Peas can make mark in Europe, says McLaughlin
PEAMOUNT’S Erin McLaughlin hopes to build on her non-stop 2023 when the new Women’s League of Ireland season kicks off next month.
The Donegal native was a key part of the Peas’ unexpected title charge and also forced her way into the national team reckoning, making her debut in the World Cup warm-up friendly against Zambia. The attacker, who is currently in the third year of a primary teaching degree at Maynooth, wants to take it to the next level by experiencing Champions League football.
‘Yeah, 2023 was crazy, a bit of a whirlwind but it was very enjoyable and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world,’ McLaughlin said. ‘And hopefully, we can push on this year. There is a really good mentality in this team, a winning mentality.’
And the Peas, who were written off at times last term, have the ambition of getting through the qualifiers to the lucrative group stages.
‘I have never experienced Champions League football, so I am really looking forward to that,’ said the 21-year-old from the Inishowen Peninsula. ‘Getting through to the group stages would be huge not only for Peamount, but for the whole league. It would prove that Irish clubs should be playing at that level.’
The carrot of Champions League football means
James O’Callaghan has, more or less, the same squad from last season, along with the additions of Ciara Maher and Erica Burke. One player who will be missing is young international star Tara O’Hanlon who signed a contract with Manchester City last year.
‘We are going to miss Tara, but we are all delighted for her and all so proud that she signed for Man City. It was only a matter of time before Tara went to the WSL,’ she said. And McLaughlin hopes to follow in her former teammate’s footsteps and go across channel, but not before she completes her degree.
‘Yeah, it is an ambition of mine to play in the WSL but going to finish my teaching course first. It is always good to have something to fall back on,’ she said. And there is also the promise of European football this season too, where McLaughlin and Peamount are determined to make a mark for the domestic game here.