WLOI Match Report: Dublin Derby doesn't disappoint despite 1-1 draw at Greenogue Park
- Christine Allen
- Apr 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Christine Allen reports
Too often, Dublin Derby’s disappoint.
Not this one.
Incisive long balls, robust midfield exchanges and electrifying wing play defined the clash between Dublin titans Peamount United and Shamrock Rovers.
This fixture demanded stand-out individual performances and delivered in what was an entertaining 1-1 draw at Greenogue Park.
Chloe Moloney was one such soldier, shadowing Emily Corbet as the number 10 weaved like a mirage in the April heat in the eyeline of former teammate Amanda Budden.
Her partnership with 2023 Under 17 Player of the Year Mary Philips was a vital arm in The Peas defence as Keelin Comiskey and Corbet looked to release Ella Kelly down the left flank - the Tallaght native zipping with verve along the channel.
At the other end, Maria Reynolds and Scarlett Herron clocked an incredible shift to muzzle the home side's bite - forcing Karen Duggan, Sadhbh Doyle, Becky Watkins and Antea Guvo to pull the trigger at a distance that had Katie Keane untroubled.
There was no love loss between Amanda Budden and her former club as the competition cranked - the Douglas native muscling Herron out of her path as the Rovers number 4 crossed her line of sight on the kick-out.
Following a number of lukewarm half chances at either end, the final twenty minutes of the first-half ramped up - Peamount ensnaring Rovers in their own half.
Jessica Fitzgerald held her own against Ruesha Littlejohn in the centre while former Hoop, Under 17’s Academy double winner Sorcha Melia, tangled the link between both Comiskey and Kelly.
Encircling the Hoops, Peamount looked to wound their stunned opponents with a switch on the wings that threw their rivals off balance.
Having accomplished her mission out right, Melia was directed to man the left and very nearly scored the opener with a blistering drive that flashed across Keane’s goalmouth.
Now out right, Watkins prodded for a chink in the Hoops backline and very nearly followed suit with a strike that whizzed inches past Keane’s left hand post.
The tempo gradually leveled out as a series of midfield turnovers disrupted Peamount’s rhythm, allowing Rovers to regain their bite on the counter.
A visionary long ball from Littlejohn may have tempered Collie O’Neills half-time team talk as O'Gorman found herself in acres of space down the right.
Refusing to tempt fate as the green shirts swarmed, the Hoops captain whipped in a swirling cross toward Corbet who got the better of Philips and cracked it first-time. But Budden was equal to it—reacting sharply to keep the score level at 0-0
Corbet and O’Gorman were pivotal once again as the half-time whistle approached - Corbet controlling a raking pass from Aoife Brophy before tapping it back to her captain.
The veteran took three measured touches before returning the favour with a clever outside pass and all attention shifted to Corbet.
Seizing the opportunity amidst the distraction, O’Gorman darted unmarked into the box. However, the captain misjudged the Laois native’s inviting delivery, and Kelly was unable to direct the follow-up on target.
Rovers came out swinging on the restart, fizzing the ball with pace across the Peamount turf.
Both Jaime Thompson and Herron utilised their muscle to win the ball in midfield, thumping it forward.
It was a long ball from Thompson towards the evanescent Kelly that led to Rovers opener.
Budden, vacating her goal to clear, could only watch as the deflection spilled fortuitously to Corbet.
Remaining composed, the maurauding forward expertly controlled the ball with a single touch before launching it towards the unguarded goal but Moloney, echoing Maradona’s ‘ hand of god’, blocked the shot with both arms and conceded the foul.
“She’s giving me Rice energy right now.” Avril Brierley forewarned on the LOITV co-comms as Littlejohn spotted the ball 20 yards out in the 51st - burying it with panache into the bottom right hand corner.
Stung from their stupor, Peamount hurled the proverbial kitchen sink at the visitors, as Doyle, Melia, Watkins and Guvo roared to life.
Both Melissa O’Kane and Reynolds were indispensable throughout, winning the ball in both defense and midfield - spinning the Peas faster than a Funderland Carousel.
In the 55th, Guvo came close at the front post but couldn’t get enough curl on the ball to direct it on target.
A palpable edge sharpened both players in the final twenty minutes, and the spectators found their voice.
Joy Ralph’s introduction in place of Corbet added another string to The Hoops bow as the dexterous forward switched between the left and right flanks, stinging Budden’s hands with a clean strike.
As the game entered the final 20’, substitute Carla McManus flashed a header that spun the ball a whisker past the right hand post.
It was a foreshadowing of what was to come and Peamount earned the leveller in the 74th - another inviting corner from Fitzgerald finding Philips at the back post who headed home.
O’Neill brought fresh legs to the Hoops backline - slotting Fiona Owens at right back as Peamount scoured for the winner.
Kelly buzzed for the remainder of the contest as Ralph and Moloney battled, lighting up Greenogue as the sun began to dip.
There were two claims for a penalty in the 91st and 92nd respectively - Philips and Moloney the villains in the eyes of the Dublin 24 travelling contingent but the referee adjudicated no foul on both occasions.
The game ended 1-1 at Greenogue Park following a bruising battle between two giants of the women’s game.
Rovers Women Fanzine POTM:
Ella Kelly
Comments