of the game. Concannon's kickout was controlled expertly by Gilroy on the right and she lifted the ball over the top into Mullin's path- the captain didn't think twice as she shot on the half-volley to dip the ball over the keeper from outside the 18-yard box. An unbelievable finish from the captain who was a constant menace to the Rovers defence the entire game. 

The home side continued to press forward- it was looking like only a matter of time before another goal ensued. A quick throw in from Celtic found Jackson in acres of space and she turned to set up a galloping Gilroy on her right. The winger  buried the ball in the bottom left corner to make it four nil and effectively wrap up the three points for Celtic. 

The visitors thought otherwise and admirably picked themselves up again, responding to encouragement issued by centre back and captain Carol Conlon who was the stand out player for Rovers throughout the ninety minutes, tackling ferociously throughout and even providing an intermittent attacking force with some compelling attacking runs from defence. Substitute Laura Chambers exhibited an equally passionate force when she entered the field of play with twenty minutes to go, and justified her manager's selection when she intercepted a Celtic kickout and, barely glancing up, effortlessly lobbed Concannon from well outside the box. 

Any hope of a comeback was hastily dissolved as Mullin slotted home again for her second in the dying minutes of the game to make it 5-1. A hat trick seemed imminent when she again found herself in space in front of goal shortly after, but was denied by a spectacular point blank save from Sarah Devlin, who, despite the scoreline, had a solid display between the posts. The final whistle blew to conclude an emphatic win for the home side in front of a cheering home crowd. 

Without question a miserable journey home for Rovers who have now conceded ten goals in two games- the only good news at this stage the fact that they only have one game to go before a number of their currently sidelined players are deemed eligible to play; delayed transfers meaning that as of December 1st a number of big name players will be sporting the Shamrock shirt. 

Celtic on the other hand can be thoroughly satisfied on a massive improvement from last week and well-earned three points. Bigger challenges await however, with a trip away to Cork next week the next step in their Women's National League journey. With proven goal scorers and an exhibition today of a rapidly gelling side, it is safe to say that the westerners will travel south with a measured dose of confidence. 

Castlebar Celtic: Ashling Concannon, Jenny Byrne, Carol Hegarty, Avril Kilkelly, Katie Walsh, Lauren Boles, Ruth Fahy, Aileen Gilroy, Emma Hansberry, Shaunagh Jackson, Emma Mullin

Shamrock Rovers: Sarah Devlin, Joanne Ennis, Carol Conlon, Zara Dillon, Lyndsey Hayden, Aisling Cusack, Niamh Kinsella, Niamh Nolan, Aoife Moloney, Grainne Walsh, Orlagh Nolan