Raheny United 2 - 5 Peamount United
Credit:
For only the second time since the inception of the Bus Eireann Women’s National League, Raheny United have lost a game in Morton Stadium and once again it was to Dublin rivals Peamount United.
It was a bad start to the night for the hosts when defender Seana Cooke lipped off in the warm up. A loss to Ger McDermott’s team which Peamount looked to take advantage of.
The host’s defence struggled with the leagues' two leading markswomen and both Stephanie Roche and Sara Lawlor could have had hat tricks.
The Raheny rearguard was breached by the Peas after only 12 minutes. A good Raheny move saw Katie McCabe shoot straight at the Pea’s keeper. Monica McGuirk in the visiting goal played a quick long ball forward. Sara Lawlor broke clear and her pull back found Stephanie Roche who made it 1-0 to the visitors.
The hosts showed determination to get back into the game, even though they were second best to the league champions for the majority of the first period.
Raheny got on level terms on 19 minutes. A mistake in the Peamount defence saw Amy McLoughlin head the ball past her own keeper and put Raheny back on level terms.
Within three minutes Solene Barbance had restored the advantage to the Peas. Mercurial Julie Ann Russell’s teasing cross was deftly headed into the bottom left corner of the Raheny net by the French striker.
Sara Lawlor was a constant thorn in the Raheny side and could have had more goals in the first half if not for the brilliance of Emma Merrigan in the Raheny goal.
The Pea’s raced from the blocks right from the restart. Louise Quinn’s through ball was latched onto by Sara Lawlor who calmly rounded Merrigan for their third goal, less than 60 seconds after the kick off.
Netminder Merrigan stood tallest blocking both Roche and Lawlor for a temporary stay on adding a fourth. The goal came five minutes later though.
Julie Ann Russell raced down the right side and pulled a ball back from the by line to the unmarked Stephanie Roche who blasted it into the bottom corner.
Raheny were rocked at this stage and winger Siobhan Killeen’s last second block stopped French woman Barbance from adding the 5th, three minutes later.
With the game slipping away from the hosts, up stepped 2nd half substitute Rebecca Creagh to blast home from 30 yards when nothing appeared to be on.
As Raheny looked to get back into the game it was sloppy play in the 71st minute which allowed Peamount seal the points.
The Northsiders lost the ball in Peamount territory and Stephanie Roche played the breaking ball onto the on rushing Sara Lawlor whose shot should have been stopped by Merrigan.
Louise Quinn and Clare Kinsella both could have added to the Pea’s tally as Raheny fell apart in Santry with centre forward Noelle Murray shown a straight red from a mistimed tackle on Julie Ann Russell.
The 5-2 result sees Peamount United move into 1st place in the league. With Wexford Youths winning at home, Raheny now drop to 3rd place.
Raheny United: Emma, Merrigan, Shauna Newman, Niamh Walsh, Rachel Graham, Katie McCabe, Noelle Murray, Siobhan Killeen, Sinead O’Farrelly, Kate Flood, Ciara Grant, Mary Waldron
Subs: Rebecca Creagh for Sinead O’Farrelly
Subs Not Used: Caroline Thrope, Seana Cooke, Laura Ryan
Peamount United: Monica McGuirk, Amy McLoughlin, Emily Cahill, Karen Duggan, Susan Byrne, Ruth Commerford, Julie Ann Russell, Louise Quinn, Solene Barbance, Stephanie Roche, Sara Lawlor
Subs: Clare Kinsella for Sara Lawlor
Subs Not Used: Caroline Healy, Jennifer Ferrari, Emma Donohoe, Jetta Berrill, Louise Corrigan, Linda Meehan
Player of the match: Sara Lawlor
Attendance: 70 (estimate)
