Peamount United 5 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

A scintillating opening 45 minutes from Peamount United killed off any hopes of a first league win for Shamrock Rovers early on in the West Dublin derby on Sunday.

Two goals from Aine O’Gorman plus one each for Stephanie Roche and Sara Lawlor gave the home side an unrecoverable advantage in the first half before Rovers grabbed a late consolation through Rachel Jenkins and Roche ended the game with a 25-yard belter.

The sides were in very different form going into the meeting at Greenogue. The Peas have looked convincing in all but one of their fixtures – a 4-1 defeat to Raheny United – while John Walsh’s Hoops had amassed just one point from four games thus far.

With the transfer window re-opening at the start of December however, Rovers have been boosted by the availability of a number of their new signings so the result was far from a foregone conclusion.

That said, Peamount are evidently hell-bent on catching Raheny at the top of the Women’s National League table and they were ahead after just nine minutes.

Full-back Grace Murray advanced down the left flank in possession, then fed Lawlor with a neat through-ball. The striker took a touch before squaring across the six-yard box where O’Gorman was arriving late to slot home the opener.

Rovers were barely able to settle themselves before they conceded a second four minutes later. Murray, again the provider, lofted a cross into the danger area from wide to find the run of Roche, who glanced a header over the outstretched arm of Sarah Devlin in the Rovers net.

It was all Peamount at this point – their high tempo pressing game was working well and once in possession, they made the most of it.

The visitors contrastingly, were struggling to get a hold on the game. Starting with a 4-5-1, they attempted to crowd the midfield but instead the formation left their lone striker Noelle Murray isolated and increasingly frustrated.

On the half-hour mark, the Peas went 3-0 up. A long ball was played out of the back-line and with Rovers’ defence playing high up the pitch, it allowed Lawlor to make good use of her pace to beat her marker and find the back of the net with a side-footed effort.

With five minutes remaining in the first half, O’Gorman bagged her second of the day. The winger, on loan from Doncaster Rovers Belles, got on the end of Julie-Ann Russell’s pinpoint cross.

Rovers’ best chance of the half came right on the whistle when Murray and Hannah Tyrell combined to allow the latter to unleash a fine strike goalward where Linda Meehan had to be at her best to push around the post.

After the break, Peamount continued to look to increase their lead but Rovers deserve credit for regrouping.

A change to 4-4-2 gave them more of an outlet up top while the performance of their back four and, in particular, Niamh Connelly was commendable.  

And they did eventually get off the mark with five minutes remaining thanks to the persistence of Orlagh Nolan. Despite seeming to lose possession, Nolan hunted the ball down and regained it, then teed up Jenkins for the easiest of tap-ins.

However, the goal of the game was kept ‘til the last minute of regular time. Roche received a pass in the middle of the park before advancing into space where she unleashed an unstoppable shot over the head of Devlin.  

Speaking after the game, Peas boss Eileen Gleeson said: “That was a great result today. I couldn’t have asked for anymore from the girls.

“It would’ve been nice to go into the Christmas break on level points with Raheny but there’s still a lot of football to be played.”

Her opposite number John Walsh admitted that his side were second best but was keen to take the positives.

“At half-time, we asked the girls to go out and show a bit of pride as we felt they had more in them and I think they did that,” he said.

Peamount United: Linda Meehan, Stacey McGlone, Susan Byrne, Karen Duggan, Grace Murray, Aine O’Gorman, Louise Quinn [Chloe Mustaki '85], Dora Gorman, Julie-Ann Russell Stephanie Roche, Sara Lawlor.

 Subs Not Used: Aine Genockey, Ruth Comerford, Emma Donohue, Claire Kinsella, Melissa Haughton.

Shamrock Rovers: Sarah Devlin, Nicola Sinnott, Niamh Connelly, Nicola Dorey, Michelle Dunne, Rachel Jenkins, Karina Kelly, Niamh Kinsella, Orlagh Nolan, Hannah Tyrrell, Noelle Murray.

Subs Not Used: Zara Dillon, Grainne Walsh, Caroline Thorpe, Aoife Moloney, Lyndsey Hayden, Joanne Evans.

Attendance: 120 (unofficial estimate)

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dora Gorman