Champions Peamount focus their attention on league race
Daire Walsh
Fresh from their European exploits, Peamount United will seek to reinforce their authority on a domestic front when facing fellow title challengers Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday evening (kick-off 6.30pm).
Champions of the Women’s National League for the past two seasons, the Newcastle club spent the majority of last week in the Netherlands competing in a UEFA Champions League qualifier tournament. Despite the in-form Eleanor Ryan-Doyle rattling the net on a couple of occasions, James O’Callaghan’s side fell to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Serbia’s Spartak Subotica last Wednesday week.
Peamount were also set to face Tbilisi Nike in a third place play-off three days later, but a positive COVID-19 case for one of the opposition players ultimately led to the cancellation of this game and an early return home to Ireland. In their absence, Wexford were also idle after their proposed meeting with DLR Waves in UCD was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
However, Shelbourne were in action and a 4-0 home win over Athlone Town puts them level on points with Peamount – albeit with a game more played. Wexford are currently just four points in arrears of both teams and firmly in contention for top-tier honours.
The most successful team in the WNL with four titles to their name, the Slaneysiders are expected to provide a stern test of Peamount’s resolve. There is usually very little to separate the teams whenever they meet and so it has proven thus far in 2021.
On the opening weekend of the season, the Peas required a late goal from the aforementioned Ryan-Doyle to claim a dramatic 1-0 triumph over Wexford. Moments before the Lucan native’s match-winner, Youths skipper Kylie Murphy had a penalty that rebounded off the post.
The holders looked set for a comfortable victory when Wexford visited Greenogue on June 5, with Megan Smyth-Lynch and Aine O’Gorman propelling them into a 2-0 interval lead. Yet, their south-east counterparts displayed a never-say-die attitude as Nicola Sinnott and Murphy struck late on to earn the visitors a 2-2 draw.
Similar fireworks are expected in Ferrycarrig this weekend, especially with the race for the title being so open. On a side note, this game is set to be an emotional one for Lauren Kelly, who recently returned to Peamount following a memorable stint with Wexford.