Details

Date Time League Season
18 March 2023 5:00 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2023

Match Report

Peamount take the three points from Sligo

Peamount United took top spot in the Women's Premier Division with a comfortable 4-0 win over their hosts Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds this evening.

If a game fixed for the day after the national holiday could represent an entire nation’s feeling it was this one. Played in gloomy conditions, requiring floodlights from the start, with scattered showers and without a whole pile of quality evident between both sides.

After a scoreless first half goals from Carla McManus, Becky Watkins, Kate Mooney and Avril Brierley secured the victory for the 2020 league champions.

The small crowd had as much to do with the Irish Rugby side looking to secure a grand slam at the exact same time in Dublin with a fraction of the regular crowd in attendance, the official attendance being 237.

Both sides were set up to nullify their opponents with James O’Callaghan

That being said there were some half chances for both sides in the opening exchanges. Emma Hansberry scuffed a long range effort wide of the goal on the 5 minute mark. 

Fifteen minutes into the game Peamount had the best opportunity of the half when a decent run down the right wing from Becky Watkins saw her cross evade a number of green jerseys in the box. Recovered by Carla McManus her drilled centre found the feet of Kate Mooney who laid it off for the oncoming Erin McLaughlin who’s effort just couldn’t find the power or accuracy to worry Amy Mahon.

Despite the dominance of the visitors, the best opportunity of the first half fell to Emma Doherty. Her industry got a foot in to steal possession from a Peamount defender and ended up at the feet of Leah Kelly. The Sligo player burst past a defender before finding Doherty in space at the edge of the box but her snatched effort went wide of Reid Burke’s post.

Sligo had a serious of freekicks in really promising positions early in the second period but were unable to create a meaningful opportunity before Peamount finally broke the duck. Erin McLaughlin dispossessed Emma Hansberry and fed the ball to Carla McManus who set herself up for a strike from 25 yards which gave Mahon no chance in the Sligo Rovers net.

Two minutes later and Peamount had the game almost sown up with their second strike. Karen Duggan got a touch ahead of Hansberry in midfield and Kate Mooney’s pass was fed through Saibhdh Doyle who set up Becky Watkins to find the back of the net from about 12 yards out.

Peamount United have Niamh Reid Burke to thank for retaining their shutout with a superb save from Emma Doherty after a long free kick evades the defenders and finds the Donegal youngster at the back post. Doherty’s follow up was cleared with a combination of a touch from Reid Burke and a clearing header off the line.

The game lost it’s shape with a flurry of changes from both sides but Peamount would add a third when Kate Mooney latched onto a through ball to find the bottom corner of Mahon’s net from the opposite corner of the box.

With barely two minutes left on the clock substitute Avril Brierley applied the final nail in the coffin as she made it four, a cool finish past the onrushing Mahon on the edge of the area. 

Sligo battled hard but were unable to forge a score against their visitors for the fourth successive game since their entry to the league last year.

Sligo Rovers

1Amy Mahon Goalkeeper
2Leah Kelly 16 Defender
5Orna O’Dowd 14 Defender
6Emma Hansberry Midfielder
8Lauren Boles Midfielder
9Emma Doherty 11 Forward
10Casey Howe 15 Forward
19Jodie Loughrey Midfielder
20Keela Scanlon 18 Defender
21Sarah Kiernan Defender
26Alice Lillie Defender
25Bonnie McKiernan Goalkeeper
11Aoife Brennan 9 Forward
12Amy Roddy Defender
14Kerri O’Hara 5 Defender
15Katie Melly 10 Midfielder
16Keri Loughrey 2 Midfielder
18Aife Haran 20 Midfielder
23Ciara Henry Midfielder
33Kate Nugent Defender

Peamount Utd

1Niamh Reid-Burke Goalkeeper
2Lauryn O’Callaghan Defender
3Jetta Berrill Midfielder
5Chloe Moloney Defender
7Becky Watkins 13 Forward 56'
8Sadhbh Doyle 14 Midfielder
9Carla McManus 18 Forward 54'
10Erin McLaughlin 4 Forward 57'
11Tara O’Hanlon Defender
16Karen Duggan Midfielder 82'
19Kate Mooney 15 Forward 77'
26Niamh Coombes Goalkeeper
4Dora Gorman 10 Midfielder
13Orlagh Fitzpatrick 7 Forward
14Jess Fitzgerald 8 Midfielder
15Ellen Dolan 19 Midfielder
18Avril Brierley 9 Midfielder 89'
20Rachel McGrath Forward
21Shannon Thomas Defender
22Sarah Duke Power Defender
  • 88'

    Avril Brierley has made it four with a cool finish past Mahon to put a seal on this for Peamount.

  • 78'

    Kate Mooney has scored the goal her effort has deserved with an effort from the edge of the box finding the bottom corner.

