No Treats for Peamount girls in final match

PEAMOUNT United Women’s side finished their season with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Treaty United.

The result succumbs the Dublin side to a sixth place league finish, achieving just half the points total which secured them the title last season.

As they have done in many games this season, Peamount conceded first when Canadian Danielle Steer finished off a quick transition on the brink of half time to give Treaty a deserved lead at the break.

United couldn’t find the equaliser in the second half despite a much-improved performance.

The main event on the day was not the match itself, as former Ireland goalkeeper Niamh Reid Burke played her final game of football at PRL Park in the wake of her retirement from the game.

Niamh Reid Burke walking through the guard of honour
Photos by Bartley Ramsay

On a more positive note, 2023 Premier Division player of the year Sahdbh Doyle made her first appearance back after her lengthy injury layoff.

Injuries have been one of the factors which have negatively effected James O’Callaghan’s team this season, who were without their captain Karen Duggan due to a knock at the weekend.

It is yet to be confirmed whether O’Callaghan will be in charge again next season, with fellow Premier Division clubs Wexford and Treaty both announcing they will be vying for someone new in the dugout.

Goalkeeper Niamh Reid Burke receiving a presentation on her retirement

Peamount’s victory over Dinamo Minsk was arguably their moment of the season, a sentiment O’Callaghan agrees with.

“The highlight of the season for me was the champions league, it was probably the best performance from an Irish team in the last 10 years.”

“We were very unlucky to not beat Osijek then after like we went a goal ahead, it would have been a huge achievement to get out of the group.”

Peamount United Award Winners Freya Healy, Becky Watkins and Ellen Dolan

“It’s been a tough season, we lost a lot of players through injuries but the girls have stuck with it and worked hard.

“We probably need two or three players to be back challenging next year.”