Peamount held at home by Wexford
By Daire Walsh
Peamount United had to settle for a share of the spoils at PRL Park in Greenogue this afternoon after Wexford Youths came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw in a compelling Women’s National League encounter.
The hosts looked set to earn their ninth consecutive league win of 2021 when Megan Smyth-Lynch and Aine O’Gorman goals propelled Peamount into a two-goal interval cushion.
Megan Smyth-Lynch scoring the opening goal for Peamount
Yet a persistent Wexford forced themselves back into a reckoning with a Nicola Sinnott header before captain Kylie Murphy equalised with just three minutes of normal time left to play.
When these two sides met in Ferrycarrig Park on the opening weekend of the season, it took a wonder strike from Eleanor Ryan-Doyle on 87 minutes to swing the tie in Peamount’s favour.
Peamount team captain Aine O'Gorman in action against Wexford Youth's Nicola Sinnott
There was just five minutes gone on the clock when James O’Callaghan’s charges broke the deadlock in this game and it was through an impressive strike from an in-form member of their attack.
Via a telling cross on the right-wing by O’Gorman, Smyth-Lynch superbly volleyed beyond the reach of Wexford netminder Kiev Gray.
Their second goal of the proceedings subsequently arrived in first half stoppage-time and it was O’Gorman – who has been named in the Republic of Ireland squad for their forthcoming international friendly double-header with Iceland – who got her name on the scoresheet as her left-footed drive crept in off the underside of the crossbar.
This put Peamount into a commanding position and as the second half progressed, they appeared to be in control of their own destiny.
Still, Wexford are a resolute side and Sinnott headed home off an Aoibheann Clancy corner with 14 minutes left to provide the visitors with a glimmer of hope.
Clancy was narrowly off-target with an audacious curling strike moments later, but they eventually wiped out the Peamount lead when Murphy found the net from close-range off a Ciara Rossiter delivery.
While this result sees Peamount dropping points for the first time in this term, they remain three points clear of Shelbourne at the summit of the WNL table.
