Peamount exit FAI Cup at semi-final stage
Peamount United relinquished their FAI Women’s Cup crown at the semi-final stage after suffering a 3-1 extra-time defeat against Wexford Youths at PRL Park yesterday evening.
Having triumphed in this competition with a 6-0 final win over Cork City last December, the Greenogue outfit were hoping to make it back-to-back successes in 2021.
They remained in the hunt for a showpiece place when Aine O’Gorman cancelled out a Kylie Murphy finish in the closing moments of normal time.
However, their determined south-east counterparts – who defeated Peamount in the 2018 and 2019 FAI Cup deciders – discovered an extra gear in the added minutes with Murphy and Lynn Marie Grant sealing a hard-earned triumph.
When these two sides meet – whether it be in the league or cup – there is usually very little to separate them.
While Lucy McCartan shot just wide of the target, it was neck-and-neck in terms of possession and attacking opportunities during the first-quarter.
Alannah McEvoy was close to a breakthrough, before Wexford eventually opened the scoring on 36 minutes.
From a Ciara Rossiter corner on the right-wing, Youths skipper Murphy rose high to head past Peamount netminder Niamh Reid-Burke – via the underside of the crossbar.
Rossiter was close to adding a second prior to the interval, but Reid-Burke was on hand to make an excellent stop.
Although Wexford ultimately brought a 1-0 lead into the break, high drama was expected on the resumption.
Sadhbh Doyle fired off-target for Peamount in the 52nd-minute and with Becky Watkins and Lauren Kelly introduced from the substitutes’ bench, the Newcastle side were expected to push for an equaliser.
It finally arrived on the stroke of full-time, when Republic of Ireland international O’Gorman fired home from a left-hand angle to force the game into extra-time.
Even though momentum appeared to be with Peamount moving into the additional periods, the visitors threw another spanner into the works.
Following a fine break into the opposition half, Ellen Molloy selfishly laid off to Murphy for her second goal of the tie.
Peamount were left to chase the game once again and when Marie Grant bagged a third for the Slaneysiders in the 99th-minute, it placed the outcome beyond doubt.