Castlebar Celtic 5 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Castlebar Celtic 5 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers travelled west this week with hopes of redemption following their disappointing result against Raheny last Sunday. Unfortunately for the visitors, Castlebar Celtic were in no mood to provide a venue for such atonement- the Mayo side determined to produce a performance to impress their home fans and earn their first three points of their Women's National League campaign. Celtic started the brighter, displaying some crisp passing and intelligent movement. The combined pace of wingers Shaunagh Jackson and Aileen Gilroy, supplemented with the uncontainable Emma Mullin, heaped immediate pressure on the Rovers defence. Celtic's unrelenting drives forward soon paid off mid-way through the opening half when Rovers defender Lyndsey Hayden was unlucky to turn a Mullin cross into her own net as she attempted to clear.

Credit to Rovers however as they responded positively to the own goal, creating some neat passing exchanges in midfield, with Aisling Cusack and Niamh Kinsella growing in confidence as Rovers enjoyed a brief spell of possession. One particularly intelligent move saw Grainne Walsh find herself open just inside the Celtic 18 yard box and her first-time shot curled just inches around keeper Ashling Concannon's right post. Moments later a perfectly executed through ball caught both Celtic centre half's unaware and it took a last-gasp tackle from right back Carol Hegarty to prevent what would have been a two on one goal-scoring opportunity for Rovers. Hegarty raced 50 odd meters to dive to Celtic's rescue, ensuring her side entered the dressing room in the lead, although by the narrowest of margins.


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