THE EUPHORIC SCENES as Peamount United captain Áine O’Gorman lifted the Women’s National League trophy under Saturday Night Lights said it all.
A recently-retired international who has achieved so much on the biggest stages in the world, the emotion shown by the Irish centurion captured just how much this meant to the south Dublin club.
After all the heartbreak and near misses, after knocking on the door for so long and coming so agonisingly close, Peamount were finally crowned champions for the first time since the league’s inaugural season in 2011/12.
And deseredly so, after taking an impressive 56 points from the 63 on offer, despite Shelbourne mounting a considerable challenge and bringing the title race right down to the wire.
They’re far from done for the year, however. The Women’s FAI Cup final is on the line at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, with holders Wexford Youths in their way. While it’s a repeat of last year’s Lansdowne Road showdown which Wexford won 1-0 en route to sealing the treble, Peamount are definitely the side coming in on a high 12 months later.
“The girls are delighted after winning the league,” Peas manager James O’Callaghan smiles in conversation with The42 yesterday.
“They’re a long time at it now, trying to get that win. They’ve been really consistent all year and worked really hard so we’re delighted.
You could see the joy in the faces of the girls in the photos. The intensity of it all, we were just so relieved really because it went to the last match of the season. We only lost one game all season, and drew two so we were really delighted to get there in the end.
“If we didn’t win it this year, I was in trouble,” O’Callaghan, in his third year in charge, adds with a laugh.
While there’s more silverware up for grabs at the national stadium on Sunday, the Dubliner was keen for his side to celebrate last Saturday night, and reap the rewards of their memorable 2019 league season before switching their focus to the next job at hand.
“In fairness to the girls, it’s been a long time since Peamount won the league so last Saturday I made sure that they went out and enjoyed themselves,” he explains.
“Not too much now, but it’s important to acknowledge it, to let themselves relax and enjoy themselves. But straight away they were back in Tuesday night and ready to go again.”
They’ve definitely refocused down since reconvening earlier this week, with dethroning Wexford the one thing in their sights as of now.
“We’re delighted to get to the cup, it’s going to be a great day out,” O’Callaghan continues. “It’s great for everybody in Peamount, all the volunteers and committee members.
It’s going to be a really tough game against Wexford. It’s great to get to the Aviva, but it’s not a great place to be if you don’t get the result you want. We’re just knuckling down, training hard this week and hoping to put in a good performance.
“Wexford are a top, top side. They have great experience in their team. They probably haven’t been as consistent in the league this year as they would have liked. In saying that, they’ve still got into the final of the league cup and the final at the Aviva.
“It’s going to be a really tough game.”
While it was many of his young squad’s first experience of playing on Ireland’s biggest stage last year, the former Monaghan United defender is confident that that big-match experience will stand to them 12 months on.
“We have a lot of young players in the squad and I think last year, everybody was just happy to get there,” he says.
“We’re hoping that the experience of last year, the experience of this season and the momentum that we’re building at the moment is going to stand to us on Sunday.
“There’s a lot of young players in the Peamount team. People probably think more about the senior players the likes of Karen [Duggan] and Áine [O'Gorman], but a lot of girls have come through the Peamount schoolgirls’ system.
About 70 per cent of the squad have come through it. I think this year they’ve really stepped up another level and been more consistent.
That mixture of youth and experience has been a revelation, but one thing that really strikes you about Peamount is the tight-knit bond at the club.
Young and old, Ireland internationals and rising club players, everyone is treated the same. Players, coaches, volunteers and fans alike, they’re all the one.
“We do try to create a family atmosphere in the team,” O’Callaghan nods.
“A lot of stuff has happened this season in terms of family members of players passing away, some people have personal issues going on as well.
We’ve tried to create that family atmosphere where the team can rely on each other and help each other out. It’s not just about football, the whole personal development of players is important to us as well.
With that positive personal development comes enjoyment, and with enjoyment comes success. Peamount definitely seem to have found the right formula, that’s for sure.
But they’re definitely not resting on their laurels. The double is on, and let’s be real, tasting success brings hunger for even more.
So lastly, just how great would it be to do the business again on Sunday?
“We’re delighted to win the league,” O’Callaghan concludes. “It’s great for the club and for everybody involved. We’re all going to try and enjoy Sunday.
