Cork Women's FC 1 - 6 Peamount United

Stephanie Roche was in scintillating form scoring a hat-trick as Peamount United stormed to victory away to Cork Women’s FC at Cork Institute of Technology in the Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League.

On a historic afternoon for women’s soccer in Ireland, Peamount laid down an emphatic marker for the campaign ahead routing Cork Women’s FC in their own backyard.

Peamount travelled south with the recent experience of UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer behind them and it showed.

The Dubliners would have gained immense confidence from competing in Europe and reaching the last 32 only to be beaten by French giants Paris Saint-Germain over two legs.

Eileen Gleeson’s unit were superb from the first minute to the last. Stephanie Roche’s opening goal on 13 minutes set the tone for the afternoon.

The clinical attacker scored again on the half-four mark however the next two minutes in the contest were game-defining.

Cork Women’s FC’s Katie McCarthy, clear through on goal, was denied by keeper Linda Meehan and sixty seconds later Áine O’Gorman put the visitors 3-0 ahead following a mix-up in the hosts’ back line.

After that the game became a damage limitation exercise with Roche, captain Louise Quinn and substitute Claire Kinsella adding to Peamount’s tally in the second-half.

Dave Bell’s Cork Women’s FC actually began quite well with striker Valerie Mulcahy particularly effective in the final third.

However, United went in front on 13 minutes when Cork Women’s FC defender Laura Lynch inadvertently chested the ball into Stephanie Roche’s path in the area, the Peamount star needing no invitation to find the back of the net.

Susan Donovan’s driving run and testing shot went inches over Meehan’s crossbar as Cork Women’s FC attempted to draw level on 20 minutes.

Moments later Peamount thought Grace Murray’s free-kick from the right had crossed the line before Amanda Budden collected however referee Chrissie Buckley was not convinced.

Roche doubled Peamount’s advantage on 30 minutes glancing a header into the bottom corner from seven yards.

Katie McCarthy’s subsequent effort saved by Meehan was a key moment as just seconds passed before Peamount increased their lead to three.

A calamitous mix-up in the Cork Women’s FC defence allowed Áine O’Gorman the opportunity to slot past Budden with ease.

Peamount’s dominance in the middle third made life difficult for the hosts and they were full value for their 3-0 half-time lead.

Cork Women’s FC’s defence struggled enormously in the opening half and any chance of a comeback was essentially killed off four minutes after the restart when Roche completed her hat-trick.

Indecisive defending by right-full Orla Barry and goalkeeper Budden gave Julie-Anne Russell the scope to pick out the unmarked Roche on the edge of the area and she side-footed into an empty net, 4-0 on 49 minutes.

Twenty minutes later Áine O’Gorman’s corner from the left-hand side resulted in captain Louise Quinn rising above the Cork Women’s FC defence to power a header into the top corner.

Substitute Claire Kinsella added United’s sixth two minutes after that finishing off a wonderful passing move by curling the ball into the far corner.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for a Cork Women’s FC team that was playing in its very first competitive match together.

Lyndsey McKey, on the field minutes as a substitute, fed left-winger Clare Shine and the youngster fired beyond Meehan with authority to end the game on a relatively positive note for the home side.

On the evidence of this season opener Peamount will take some stopping in this Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League campaign.

Dripping in quality in key areas especially, Gleeson’s side will be expected to push on further in the coming weeks while Cork Women’s FC will prepare this week for their clash away to Raheny United in Dublin next Sunday.

Unfortunately for the Leeside club very few of their marquee players made the impact required on this particular occasion.

Cork Women’s FC: Amanda Budden, Orla Barry, Stephanie Murphy, Laura Lynch, Emma Farmer, Marie Curtin, Katie McCarthy, Susan Donovan, Valerie Mulcahy, Denise O’Sullivan (capt), Clare Shine.

Subs: Lauren Murphy for Mulcahy (62), Lyndsey McKey for Donovan (65), Claudia Hudner for Barry (77).

Peamount United: Linda Meehan, Stacey McGlone, Grace Murray, Karen Duggan, Susan Byrne, Dora Gorman, Julie-Anne Russell, Louise Quinn (capt), Áine O’Gorman, Stephanie Roche, Ruth Comerford.

Subs: Claire Kinsella for Comerford (59), Cáitríona Dunne for McGlone (75), Emma Donoghue for Byrne (76).

Referee: Chrissie Buckley (Cork).

Attendance: 200.

Player of the match: Stephanie Roche (Peamount United). The striker’s hat-trick proved crucial to United on the day and left Cork Women’s FC essentially in tatters in a one-sided affair.