Peamount United 13 - 0 Castlebar Celtic

Castlebar Celtic went home a humble side after a drubbing at the hands of Peamount United. The Peas, who lost to Raheny last week in a crucial top of the table clash, were clinical, putting 13 goals on the board without reply in what was not so much a game as it was an execution by howitzer.

Only four minutes had been played when the ladies in green got their noses in front. Stephanie Roche found space just inside the box and shot low past Aisling Concannon in the Castlebar Celtic goal. It would be the start of a busy day for both players.

Jenny Critchley added the second ten minutes later. Concannon rushed out to clear the ball, only for her clearance to hit one of her own defenders. Critchley picked up the lose ball and stayed cool to send it home when the chance fell her way.

A close range header from Roche and a tap in from Sara Lawlor gave Peamount a four goal lead with barely twenty minutes on the clock and it only took 25 minutes for Roche to get her hat-trick. She bundled the ball over the line as Concannon fumbled a cross from the right wing.

While Emma Hansberry, Shaunagh Jackson and Emma Mullin did carry some threat, Celtic were unable to gather themselves. It was clear that their heads were down after the home teams whirlwind start, but the break could have given them a moment of respite and an opportunity to re-think their tactics.

There was no let up from Peamount when play resumed, however. Roche made it six just three minutes into the second period. She rose highest to meet a Grace Murray corner, heading past Concannon to grab her fourth.

Not to be outdone, Sara Lawlor was quick to ensure she was back on the scoresheet on the 59 minute mark. She sauntered through the box in front of ball-watching Celtic defenders before pulling a low shot to Concannon’s right from about ten paces.

Lawlor was at it again two minutes later, this time playing architect. She twisted and turned in the middle of the park and released Wendy McGlone down the right. McGlone sent in a perfect high ball that Louise Quinn ran on to meet with a powerful header. That made it 8-0 and things only got worse for Concannon and Celtic.

Substitute Clare Kinsella made it nine just minutes after coming on. She finished off a Lawlor cross, knocking the ball past Concannon from inside the six yard box.

An injury to Grainne Barrett then reduced the visitors to ten players for the final fifteen minutes and the goals continued to flow. Roche and Lawlor were relentless in their demolition job, showing no compassion whatsoever.

Roche got her fifth after 82 minutes, before defenders Grace Murray and Susan Byrne scored the Peas’ eleventh and twelfth goals. And it was Roche who wrapped things up on a nightmare day for Castlebar Celtic with her sixth goal.

With Raheny dropping points to Wexford through a disappointing 1-1 at home, this result sees Peamount go back to the top of the league, making a 13 goal statement of intent for every other team to take notice of.

Peamount United: Linda Meehan; Stacey McGlone (Melissa Haughton, 46), Chloe Mustaki, Susan Byrne, Grace Murray; Wendy McGlone (Emily Cahill, 55), Louise Quinn, Karen Duggan, Sara Lawlor; Jenny Critchley (Clare Kinsella, 60), Stephanie Roche

Subs not used: Aine Genockey, Ruth Comerford, Emma Donohue, Jenny Ferrari

Castlebar Celtic: Aisling Concannon; Theresa Fahy, Jennifer Byrne, Katie Walsh, Avril Kilkelly; Shaunagh Jackson, Lauren Boles, Grainne Barrett, Rachel King; Emma Mullin, Emma Hansberry

Subs not used: Nicole Redmond, Susie Cunningham, Aileen Collins

Referee: Rob Harney

Attendance: 150 (estimate)

Extratime.ie player of the match: Sara Lawlor, more dangerous than running with scissors.