  • 71'

    Changes on both sides as Jess Fitzgerald replaces Sadhbh Doyle for Peamount and Orna O'Dowd and Leah Kelly make way for Pixie O'Hara and Keri Loughrey.

  • 68'

    And Sligo almost snatched a goal back with a Sarah Kiernan freekick causing some issues in the visitors penalty area. Emma Doherty forced a point blank save from former Ireland international Reid Burke before Doherty followed up with another strike. Reid Burke took the pace off it with a hand before a defender cleared off the line. Peamount will be relieved.

  • 61'

    Lovely move from Peamount almost makes it three as Carla McManus floats into the box but her effort which sneaks under Amy Mahon just goes to the left of the far post to her dismay.

  • 57'

    Erin McLaughlin goes into the book for a foul on half way.

  • 56'

    And like public transport, wait almost an hour for one and two come along in quick succession. Rebecca Watkins is on the end of a decent move from the Pea\'s to put two between the games and settle the nerves on the Peamount bench.

  • 54'

    Carla McManus pounces on a loose ball in the Sligo half to take a touch and find the back of the net from long range.

  • 52'

    Amy Mahon takes a sigh of relief as a cross from O'Hanlon on the far side of the pitch had her scrambling.

  • 50'

    Sligo Rovers have a great opportunity with a free kick on the edge of the box. Casey Howe crosses before it gets knocked back into the centre from Emma Doherty. Keela Scanlon can't get enough power on her effort and Reid Burke saves comfortably.

  • 46'

    Official attendance confirmed as 237 souls.

  • 46'

    We're back underway here with the game still goalless.

  • 45'

    The fourth official has indicated a minimum of 2 minutes of added time.

  • 43'

    Approaching the break here as both sides are busy swinging but no one even close to laying a glove on their opponents. Sligo have been backs to the wall here for a while.

  • 37'

    Sligo are enjoying a purple patch here forcing a few corners but haven't unduly worried the Pea's defence just yet. The pace of their front three is causing issues though.

  • 32'

    Emma Doherty puts Chloe Moloney under pressure and the attempted clearance arrives at the feet of Leah Kelly who bursts into the box and lays it back to last year's top scorer. Doherty snatches at the opportunity under pressure and it goes wide.

  • 29'

    Peamount win a corner, they've enjoyed nearly all the possession so far and it's only a matter of time before they find the net. They will have to improve the quality to unlock this home defence though. Doherty, Howe and Loughrey look dangerous on the break for Rovers.

  • 26'

    Kate Mooney with another chance after she dispossesses a Sligo defender. Her snapshot from outside the box doesn't bother Mahon in the Rovers net.

  • 18'

    Dubious offside decision saves Sligo Rovers who are scrambling at the moment. Peamount looking dangerous but just can't find the final pass.

  • 14'

    Massive chance for Peamount as Becky Watkins cross finds Carla McManus at the back post, she sends it across to Kate Mooney who finds Erin McLaughlin on the way into the box. McLaughlin just can\'t keep her effort on target. The Pea's are taking control of this game now.

  • 9'

    It's a scrappy encounter so far. We've even seen the flood lights come on here with the overcast conditions making it quite dark.

  • 7'

    Peamount are deploying winger Jetta Berrill at centre back to nullify the pace of the Bit O'Red front two Howe and Emma Doherty.

  • 5'

    Emma Hansberry has the first half chance as she has a strike on goal from distance but doesn't bother Reid Burke in the Peamount goal.

  • 3'

    Sligo defender Sarah Kiernan receives attention after a clash of heads defending the first corner of the game.

  • The game is underway here in Sligo as the rain makes a brief appearance.

  • The captains Emma Hansberry and Karen Duggan are in for the toss to decide ends. Peamount appear to have won the toss and will play into the Pet Stop or Railway end.

  • The captains Emma Hansberry and Karen Duggan are in for the toss to decide ends.

  • Estimates put the crowd at somewhere just shy of 100 people for the game.

  • The teams have been announced, the eerie silence descends around the historic stadium as we await the teams from the tunnel.

  • Peamount face into this clash knowing a win will propel them to the top of the table after their top of the table rivals Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne could not be separated in Tolka Park this afternoon. Sligo will be eager to upset the plans but will need to score their first ever goal against today's opponents.

  • The teams are warming up here in front of a mostly empty stadium. Have a feeling the direct clash with the Irish Rugby grand slam attempt will affect the attendance in a major way today.

Past Meetings

(Round 23)
2 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
PRL Park

Peamount United 2-0 Sligo Rovers

(Round 14)
0 - 5
LOI Women's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Peamount United

(Round 1)
0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
PRL Park

Peamount United v Sligo Rovers

Ground

The Showgrounds
The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, Ireland