Peamount power to league glory
JAMES CALLAGHAN said it was ‘a great day for the under-dog’ after his Peamount United side became SSE Airtricity Women’s League of Ireland champions for the fourth time following a 2-0 win over Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig yesterday.
A second-half brace from Ellen Dolan saw the Peas extend their lead to 12 points, ahead of secondplaced Shamrock Rovers. But even though the Hoops have two games in hand, Peamount hold a better head-to-head record over their South Dublin rivals, so they have done enough to win the title.
‘It was funny because we only realised that we could win it in the middle of the week and that changes the whole dynamic of our mindset,’ said Callaghan.
‘But how the girls dealt with that was brilliant. They put in a powerhouse of a performance against a really good Wexford side. It is a great day for Peamount.’
Peamount has been knocking on the door since their last title win in 2020, despite losing a number of players to the UK and other league clubs at the end of every season. But Callaghan praised his team’s consistency.
‘It is pure relief, but this Peamount side’s consistency level has been unreal over the past seven years. We have had a few setbacks and that has given us the hunger to drive on.’
Former Ireland international Karen Duggan has captained the team brilliantly this season and she will get to lift the trophy in front of their home crowd before their final league game, against Sligo Rovers, on November 11th while Callaghan becomes the first manager in women’s league history to lead a team to three titles - 2019, 2020 and 2023, having trusted his young team, led expertly by Duggan.
Talented women’s under-19 international Freya Healy has stood out and she had another excellent game yesterday, registering the first chance of note before providing the assist for Dolan’s opening goal, as she delivered a perfect cross for the striker to head in from six yards out. In the 81st minute, Dolan got her second, stretching to direct Sadhbh Doyle’s cross past goalkeeper Claudia Keenan.
Peamount have been the leading force in the game all year, scoring 39 goals and only conceding 11 while they also kept 11 clean sheets. In yesterday’s other league game, Cork City got their first win of the season when they beat Treaty United 1-0, courtesy of Heidi O’Sullivan’s first-half strike.
Elsewhere in the Women’s FAI Cup semi-finals, there were wins for Athlone Town, who saw off the challenge of Sligo Rovers 4-0 at the Showgrounds and also for Shelbourne – impressive 2-0 winners over Shamrock Rovers, with second-half goals from christie Gray and Hannah Healy.