Raheny United 5 - 5 Castlebar Celtic

Raheny United’s winning streak came to an end on Sunday as they drew 5-5 with Castlebar Celtic in a cracker at a rain soaked Morton Stadium.  It could have been so much worse for the hosts who trailed 5-2 with an hour played. However a last minute penalty, converted by substitute Rebecca Creagh, meant the sides went home with a point each after a stunning Raheny comeback.
 

Given the hosts’ hugely impressive start to the inaugural Women’s National League – four wins from their opening four games – it came as a surprise to many when Castlebar grabbed the lead with only minutes played on the clock. Emma Mullin latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball, slipping between defender and goalkeeper, to poke home.
 

The striker was in fantastic form and led the line for the Mayo side. She finished the day with four goals, and doubled her tally for the season.
 

The action was end to end for much of the opening 45 minutes. A frenetic spell five minutes after Mullin’s opener brought goals two and three.  First Raheny levelled through Katie McCabe who fired past Irish international Ashling Concannon after winger, and danger woman throughout, Siobhan Killeen crossed superbly.
 

The home side’s joy was short-lived however as Castlebar retook the lead only three minutes later - midfielder Aileen Gilroy proving effective inside the box after good work from Lauren Boles on the right.
 

The small but vocal crowd assembled in Santry had to wait another 12 minutes for the next goal. In the meantime, Elaine Murray, Katie McCabe and Killeen had all gone close for Raheny.  However clinical finishing was very much the difference between the sides in the first half as Mullin grabbed her second, with Aileen Gilroy claiming the assist.
 

A final frenetic spell of the first half resulted in a goal for each side. First Mullin grabbed her hat trick, before Siobhan Killeen scored the goal of the game from way out on the left to give Raheny some hope as the sides trotted in at the break.
 

The remarkable speed and intensity of the first half continued after the restart with Celtic sniffing blood. And they were celebrating again on 56 minutes when Mullin grabbed her fourth and Castlebar’s fifth to hand the visitors what appeared an unassailable lead.  Crucially just before the goal, Mullin spurned a glorious one-on-one with Niamh Reid Burke in the Raheny goal doing just enough. It was a chance Celtic would later rue.
 

Ciara Grant grabbed the hosts’ third after swivelling delicately in the box – but there was a sense of it being too little, too late for the league leaders.
 

The whole tone of the game change as the second half developed however with Raheny becoming the much more dominant side, and the women from Mayo tiring considerably.  Luck was no longer on the visitors side either as they rattled the woodwork on a number of occasions.
 

The real action was down the other end however as Raheny launched a late onslaught. When substitute Mary Waldron headed home another splendid Siobhan Killeen cross, there was a sense of the inevitable.

For the final 10 minutes, Raheny threw everything at Castlebar with Waldron, McCabe and Killeen all having shots at goal – but to no avail.  Raheny were living dangerously at the back too and were exposed on a number of occasions.  But it seemed luck had deserted the visitors.
 

In injury time they failed to deal comfortably with a long ball into the box. After a shemozzle the referee blew for a penalty after the ball was adjudged to have come off the hand of the Castlebar defenders. Despite the protests, Rebecca Creagh coolly smashed the ball past Concannon to snatch a point for Raheny. An incredible comeback was complete.
 

Raheny United: Niamh Reid Burke; Elaine Murray, Megan Campbell, Shauna Newman, Seana Cooke, Rachel Graham, Katie  McCabe, Siobhan Killeen, Catherine Cronin, Kate Flood, Ciara Grant
 

Castlebar Celtic: Ashling Concannon; Carol Hegarty, Avril Kilkelly, Maria Harrington, Katie Walsh, Lauren Boles, Aileen Gilroy, Ruth Fahy, Emma Mullins, Emma Hansberry, Shaunagh Jackson