Peamount - WNL Champions 2012

There were jubilant scenes in Greenogue on Sunday afternoon as Peamount United overcame Shamrock Rovers courtesy of a Stephanie Roche strike in a hard fought game to be crowned worthy champions of the inaugural Bus Éireann Women’s National League.

Going into the game Peamount United were three points clear of Raheny, with a far superior goal difference. However goal difference counts for nothing in the Women’s National League, and Peamount had to at least draw to avoid sending the league into a playoff decider.

The home side had the brighter of the opening exchanges as they set up camp in the Shamrock Rovers half. An early shot from Caroline Thorpe was off-target, and in the fourth minute Stephanie Roche controlled the ball on her chest and swivelled before hitting a tame shot straight at Sarah Devlin in the Shamrock Rovers goal.

It took eleven minutes before Rovers registered their first shot of the game. Rachel Jenkins showed why she was named on the All Star Team of the year forcing a save from Linda Meehan.

There was a certain inevitability about the first goal, and we only had to wait until the 16^th minute for its arrival. A cross from the right was headed back towards goal by Louise Quinn who had stayed up from an earlier corner. Devlin was unable to hold onto the ball, and Roche was on hand to stab home the ball from close range.

The half progressed and Peamount pressed and pressed for a second, but Devlin was showing good awareness coming off her line any time a ball was played over the top or through on goal.

On the half hour mark, Grace Murray went on the overlap up the left wing, and after a clever one too found herself inside the Shamrock Rovers’ box. She shaped to shoot, but Nicola Sinnott was across to block the effort and danger was averted.

Murray came close again in the 37^th minute from a Wendy McGlone corner, but for all their chances and possession there was only a goal in the game at half time.

The second half started at a ferocious pace, and Sara Lawlor in particular hit the ground running. Within the first minute of the half, she received the ball to her feet on the right hand side. She raced down the wing and left Carol Conlon for dead, but a heavy touch let Lawlor down and Devlin was again out to collect.

Two minutes later and we were treated to a real piece of skill. Peamount worked the ball in from the left hand wing, and Stephanie Roche received the ball on the edge of the Rovers “D”. With inch-perfect precision, she sent a right footed shot in that was destined for the top left hand corner of the goal only for her stunning effort to be matched by an amazing one-handed save as Devlin pushed the ball onto the post.

The woodwork was to come to come to Shamrock Rovers rescue again in the 50^th minute. Irish international Dora Gorman this time was the executer as the UCD student smacked a spectacular effort off the crossbar from outside the box. Sarah Devlin for once was motionless as the ball rebounded to Roche inside the area, but she could only side foot her effort to the left of the goal.

From the kick out, Shamrock Rovers showed they weren’t prepared to let Peas have it all their own way as they went on a rare attack of their own. The always dangerous Rachel Jenkins raced onto a through ball with Peamount captain Louise Quinn hot on her heels. As they entered the box Jenkins took the ball around a sliding Quinn, but while she didn’t get the tackle in Quinn succeeded in forcing Jenkins wide. The Shamrock Rovers star took a touch before shooting at goal and drawing a top drawer save from Meehan.

The effort was to prove Shamrock Rovers’ last real chance of the game as Peamount upped the ante in search of a second. Gorman, Lawlor and the impressive Musaki all went close for the Peas, but it wasn’t to come nor was it required.

Rhona Daly brought the game to an end in the 93^rd minute, and the Peamount girls could finally allow themselves to celebrate. Although the season was only fifteen games long, Peamount have been playing for over a year having participated in last year’s Champions League the girls have another European adventure to look forward to. Despite some great performances from Raheny this season, there are few who would doubt that Peamount were deserving winners of the title.

Their celebrations however won’t be too long lived, as they return to the training pitch this week to prepare for their cup final against Rovers again in a fortnight.

Shamrock Rovers will finish bottom of the table, but they didn’t play like a bottom of the table team and defended stoically while always maintaining their shape and will take a lot of positives from this game as they prepare.

Peamount United: Linda Meehan; Melissa Haughton, Karen Duggan, Louise Quinn, Grace Murray; Caroline Thorpe, Dora Gorman, Chloe Mustaki, Wendy McGlone; Stephanie Roche, Sara Lawlor.

Subs not used: Emily Cahill, Clare Kinsella, Ruth Comerford, Caroline Healy, Jenny Critchley, Stacey McGlone, Emma Donohoe.

Bookings: Sara Lawlor (63)

Shamrock Rovers: Sarah Devlin; Nicola Sinnot, Carol Conlon, Niamh Connolly, Lyndsey Hayden; Rachel Jenkins, Zara Dillon (Amy Kelly), Grainne Walsh, Orlagh Nolan (Laura Chambers); Joanne Ennis, Paula Doran (Ashling Cusack).

Subs not used: Bethany Houldsworth, Aoife Caulfield.

Bookings: none

Referee: Rhona Daly

Attendance: 250 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match : Grace Murray – There were many candidates, but the Peamount left back was assured in defence while bombing forward repeated and causing the visitors all sorts of problems down the wing.