Peamount continue winning run in Women’s National League
By Daire Walsh
Peamount United cemented their position at the summit of the Women’s National League with an emphatic 6-0 triumph over Athlone Town at PRL Park this evening.
Supplementing Sadhbh Doyle goals either side of the break, Tiegan Ruddy, Megan Smyth-Lynch, Aine O’Gorman and Orlagh Fitzpatrick all found the net to ease Peamount towards maximum points.
Next up for the champions is another home affair against Cork City – who they defeated in last year’s FAI Cup final – next Saturday.
Having deployed Stephanie Roche on the left-wing against Treaty United in Limerick last weekend, Peamount manager James O’Callaghan opted to select Smyth-Lynch out wide for their return to Greenogue.
A native of Mullingar in Co. Westmeath, Lucy McCartan switched from left-back to right-back for the visit of Athlone.
She has also spent time in centre midfield this season and is proving to be a useful utility player for the three in-a-row chasing outfit.
Like their previous opponents Bohemians and Treaty, Peamount were made to work for their opportunities by an initially dogged Athlone side.
Yet, whereas it wasn’t until the second period that the holders broke the deadlock in those away encounters, the opening goal of this contest arrived on 36 minutes.
Doyle was on target in Limerick last Sunday and she added to her seasonal tally to give Peamount a 1-0 cushion at the interval.
The hosts were expected to push on from this point and their second goal of the proceedings arrived six minutes after the restart.
The in-form Doyle was once again on hand to rattle the Athlone net and effectively place the outcome beyond all doubt.
Peamount were not finished there, however, as Ruddy grabbed their third of the night just past the half-hour mark.
Once the goals start to flow in this side, it is very difficult to stop them. Moments after Ruddy’s finish, Smyth-Lynch got in on the scoring act.
The league top-scorer in 2020, O’Gorman stretched the Peamount lead to six on 67 minutes.
It was then left for substitute Fitzpatrick to round off a perfect afternoon for Peamount with a final goal seven minutes from time.