Peamount United moved another step nearer league glory with a commanding five-goal victory over Cork City, hattrick hero Ellen Dolan and Sadhbh Doyle’s domination powering them to three points at PRL Park.

Victory makes it nine consecutive league wins as the title tantalisingly comes into view for the Peas, a shining light on the horizon becoming ever more visible as their ominous form and match-winning momentum rolls on in style.

With Shelbourne having a game in hand, they are, temporarily, nine points clear, remaining firmly in control at the top, the directors of their own destiny.

In stark contrast, Cork stay stranded to the foot of the table, yet to win and ultimately overpowered by a Peamount side currently pounding past whatever opposition they face.

The league leaders were quickly into their stride in Dublin and would have led inside six minutes, Cork keeper, Clodagh Fitzgerald at her best to get a crucial fingertip on Sadhbh Doyle’s header.

Carving their visitors open eight minutes later, Freya Healy subtly slipped in Doyle who drove just wide under the scorching sunlight.

Captaining from centre back, Cork’s Ciara McNamara was again catching the eye, an authoritative figure in defence as Cork forced Peamount into a lot of meandering possession, having weathered the early storm.

And as they sniffed an unlikely opener, home netminder, Niamh Reid-Burke having to punch a dangerous free kick out, Peamount punched their way into the lead.

Creative forces, Healy and Doyle combined as the latter curved a lovely, flighted cross into the corridor of uncertainly where forward, Ellen Dolan, had sprinted into space, took the ball in her stride and cooly found the net with aplomb.  

The clinical touch that Cork have been crying out for. 

With the heat unrelenting, Peamount doubled their lead before the break.  A brace for Dolan as she drove a devastatingly accurate finish into the bottom corner, after great pressing by Jess Fitzgerald won the ball back in the final attacking third.

It was nearly number three nine minutes after the interval, Healy’s header bouncing off the crossbar.

Peamount then pounced on penalty box pinball to extend their lead, Doyle, and Fitzgerald both seeing efforts blocked by last gasp defending, but on the third attempt, luck shone on their side as Avril Brierley swept the ball into the net.

Twelve minutes from time, Doyle got the goal her dominant performance deserved, thumping a fiery effort into the top corner from range, a superb score worthy of the sunlit, awe-dropping, reaction it obtained from the PRL Park crowd.

Both benches were exhausted late on but showing no signs of fatigue under the unwavering warmth, Dolan completed her hattrick three minutes into injury time, a poacher’s finish from close-range sealing her treble and cueing celebratory late emotions at a sun-drenched Dublin. 

Another harsh defeat for Cork as their lack of cutting edge continues to hold them back in their quest for a first win in this league.

FAI Cup quarterfinals are on the agenda next weekend for both these teams, the Peas away to Athlone Town and Cork contesting a quick rerun of last week, albeit hoping for a vastly different result, hosting Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross in two enticing all WPD encounters.