‘It’s a shot in the arm for this team’
PEAMOUNT United Ladies went some way to exacting revenge on Wexford Youths for being pipped to last season’s National League, as a late winner from Megan Smyth-Lynch helped them dish out a 2-1 defeat to the champions in the final of the Women’s National League Cup on Saturday in Ferrycarrig Park.
The Newcastle side had to battle their way back from a goal down to clinch the prize after Wexford’s Lauren Dwyer got her head to Emma Hansberry’s free kick midway through the first half.
Given the numerous chances they had carved out in the opening half through the likes of Aine O’Corman, Amber Barrett, Chloe Moloney and Karen Duggan, the visitors will have been very disappointed at failing to open their account by the recess.
Yet, they addressed that early in the second half when Barrett fed the ball through to O’Gorman whose shot looped in over the reach of Wexford netminder Ciamh Dollard.
Wexford almost hit back, but the crossbar came to Peamount’s rescue after Edel Kennedy had a pop.
Yet, it was Peamount who were to have the final say in the 82nd minute as Smyth-Lynch charged down an attempted clearance, inadvertently directing the ball to the back of the net.
“It was great to finally win something,” said Peamount manager James O’Callaghan. “It’s been over five years since Peamount’s Women’s National League side have won a trophy.
“And to be 1-0 down against Wexford in Wexford and come back and win was great.
“I felt in the first half we were doing really well. We conceded from a set piece against the run of play so that was disappointing.
“But we were playing well and so we didn’t really change anything at half time. We just said we have to keep doing the things we were doing even better.
“We put the pressure on them and we got that bit of luck we deserved with the two goals to win it.
“There was great relief and excitement after the match. It was great for the club and it’s a big shot in the arm for this team.
“They’re a great bunch of players who love their football and they keep at it all the time.
“This win will give them good confidence coming into our next match against Wexford back down there.
“Every game is a cup final for us from here on in, and so we’ll just focus on ourselves and take one match at a time,” he told The Echo.
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