As I said, it’s not a great place to go to if you don’t get the win. We’re going to be doing our best to change that this week.
Peamount United face Wexford Youths in the So Hotels Women’s FAI Cup final on Sunday. Kick-off is 12.05pm [live on RTÉ Two].
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Robbie Keane has nothing to prove.
Has been a flat track bully over the last half-a-dozen years.
We won’t be playing Faroe Islands in June.
Add Darron Gibson to that list….. Can’t even make the Everton bench now others are back from injury. (Unlike many others who seem to think he got better while injured), dont think he’s good enough to start for us, but would like to see him back playing regular club football.
If – and it’s a big if – Gibson can secure first team football between now and June he deserves to go. He’s a proven commodity at this level unlike Arter.
Everton were in fantastic form when he got a run of games.
Yeah to be honest (and I don’t like saying this because I had high hopes) I’m not sure he is proven at international level – not sure he was ever massively convincing for us. We always had that hope that ‘once he got a run of games’ he’d be better for us, but when they did come (I) it was down to others being injured and (2) he got injured playing for us before he could show anything. It’s a real pity. Arter has been playing first team football, when fit, for two seasons now and has impressed in a way I’m not sure Gibson ever did. I’d take him if it’s between the two.
Rob Elliot has to start in goal, Newcastle No.1 playing week in week out and playing really well, pulled off some top saves against Arsenal at the weekend. No brainier for me.
Couple of those saves were because of strange decisions to punch rather than catch though – ended up leading to further chances (that he admittedly saved). Give him a chance, but Randolph inspires more confidence for me.
Arter and judge are far better options than mcgeady.
I want to know what Keiran Westwood has to do to be considered, the best goalkeeper in the championship last year and consistently starting games every week
He fell out with MON at Sunderland.
What else does Robbie Keane have to do?
Score against teams that aren’t bottom seeds and contribute in overall play like Murphy, Long and Walters do?
I wouldn’t worry about anything Ronny Delia says about McGeady.. Delia is one bad result away from the sack.. O’Neill and Dermot Desmond are good mates, guaranteed McGeady will be a Celtic player come the end of January..
Are related to MON or DD which used be known as Double Diamond years ago ? ?.Some of the comments on articles are so amusing
Sorry Nick could you write that in English please?
The problem is that Deila isn’t one game away from the sack! Celtic are still persisting with him even though the team gets worse every week.
Anyway, to McGeady. The most naturally gifted player we have in the squad but his confidence is shot to feck. McGeady is too inconsistent, he’ll pop up with a piece of brilliance then will be complete muck for the next 5 games.
McGeadys big problem is that he is not a winger but ever since MON brought him through at Celtic that’s where he has played. McGeady was a number 10 through his entire youth. Unfortunately MON didn’t really understand how to use a creative midfielder at Celtic so he was shunted to the wing and has pretty much been there ever since. He doesn’t have the attributes to be a winger other than being able to dribble. Can’t cross and isn’t particularly quick.
McGeady has the same issues he had a 18, glimpses of class but with no end product. I’d love O’Neill to give him a run in midfield but O’Neill has the same issue he had at Celtic he doesn’t know how to effectively use a creative midfielder.
Point taken ! As I belong to a category of the population that is now officially known as “Seniors” I tend to get my fingers crossed, not my wires dare I say, from time on the “ould” smartphone. I also might have been intertupted by one of the grand kids wishing to engage in a blast of Trivial Pursuits.I suppose one could say thats what Im doing right now as I have a little free time on my hands !! What triggered my original post I cannot really recall right now – It obviously didnt engage my brain very well ! Again apologies for the misuse and the abuse of the “ould” English. Its very remiss of me particularly since I used it, albeit in a more cliched format,very extensively in a previous life. I better quit now a I am an avuncular kind of individual prone to a little causticism ! To quote the old Hill Street Blues (before your time I reckon) Bí Curamach out there Níoclás PS; At the risk of being a name dropper I did meet the main man from Kilrea on a few occasions
Keane should not be selected. Huge fan of his, but his time is over.
I am not sure Randolph or Keane have anything to prove. They will make the squad unless injured. The other lads are probably more at risk or have less chance of a call up anyway.
Darren Randolph has nothing to prove. Less of the hate
Darren Randolph has nothing to prove. Stop hating on him