Goals in each half by Erin McLaughlin and Karen Duggan helped Peamount United take three points on the opening day of the 2024 League Of Ireland Women’s Premier Division Season.

Objective to any new season is to record a win on the opening day and for Peamount they will be happy to leave Turners cross with the win regardless. Cork City really gave them a test, two moments of magic enough to give James O’Callaghans charges the points.

The defending champions looked sharp in all areas of the field, they have another strong squad on their hands for 2024 and will aim to keep their title secured for another season.

Cork started on the front foot in the opening two minutes, Ellie O’Brien flashing a shot over the bar from outside the area. Possession was with the hosts as they looked sharp in the early exchanges in attack.

Peamount started to settle but did find the route to goal testing. Erica Burke found service limited in the area while Freya Healy flashed a shot into the side netting. Erin McLaughlin looked like a live wire in the Pea’s attack, but City were stout in defence in the opening quarter of an hour.

As Cork soaked up the pressure Pea’s stayed on the attack. Awarded a free on the right wing, Erin McLaughlin sent a dangerous ball into the area. Karen Duggan flicked it back post toward Ellen Dolan, Dolan sent it back to Duggan who flicked for goal at the front post but Clodagh Fitzgerald was able to save.

With twenty minutes elapsed an error at the back by Cork almost saw Erica Burke net her first since joining the Greenogue faithful. Burke raced on to a loose back pass and struck for the bottom left corner but Fitzgerald palmed the effort away for a corner. 

The lead would arrive for Peamount on the half hour mark and it was their Donegal maestro to find the net. Credit has to be given to Ellen Dolan who played a picture perfect diagonal crossfield ball for McLaughlin to race into the area and slot low past Fitzgerald.

As the half wore on towards its conclusion City did start to put some nice attack’s together to get on the scoresheet having gone behind. Tactically their pressing of Peamount in their end of Turners Cross was proving effective, limiting the Pea’s distribution in their third. 

When they did get forward Peamount always looked a threat. Ellie O’Brien saw yellow for a foul on the right channel and again a dangerous set piece for Peamount was on the cards. Dolan was tasked with the delivery and the ball ricocheted off a City player and almost nestled in the right bottom corner but Fizgerald was able to gather. McLaughlin’s goal was enough to separate the sides at the break.

Into the second half and City looked impressive in their attack, with 52 minutes on the Ellie O’Brien put on the afterburners to race toward the goal off an under-hit Peamount pass. O’Brien looked set to be one on one with Niamh Reid Burke however Jetta Berrill produced a stunning tackle to clear the danger.

Peamount when they got in their stride did put City under pressure, winning a corner shy of the hour mark Jessica Fizgerald with the delivery, the ball falling to captain Karen Duggan who vollied a strike sweetly into the top right corner.

City did create chances in the final half hour but again Reid Burke was able to thwart them at every step, including racing out of the area to clear some dangerous over the top balls. Danny Murphy’s side very much in this contest and did deserve to find the net, if they can up the tempo this season they could well be a lot more competitive.

Post Match

Eva Mangan

Danny Murphy