The SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions Peamount United got their title defence off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory against Cork City at Turner's Cross on Saturday evening.
Goals in either half from Erin McLaughlin and Karen Duggan were enough to see James O’Callaghan’s Peamount side come out on top with the victory and the three points.
Although only one day into the season, there were some very early indicators that Peamount look sharp in all departments and they will be looking to successfully defend their crown.
In the opening stages Peamount were keen to set their stall out straight away. City shot stopper Clodagh Fitzgerald was forced into making a fine stop to deny a Duggan effort from close range for Peamount just past the quarter-of-an-hour mark.
A few minutes later, Fitzgerald made another fine save from a Peamount attack to deny Erica Burke in the 21st minute.
However, the away side took the lead with 27 minutes played on the clock. Republic of Ireland international McLaughlin controlled well inside the penalty area by chesting it down, before finishing impressively and clinically to the back of the net.
For their part, City did get a few attempts on goal away, but there was nothing to seriously concern Peamount goalkeeper Niamh Reid Burke.
At the end of a competitive opening half of football, it was that impressively taken finish by McLaughlin which was the difference between the sides.
Peamount pushed for a second in the early stages of the second half. It duly arrived on the hour mark, when Duggan found the corner with a peach of a finish.
The visitors had their tails up at this stage, with a McLaughlin shot blocked down well by Niamh Cotter.
City looked for a route back into the contest, with Colleen Kennedy going close with a well taken strike which was saved by the Peamount netminder.
The home side were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet at least once, but there were signs here that the 2024 campaign can be an improved one for the Leesiders.
Heading into the final ten minutes, Peamount looked very much assured and were pushing for a third, as they held on for a deserved win.
Next up for Peamount is a home league clash against Shelbourne, where O’Callaghan will be hoping his side can build on this opening day display and result. That promises to be a compelling early season encounter between two teams with strong aspirations of competing towards the top end of the league standings.
Danny Murphy’s City side will be looking to get properly up and running, as they travel to take out Galway United next weekend.
Cork City: Clodagh Fitzgerald; Shaunagh McCarthy, Heidi Mackin, Orlaith O’Mahony, Eva Mangan, Aoibhin Donnelly(Dorothea Greulich, 68) , Ellie O’Brien(Aoife Robinson, 68) , Chloe Atkinson(Kiera Sena, HT) , Niamh Cotter, Colleen Kennedy(Erin O’Brien, 87) , Alix Mendez(Lauren Walsh, 68).
Peamount United: Niamh Reid Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Jetta Berrill, Erin McLaughlin, Freya Healy(Mia McGonnell, 90) Jess Fitzgerald, Ellen Dolan, Karen Duggan, Dearbhaile Beirne, Ciara Maher, Erica Burke.
Referee: Chris Sheehan
Shelbourne's new manager Eoin Wearan expressed disappointment after his side and Sligo Rovers played out a 0-0 draw at Tolka Park.
Wearan succeeded Noel King, who stepped away from a trophy-laden era for Shels after last year's agonising FAI Women's Cup final defeat to Athlone Town.
But his first match in charge ended in a stalemate, with Wearan praising the opposition's battling qualities but also emphasising that his charges will need to respond quickly with champions Peamount United to come next week.
"We'll be disappointed obviously with how things went over the 90 minutes," he told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue.
"I think if you look at the possession stats, it doesn't necessarily translate into goals and I think for all the possession that we had, I would have liked us to create a few more clear-cut chances.
"I'd say we probably had three or four good chances in either half and on another day if they go in it becomes a different game, but we just need to be better in the final third and we need to bounce back and what better game than Peamount next week to do that."
Sligo manager Tommy Hewitt, who guided Athlone to runner-up finishes in the league and cup in 2022 before stepping away midway through last season, was delighted with his team's display on his first competitive game in charge.
"I'm over the moon," said Hewitt. "It's a very good Shelbourne team, probably the right time to play them because they're not in the rhythm yet but our girls put in a massive shift there today and I'm so proud of them.
"It's early days yet but to come up here and not concede a goal, it's a massive lift for the girls and it shows them what they can achieve once we bed in properly. It's going to be a long season."
Shamrock Rovers were also held to a draw, as DLR Waves earned a 1-1 result at the UCD Bowl.
The home side threatened to stage an upset against 2023's third-place finishers after Michelle Doonan gave them a 29th-minute lead, but with ten minutes to go former Republic of Ireland stalwart Áine O'Gorman found the top corner from the penalty spot to salvage a point for the Hoops.
Elsewhere, Bohemians began their campaign with a victory, beating Wexford Youths 2-0 in their league opener at Ferrycarrig Park.
Fiona Donnelly opened the scoring for the Dublin side in the tenth minute, while Aoibhe Brennan sealed the victory by adding the second in the 90th minute.
And Galway United also enjoyed a win on the road as they overcame Athlone Town 2-0.
Jenna Slattery opened the scoring at the Athlone Town Stadium from the penalty spot in the 56th minute before Eve Dossen added a second goal eight minutes later to seal the three points.
Follow the RTÉ Sport WhatsApp channel for the best news, interviews, analysis and features, as well as details of our sports coverage across all RTÉ platforms.
