Echo Sports Awards 2019: The pride of Peamount are Team of the Year
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SEVEN years after being declared ‘The Echo Team of the Year’, Peamount United Ladies lifted the award for a second time at Thursday’s gala in the Green Isle.
James O'Callaghan's side were, this year, crowned Women's National League champions after an epic campaign that subsequently earned them a return to the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2020.
Peamount Women’s team players and management with William O’Connor and Stephen Leonard, The Echo, after receiving their Team of the Month and Year Awards.
Finalists also in this year's Women's FAI Cup, the Newcastle side beat off fierce opposition for the gong that included Dublin and Leinster Senior Football champions Ballyboden St Enda's, also two-time winners of the prize.
National Basketball League champions, DBS Eanna, Leinster Senior League kingpins Crumlin United and IAFA champions Shamrock Rovers were also among the strong contenders for the title.
Among those present on the night to receive ‘The Echo Team of the Year’ Award for Peamount was team captain and former Ireland international, Aine O’Gorman who said “The calibre and the achievements throughout the room tonight has been amazing and it’s great for us to be here.
“I think all the hard work and dedication that the girls put in throughout the year, we’ve stood by each other on and off the pitch, and I think it’s shone through now with us winning the league.
“I’m really looking forward to that challenge [the 2020 UEFA Women’s Champions League], I think all the girls are. It will be a lot of the girls’ first time playing in Europe, so we’re looking forward to getting back in pre season in January and getting the league rolling and being successful.”
Peamount team manager, James O’Callaghan, was also pleased to see his side cap a great season with success at The Echo Awards Night.
“We’re absolutely honoured at picking up the ‘Team of the Year’ Award” he told The Echo.
“The girls have worked hard for the last couple of seasons. They’ve been knocking on the door and we finally won the league this year and the girls have been amazing. It’s great to get recognition for that.
“Our priority is the league again when that starts back.
“The Champions League doesn’t kick in until next August, but we would love to do well in the Champions League because the Irish teams haven’t done well in the last few years in that competition.
“So to get more recognition for the Women’s National League, we’d like to do well there” he insisted.
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