Peamount United 3
Shelbourne 1
Dave Donnelly reports from Greenogue
PEAMOUNT UNITED are Women’s National League champions for the fourth time after they came from behind to beat Shelbourne in a dramatic winner-takes-all tie in Greenogue.
Captain Aine O’Gorman led from the front with two late goals, either side of Karen Duggan’s header, after Emily Whelan had put the visitors in front.
Shelbourne came into the game knowing nothing less than a win would do in their final game of the season, with Peamount still to face Wexford Youths next week, and produced a performance to match.
They set out with attacking intent from the off and could have led inside six minutes as Whelan was played in on goal, but Niamh Reid-Burke was out quickly to narrow the angle and parry clear.
Izzy Atkinson forced Reid-Burke into a comfortable save from a free kick as Shels continued their impressive start, while the ‘keeper again was out smartly to deny Whelan just before half time.
Whelan would get her goal within seconds of the restart as she turned into the box and shot high, Reid-Burke just failing to keep it out with her fingertips.
Shelbourne were good value for their lead and continued to play patient, passing football, while creating chances.
Ciara Grant hit the side-netting, and O’Gorman was forced into a tremendous goal-saving tackle to deny Rebecca Cooke a second.
The introduction of subs Sadbh Doyle and Megan Smyth-Lynch turned things for Peamount and, when Duggan was fouled on the edge of the box, they had their chance.
O’Gorman curled the free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner, and from there there would only be one winner.
Duggan nodded home O’Gorman’s corner shortly afterwards and O’Gorman made sure in the dying minutes as she stabbed home from close range.
PEAMOUNT UNITED: Niamh Reid-Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Claire Walsh, Deirbhaile Beirne; Karen Duggan, Lucy McCartan (Sadbh Doyle 65), Eleanor Ryan Doyle; Áine O’Gorman, Alannah McEvoy (Becky Watkins 87), Stephanie Roche (Megan Smyth-Lynch 65).
SHELBOURNE: Rachel Kelly; Jess Gleeson (Alex Kavanagh 78), Pearl Slattery, Jamie Finn; Jess Gargan, Rachel Graham (Kate Mooney 85), Ciara Grant, Izzy Atkinson; Jessica Ziu, Rebecca Cooke, Emily Whelan.