Galway United Women continue to blaze a trail in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division. They sit on top of the table with five wins out of five.
An Emma Doherty hat-trick helped United towards a routine win over Cork City last Saturday. Peamount should provide a sterner test in Eamonn Deacy Park this Saturday, although United have already dealt them a 4-0 drumming in the All-Island Cup.
Roma McLaughlin made her debut for United late on in Turner’s Cross. She brings significant experience from her Shels days. United could also afford to shuffle their deck, with Aoibheann Costello and Remini Tillotson both starting on the bench for the first time this season.
Lynsey McKey made her first start of the season and was to the fore of an impressive performance. Her set pieces provided the breakthrough for the first two goals. The third was a clever chip after Ceola Bergin’s header turned Doherty loose. A missed spot-kick from Bergin was the only blemish on a very positive afternoon.
Elsewhere, Shamrock Rovers had a big 5-2 win against Shels, underlining their own credentials to challenge at the top. Athlone won again against tricky opponents in Wexford. Dana Scheriff has continued her incendiary start to the season - she now has seven in five in the league.
As it was last season in May, United will soon face Shels and Athlone in games that will have a large bearing on the season. They will hope to go into those games with a maximum of 18 points.
Peamount have been inconsistent since their eye-catching win away in Tallaght. They suffered setbacks in Galway and Athlone and would have hoped for more than a point at home to Sligo, who themselves had struggled in the league since holding Athlone.
United will hope for the competitive edge of a strong home support. This is a consequential game for a group that have come close before. They seem more equipped this season than they have ever been. Buy-in from Galway’s sporting public might be the final ingredient needed.
