Galway WFC 2 - 5 Peamount United

Peamount United showed exactly why they are one of the best teams in the land by easily beating Galway Women’s Football Club 5-2 at a sun-kissed Eamon Deacy Park on Sunday afternoon.

Two goals from recent YouTube star Stephanie Roche and one each from Ruth Comerford, Julie-Ann Russell and Aine O’Gorman helped the Dublin side to remain second in the table.

GWFC were not overawed by a team that included six Ireland internationals, and battled hard in the first-half by keeping the scoreline 1-0 at the break. Striker Sinead Taylor got both her teams’ goals but the home side were outclassed by Peamount for large periods of the game.

Roche’s opening goal on twenty minutes was a left-footed drive from outside the box which left GWFC net minder Melissa Casserly flatfooted and unable to get across in time.

Playmaker Roche was given far too much time and space on the ball throughout the game and her passing and vision caused the home defence problems all afternoon.

Casserly kept Galway in the game throughout the first-half, twice denying Sara Lawlor and O’Gorman and, Roche again, as the visitors dominated the game with crisp passing and movement.

GWFC came close to equalising as the half ended but there was no player on the end of Lynsey McKey’s mazy run and low cross which flashed across the face of the goal.

In the second-half the game really opened up and Peamount were on the front foot from the moment the whistle blew.

The ball never seemed to leave the home side’s penalty area as the pressure built and on 48 minutes Ruth Comerford smashed a right footed drive into the bottom corner to give the visitors a two goal cushion.

GWFC rallied and were awarded a penalty six minutes later which Sinead Taylor dispatched with perfection. The home supporters were vocal at this stage but only five minutes later Peamonut scored their third through the impressive Julie-Ann Russell.

The winger gave Galway WFC’s Becky Walsh a torrid time all afternoon and, even when Lisa Casserly doubled up on Russell, she still had the better of both players.

On 62 minutes Roche scored her second and arguably the highlight of all the seven goals scored this afternoon. The classy forward’s lovely dinking chip over the helpless Casserly, while on the turn, from 14 yards out with her left foot oozed sheer brilliance.

Taylor turned on the style with her second by running on to a through ball and coolly lobbing Monica McGuirke in the Peamount goal three minutes later.

However, the visitor’s rout was completed on 71 minutes with O’Gorman’s tight finish into the top corner. The forward brilliantly shooting as she was running across the face of the goal.

GWFC gave their all but Peamount were just a far better footballing side in almost every area of the pitch. If anything the Galway girls can take credit for their never-say-die attitude and hope next time the sides meet, they will have learned not to give Roche and Co. such freedoms in front of goal again.

Galway WFC: Melissa Casserly; Becky Walsh, Keara Cormican, Jenny Byrne, Alanna Moran; Lynsey McKey   , Ruth Fahy, , Grainne Barrett, Lisa Casserly; Sinead Taylor, Lucy Hannon          

Subs not used: Rachel Keyes, Shauna Fox, Noreen Davorey, Susie Cunningham

Booked: None

Peamount United: Monica McGuirk, Karen Duggan, Susan Byrne, Grace Murray, Jetta Berrill; Sara Lawlor, Dora Gorman, Ruth Comerford, Julie-Ann Russell; Aine O'Gorman, Stephanie Roche

Subs not used: Claire Kinsella, Emma Donohoe, Jessie Corr, Emily Cahill, Amy McLoughlin

Booked: None

Extratime.ie Player of the match: Stephanie Roche