Kate Mooney scored a second half hat trick which propelled Peamount United to a 5-3 win, which in result moves them three points clear at the top of the Women’s Premier Division Table.

Seven minutes was the gap between Moonet’s first and third as in just over ten minutes, Peamount went from drawing 1-1 to leading 5-1 as they hit form at the right time in the second half to move clear at the summit.

It was a nip and tuck game until the goals really starting to come for Peamount after the hour mark, Athlone hit back with an almost instant response to going behind in the first half, a rocket from Gillian Keenan, but struggled to put pressure on former netminder Nimah Coombes in the second half until very late on.

Peamount certainly had much more of the possession in the early stages, they were knocking on the door but Athlone were a strong unit at the back, Sadhbh Doyle was played through and Nyla Peterkin came off her line to close the angle and save well in a 1v1.

Peterkin was the busier of the two goalkeepers early on, she had to come out again as Kate Mooney was sent to chase this time, but Peterkin made a strong save, the flag was up however as Mooney strayed offside.

It was a frantic opening ten minutes, but the game opened up as Athlone could venture upfield but had little in the way of chances, they looked good in possession, but Peamount had bodies back to cover.

The hosts took the lead after 20 minutes, Lauryn O’Callaghan whipping a corner in from the left hand side, meeting the head of centre back Chloe Moloney, the banner native rising highest to head home past Peterkin for the lead.

Celebrations were cut short however, as Gillian Keenan scored a sensational equaliser two minutes later, Athlone tried to play in Madison Gibson in the Peamount area, but O’Callaghan cleared, the ball fell to Keenan, who had time and space to shoot a curling effort on her right foot into the top corner.

Peas looked to press again and try to regain the lead, a smart free kick routine had Peamount play short for Doyle, as her,Tara O’Hanlon and Erin McLoughlin stood over it, Doyle raced in but her shot hit the post.

After the half hour mark, another O'Callaghan corner on the left almost brought a second goal for the hosts, but captain Karen Duggan’s connection with the header went over the Athlone crossbar.

Peamount looked a real danger when they attacked, O’Hanlon put the afterburners on to race down the left wing, getting into a great crossing position she lofted one to the box but it was too far for Mooney, the recycled possession to allow McLoughlin a chance at goal, but Laurie Ryan put in a great tackle to stop the attack.

Just before the half reached its conclusion, Athlone almost had a chance to go ahead at the break, Keenan looking to turn provider this time, she crossed to the area, Chloe Singleton had made a run into the box and her header needed Niamh Coombes to get behind and save well, the sides deadlocked at one a piece at the break.

Athlone had a great spell of possession early in the second half, Peamount attacked from another corner that came to nothing, while at the other end Town pressure led to a corner which was over hit, Kayleigh Shine kept it alive and crossed into the area but Scarlett Herron headed over the bar.

Peamount were left frustrated not to win a penalty after Mooney went down in the box, Sadhbh Doyle won back possession in the midfield with a great tackle, she played in Jess Fitzgerald who saw Mooney in the area, her pass excellent, but Mooney was pressured by Athlone defenders did go down but nothing given.

On the hour mark McLoughlin was next to test Peterkin in the Athlone goal, she turned well to make space and the effort was on target but the Canadian keeper saved.

Athlone had a half chance to try to put themselves ahead, Muireann Devaney heading toward goal as they crossed into the area but Coombes was on hand to gather.

At the other end Peamount would go back in front, Jess Fitzgerald sending in a long range free kick, the ball was initially cleared, but found its way back to Mooney who headed home to put Peamount back ahead.

Mooney netted a brace inside three minutes, Becky Watkins played a long ball down the field, Athlone had a high line and Peamount exploited that as Mooney raced in, chipping Peterkin on the edge of the area to make it 3-1.

Two turned to three for the Peamount forward four minutes later, O'Callaghan took a throw-in on the right wing to find Doyle, she raced down the wing, cut inside on the byline and crossed across goal, Peterkin saved the effort but it fell to Mooney to tap home for her hat trick.

Goals were raining in on a sundrenched PRL Park, again O’Callaghan had a part to play, she ran down the right wing and crossed to the area, Peterkin cake to claim but collided with a defender, the ball gathered by Duggan outside the box, she took her time before striking from range into the bottom right hand corner, a 5-1 lead created in just over ten minutes, showed the clinical nature of this Peamount team.

Athlone would net two late consolation goals, Kellie Brennan crossing a free kick near the byline on the right wing, it went over Coombes and headed into goal by Hazel Donegan, Brennan then capitalised on a Herron header that Coombes partially dealt with to net a third in stoppage time.