Peamount close to retaining title after comfortable Cork win

Peamount United edged a step closer to an historic third consecutive Women’s National League title by recording an emphatic 8-1 triumph over Cork City at PRL Park in Greenogue this evening.

Needing just two more wins in advance of this contest to ensure the title remains in Newcastle for another season, James O’Callaghan’s charges convincingly overcame the challenge of the Leesiders, Should they get the better of DLR Waves in the same venue next weekend, Peamount will be assured of top honours in the WNL with a game to spare.

In what was a rematch of last December’s FAI Cup decider in Tallaght, the hosts showed their intent right from the word go. After Stephanie Roche broke the deadlock with a sixth-minute finish from close range, centre-half Tiegan Ruddy converted a penalty – despite Kristen Sample’s best efforts between the City sticks.

Republic of Ireland star Aine O’Gorman was the next player to get in on the scoring act as her speculative effort found its way to the net on the stroke of 10 minutes. However, the Wicklow native subsequently pulled up with an injury and was immediately withdrawn from the action.

This is something that could well be a concern for both O’Callaghan and her international boss, Vera Pauw. In her absence, the Peas continued to take the game to the visitors.

A fourth goal arrived when City netminder Kristen Sample failed to control a back pass and Dora Gorman increased their advantage by heading home a Ruddy corner on the first-quarter mark.

While City did have some encouraging passages of play, Peamount continued to dominate the proceedings. A Ruddy shot on 41 minutes took a wicked deflection off opposition defender Tiff Taylor and looped over the head of the helpless Sample.

This meant that the holders brought an unassailable 6-0 lead into the interval. Cork made a series of defensive alterations on the resumption, but it didn’t prevent Sadhbh Doyle from rattling the net eight minutes into the second period.

City started to show more urgency in attack as Peamount dropped off to an extent and tireless centre-forward Laura Shine got a goal back on 66 minutes. Yet the home team were determined to finish on a high and Rebecca Watkins – who had replaced O’Gorman during the early exchanges – rounded off a near-perfect evening with a clinical finish 13 minutes from time.