Galway United Women’s maintained their excellent start to the season as they comfortably overcame Peamount United 4-0 on a wet and extremely windy day at Eamonn Deacy Park in their opening fixture of the 2026 All Island Cup.

‍

The Tribeswomen, who have won the competition twice in three seasons, came into their Group B clash having won three games on the bounce in the League of Ireland Premier Division, with victories over Wexford, Sligo Rovers and DLR Waves sending them two points clear at the top of the table ahead of opponents Peamount in second.

‍

Storm Dave had well and truly arrived in Galway as the game kicked off on Saturday evening, and though Peamount started brightest with a couple of early chances, it was the home side who took the lead when Emma Doherty was brought down in the box to win an early penalty for United. Ceola Bergin stepped up to take the kick, and despite the wind’s best attempts to move the ball repeatedly from the penalty spot, the Roscrea native calmly side footed home to put her side 1-0 ahead.

‍

Conditions worsened and time after time Peamount struggled to get the ball outside of their own half, United pressing relentlessly looking for a second with Farrelly and Dossen dictating midfield and Doherty’s forward runs continuously troubling the Peamount back line. They didn’t have long to wait, a free-kick awarded inside the Peamount half was drilled in by Aoibhin Donnelly, Dossen’s attempt to connect with the ball leaving the goalkeeper second guessing and to Donnelly’s surprise the ball ended up in the back of the net from 40 yards to give United a deserved 2-0 lead.

The wind worsened and was soon accompanied by rain as the half progressed, however United appeared best equipped to adapt to their environment and with minutes to go until half-time, Bergin added her second and United’s third as her long-range shot was fumbled by Peamount goalkeeper Ciara Glackin and spilled over the line to make it 3-0 to Galway at the break.

‍

Peamount made one change at half-time as Amy Mahon replaced Glackin in goal, and the away side again started well pressing United high all over the pitch as they fought to get back in the game. The introduction of Antea Guvo gave the Dubliners an extra outlet up front, but despite coming close on several occasions it was United who again found the back of the net, and again from a long-range set piece. With 20 minutes to go, captain Aoibheann Costello, who in January won the 2025 Medtronic Galway Sports Stars Award for her excellent performances last season, struck a right-footed shot from 25 yards and the ball nestled in the bottom left-hand corner to wrap up the game for United and make it four wins from four in all competitions.

‍

Speaking after the game, goalscorer Donnelly described the win as a complete performance and was happy with how her side managed the game throughout.

“I think it was a real complete performance from the team. Obviously, the conditions weren't great at all today, but if you play to the conditions they can help you out sometimes. We saw that for a few of the goals. So, I think we went ahead early and then managed the game quite well.”

Galway United: N Nix, A Mullins, LJ Grant, R Tillotson, N Cotter, E Dossen (I Beletic 75’), N Farrelly, C Bergin (H Loomes 83’), A Costello (A Callanan 75’), A Donnelly (C Griffin 62’), E Doherty (E Fitzgerald 83’).

‍Subs Not Used: J Merren, A McQuillan, L McKey, A McGough.

‍Peamount United: C Glackin (A Mahon 45’), M Russell (K Delahunty 83’), D Doherty, C O’Neill, A Tuthill, M Phillips, A Spillane (K O’Dowd 79’), A O’Connor, S Byrne (A Guvo 60’), E Ryan Doyle, S Melia.

‍Subs Not Used: N Clare, A Brierley.

‍Player of the Match: Ceola Bergin

‍Referee: Shane O’Donoghue

‍