- Niall Farrell
- Sun, Jan 06 2013
Raheny United drew level with Peamount at the top of the Women's National League on Sunday with an emphatic 4-0 win over Shamrock Rovers in Morton Stadium.
Although United still have a game in hand, as it stands just a point separates them, Peamount and Wexford Youths at the summit – with Raheny and Peas set to meet later this month.
Noelle Murray put the hosts ahead after two minutes, heading in after a Siobhan Killeen break down the right wing resulted in a cross from Katie McCabe. Murray was quick to react, with calls for an offside from the Rovers defence going unheard.
Murray struck again on nine minutes, heading in for the second time against her former club. The striker, who moved to Raheny at the start of the season, displayed a real finisher's instinct to head another cross in – this time from the ever-threatening Siobhan Killeen.
The first half closed without any sort of genuine Rovers attack, with their rare forays into the Raheny half being quickly snuffed out. Indeed, Noelle Murray was a persistent menace to the Hoops defence and went close twice more in the first half.
Siobhan Killeen was rewarded for her hard work in the first half, with a memorable chipped goal on 25 minutes. After being put through down the wing, Killeen cut inside her marker before chipping the ball over new Rovers 'keeper Sarah Devlin. Whether it was intended as a shot could be debated, but the scoreline still read 3-0 going into half time.
The visitors, under the stewardship of new manager Stephen Cregg, mounted some attacks early in the second half and looked a more lively side. Aisling Cusack won a penalty on 55 minutes after being brought down by Niamh Walsh, but Grace McAuley Ryan saved Lisa Murphy's penalty kick.
That penalty could have been a turning point had it gone in, but instead Raheny made sure of the win by pushing for more goals. Noelle Murray turned provider for their fourth goal, with Seana Cooke sliding the ball in past the outstretched Sarah Devlin.
The hosts could have pushed for a further extension to their lead, but seemed content to end the match 4-0 winners.
Raheny United: Grace McAuley Ryan; Caroline Thorpe, Shauna Newman, Seana Cooke [Sinead O'Farrelly '76]; Rebecca Creagh, Rachel Graham, Siobhan Killeen [Catherine Cronin '35], Niamh Walsh, Mary Waldron; Noelle Murray, Katie McCabe.
Substitutes: Laura Ryan, Emma Merrigan, Kate McKeever, Kate Flood.
Shamrock Rovers: Sarah Devlin; Paula Doran, Emma Murphy, Carol Conlon, Joanne Ennis, Zara Dillon, Rebekah Carroll, Lisa Murphy, Aisling Cusack; Orlagh Nolan, Miriam Mulhall Quigley [Jessica Dillon '56].
Substitutes: Aoife Moloney, Jessica Dillon, Grainne Walsh, Sharon Owens.
Referee: Paula Brady.
Attendance: 50 (unofficial estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Noelle Murray.
