Peamount comfortably put Sligo to the sword

Peamount United kick-started their Women’s National League campaign with a convincing 6-0 victory against Sligo Rovers at PRL Park in Greenogue on Saturday night.

Newcomers to the WNL in 2022, the Bit O’Red were resoundingly second best against a Peamount side who are determined to bounce back from the disappointment of losing out on top-flight honours to Dublin rivals Shelbourne last year.

Winners of the domestic crown in 2019 and 2020, James O’Callaghan’s charges served a timely reminder of their quality and were already well on their way towards a win by the midway point in the contest.

Despite some high-profile departures over the past 12 months, there was a familiar look to the Peamount team. New recruit Erin McLaughlin was making her debut in the Newcastle outfit’s attack, but it was an old reliable who got the ball rolling.

Now in her second spell with the club – she won a league title and two WNL Cups in her first stint – Dora Gorman shook the net with 21 minutes gone on the clock.

Donegal native McLaughlin had a goal ruled out for offside, before adding her name to the scoresheet just past the half-hour mark to extend the home team’s lead.

Stephanie Roche and Lauren Boles in action, Roche fired home twice in the space of five minutes for Peamount in the first half (Photo Paddy Barrett)

Having Stephanie Roche on board for another year is hugely important if Peamount are to regain their WNL stranglehold. She fired home twice in the space of five minutes at the end of the half to give Peas an unassailable 4-0 cushion at the interval.

Republic of Ireland centurion and team skipper Aine O’Gorman is another pivotal figure within O’Callaghan’s ranks and she added a fifth with 15 minutes gone in the second period.

Unsurprisingly, the Peamount bench was unloaded as the play progressed with a number of players introduced for their WNL debuts.

It was the starters who continued to lead the way, however, as O’Gorman grabbed her second goal of the tie with 10 minutes of normal time remaining to round off an impressive evening’s football in Newcastle.