League Report: Galway 0 - 6 Peamount United

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Peamount United finished their Women’s National League campaign with a flourish as they ran out 6-0 winners over Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday.

Aine O’Gorman added to her impressive tally for the season with a hat-trick and she was aided by Dearbhaile Beirne, Sadhbh Doyle and Tara O’Hanlon who also scored.

Saturday’s game marked the end of Galway WFC’s time in the Women’s National League but there was sadly no perfect ending for the Tribeswomen as they were beaten well by Peamount, with Galway United primed to take up the mantle of senior women’s football in the west from 2023.

Presentations were made at half-time to Kieran O’Mahony, Stephen Moran, Pádraic De Búrca and Eamon Naughton (Club President, Chairman, Secretary and COO respectively), along with a number of other volunteers at the club to mark ten years of impressive work by a small team in keeping the club going all these years and in the promotion of women’s football in Galway.

Alan Murphy made two changes to his starting team from their 1-0 loss to Athlone Town last weekend, Abbie Callanan and Taylor Rutland got the start in place of Julie-Ann Russell and Elle O’Flaherty.

For Peamount, James O’Callaghan made just one change after their 3-3 draw which saw their title challenge end last Saturday. Alannah McEvoy came back in to the starting eleven in place of Jetta Berrill.

The opening minutes saw early touches for both goalkeepers with Niamh Reid-Burke claiming the ball in the Peamount goal before a nice move by Sadhbh Doyle on the other end set up Aine O’Gorman for a shot with Abbiegayle Ronayne claiming the ball.

United scored in the 13^th minute after some industrious work by Alannah McEvoy on the left flank, she linked up with O’Gorman a couple of times before spotting Dearbhaile Beirne on the edge of the box, the defender was given too much space as she struck a lovely shot beyond the reach of Ronayne to take the lead.

At the other end Chloe Singleton managed to play Taylor Rutland in on goal with a great pass in the 22^nd minute, the midfielder cut inside her marker before striking a shot on goal but Reid-Burke was able to deny the home side.

Peamount doubled their lead in the 25^th minute when Karen Duggan managed to find O’Gorman’s head with a deft flick of the ball into the air, the header looped over Ronayne before nestling into the bottom corner.

It was 3-0 just before the half hour mark, when the visitors pulled off a training ground free-kick, Stephanie Roche caught the home side off guard when she nicked the ball through the defence into the path of Doyle – she took the ball into the box before firing the ball into the net.

To Galway’s credit they responded immediately and came very close to pulling a goal back when Nicole McNamara spotted Singleton’s run into the box and found her with a great through ball, Reid-Burke anticipated the move and came off her line quickly to smother the midfielder’s shot at point blank range.

Galway were possibly unfortunate to go in at the half four goals down when referee Declan Toland called Jamie Erickson for a foul in the box just before the break for what was possibly a harsh penalty call. Aine O’Gorman stepped up and blasted the ball into the left corner for her second of the game.

Aine O’Gorman completed her hat trick in the 58^th minute when second half substitute Lucy McCartan managed to sneak a ball by Erickson and into the path of the midfielder, she was left free in front of goal before smashing a shot into the roof of the net.

Peas made it six just four minutes later after some great work by Tara O’Hanlon, she put in some great work to move the ball forward before receiving the ball again on the edge of the box and turning to lose her marker – her shot was initially saved by Ronayne but the ball deflected down and rolled over the line for a goal.

The Tribeswomen had one chance late on for a consolation goal when Jenna Slattery held up the ball on the right before drilling a cross into the box, Maya Rutland got a boot to it and it very nearly went in only for it to clip the bottom of the post and come back out.

Galway WFC: Abbiegayle Ronayne; Shauna Brennan, Jamie Erickson (Roisin Jacob 68), Bryce Reynolds (Eve Dossen 85), Kate Thompson; Abbie Callanan (Maya Rutland 68), Therese Kinnevey, Nicole McNamara, Taylor Rutland (Hannah Glynn 68), Chloe Singleton (Jodie Griffin 81); Jenna Slattery.

Subs not used: Peggy Ford, Aoibheann Costello, Elle O'Flaherty, Rola Olusola.

Booked: None.

Peamount United: Niamh Reid Burke; Dearbhaile Beirne (Rebecca McMahon 75), Chloe Moloney, Lauryn O'Callaghan (Lucy McCartan 54), Tara O'Hanlon; Sadbh Doyle, Karen Duggan, Alannah McEvoy, Erin McLaughlin, Aine O'Gorman (Rachel McGrath 81); Stephanie Roche (Orlagh Fitzpatrick 75).

Subs not used: Rebekah Carroll, Dora Gorman, Louise Masterson, Niamh Richardson.

Booked: None.

Referee: Declan Toland.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Aine O’Gorman (Peamount United)