Shamrock Rovers made it two SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division wins from two as they hammered Treaty United 6-0 in their first league game at Tallaght Stadium in nine years.
The Hoops, back in the league for the first time since 2014, have built a formidable looking squad under the leadership of Collie O'Neill. On this evidence, they’re already one of the teams to beat.
Treaty worked hard throughout but they simply couldn’t live with an on-song Aine O’Gorman who pulled the strings as substitute Jaime Thompson scored a brilliant 20-minute hat-trick to add to first-half efforts from Alannah McEvoy and Aoife Kelly. Lauren Kelly put the cherry on top with a late header to make it six.
There will be tougher tests to come, not least next Saturday’s trip to reigning champions Shelbourne, but Rovers look armed with the depth, experience and quality to disrupt the top order in 2023.
O'Neill’s charges started their campaign with a dramatic victory at Sligo Rovers a week ago, while Treaty - who failed to register a single league win last season - fell to a 1-0 home loss against Bohs.
The Limerick outfit have brought in six Canadian-born players to boost their hopes this term including defender Ciara McCormack, who has been capped eight times for the Republic of Ireland.
New boss Alban Hysa has acknowledged they are building from the ground up and they actually made a decent start against a Rovers side laced with international quality.
The hosts bossed possession, but Treaty were organised and disciplined, holding a compact 4-5-1 shape that was hard to penetrate.
Indeed the first sniff of a chance came Treaty’s way when Kiara Kilbey charged down a sleepy Amanada Budden clearance only to see the ball spin out of play. Moments later, Kilbey’s low 20-yard effort was comfortably dealt with by the keeper, and Kilbey again threatened when her left-footer whistled a couple of yards past the post.
Shamrock Rovers kept trying to feed Ireland underage international Lia O’Leary and senior attacker Abbie Larkin on the left and it was Larkin who carved the visitors open for the first time. Her smart 13th-minute pass sent Aine O’Gorman through on goal; the shot lacked conviction, crashing into the sidenetting.
Chances were at a premium as Treaty shackled the home attack, their impressive American captain Claire Winter adding composure to a hard-working midfield.
However the pressure began to build.
A wicked Stephanie Zambra cross was well dealt with by Jacqueline Julie Altrogge, who had Larkin breathing down her neck.
Then Larkin surged through after nice link-up with McEvoy, clipping her finish past the onrushing Anne-Marie Ulliac – and past the right-hand post. A Larkin snap shot fizzed over the bar but Shamrock Rovers would ge their breakthrough in the 29th minute.
O’Gorman split the visiting rearguard open with an incisive pass, and Alannah McEvoy confidently slotted her finish past Ulliac.
Nine minutes before the break Larkin should have double their advantage when another super O’Gorman ball slipped her in. Larkin had her first attempt saved and she then slammed the rebound against the base pf the post.
They would not have to wait long the for the second however. O'Gorman - who was now running the game - picked out Aoife Kelly in the 42nd minute and she had an eternity to fire past Ulliac.
It was 2-0 at half-time but it didn’t take long for the home side to extend their lead.
Sixty seconds into the half, Jaime Thompson, who replaced the injured Larkin at the break, slammed home the third after being fed by McEvoy just outside the box.
Thompson chips the keeper to get her 3rd of the evening☘️ pic.twitter.com/XkPWq9lWrc
— Shamrock Rovers Women (@RoversWomen) March 11, 2023
As the rain poured, the chances kept coming.
Zambra almost got on the score sheet when her measured attempt slid inches past the post and then, in the 55th minute, Thompson bagged the goal of the game, gathering possession 25 yards out before pinging a sweet strike beyond Ulliac.
The contest sagged a little thereafter but Thompson brought it to life again with a superb hat-trick goal on 66 minutes, a beautiful ping that caught out Ulliac.
Still Thompson wasn’t finished. She almost grabbed a fourth goal when another fierce strike forced Ulliac into a good save and constantly stretching a tired Treaty defence.
With a minute to go, Kelly rose unchallenged to nod home from a corner and complete the rout.
Job comprehensively done for the Hoops. Up next, Shels at Tolka Park.
Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden; Jess Gargan (Melissa O’Kane 78), Shauna Fox, Jessica Hennessy (Abby Tuthill 70), Abbie Larkin (Jaime Thompson HT), Aoife Kelly (Alannah Prizeman 70), Alannah McEvoy, Stephanie Zambra (Lauren Kelly 78), Lia O’Leary, Aine O’Gorman (capt), Orlaith O’Mahony
Treaty United: Anne-Marie Ulliac; Grace McInerney, Chloe Hennigan, Heidi O’Sullivan (Ciara Griffin HT), Katie Lawlee (Naoise Griffin 68), Ciara McCormack (Kelsey Wing 68), Claire Winter (capt), Jacqueline Julie Altrogge, Kiara Kilbey (Rosie Young 81), Cooper Lee Lane, Hailey Walsh (Ruth McDonnell 56)
Referee: Daniel Murphy
Attendance: 814
Rianna Jarrett scored her first goal for Wexford Youths since returning to the club from Brighton as they overcame Sligo Rovers 3-1 at Ferrycarrig Park.
A Michaela Lawrence volley had the hosts one up at half-time but Sarah Kiernan equalised with an excellent 50th-minute strike.
With 20 minutes to go Jarrett pounced to put Wexford back in front, with Emily Corbet sealing the points six minutes later. It was also Corbet's first goal for Youths since joining from Athlone Town.
Galway United nicked a later winner at Cork City thanks to Jenna Slattery's speculative effort.
Slattery lofted a free-kick into the box in the 89th minute, only to see it bounce off the turf and loop into the net.
🎥 | Becky Watkins gets the goal for Peamount… with her back 😳
— LOI Women (@LoiWomen) March 11, 2023
They all count!#LOIW | #PEADLR pic.twitter.com/MrdDrPJghq
Peamount United also got the rub of the green as they sank DLR Waves late on.
Becky Watkins forced the ball home with her back five minutes from time as Peamount took a gritty three points.
Reigning champions Shelbourne made it two wins from two after a keenly contested Dublin derby with rivals Bohemians.
In front of a crowd of over 600, and despite the treacherous conditions, both sides were determined to put on a show as a Jessie Stapleton double ensured bragging rights and all three points made the short trip back to Tolka Park.
