The 42 visited the home of the Women’s Premier Division champions this week ahead of their trophy celebration.
THE EVENINGS ARE closing in, the temperatures are dropping, but Peamount United’s Greenogue base is a hive of activity as winter makes its presence felt.
Three weeks later, O’Callaghan cuts an extremely satisfied figure as he saunters up and down the clubhouse hallway. There’s dressing rooms on either side, with various players’ Ireland jerseys hanging on the walls, and a gym down the end. That room is in full use, with disagreements over music selections filtering into the corridor.
A huge amount of ground is covered throughout our 20 minutes; her love for Peamount and pride in her team shining through with each and every word she utters. Shamrock Rovers, in particular, ruffled some feathers with their much-vaunted return this season. Áine O’Gorman and Stephanie Roche were among a cohort of players who swapped Greenogue for Tallaght Stadium, and there were no shortage of other stumbling blocks as Peamount were doubted amidst a rocky off-season.“We’re very lucky with all that work goes in in the background, because that’s what has sustained Peamount throughout the last number of years,” Duggan explains.
“And this is something I’ve always felt at Peamount: everyone has each others’ backs on the pitch, but more so if I ever had a problem off the pitch, there’s people in the club I can turn to. Barbara , who has been the kit woman for forever, she’s like our Mam. “Peamount has always been a club that I wanted to play for. You see them on TV, you see them on social media, they’re always top of the women’s game so I think anybody coming down to Dublin to look for a football team, Peamount was always going to be one of their first choices. “I loved every minute of last year, and coming into this season, I just knew I wanted to play here. It felt like home and being part of this group has been so special.
“That care was a big difference,” she adds. “That genuine belief that we will win it. The belief that you have in the players around you in the dressing room, that they’re working so hard for you, there’s no fakeness to it. It was so raw and real. All of our values, all of our work ethic was completely in sync from the start of the season.”
“I think she deserves that because the effort and commitment that she’s put into this team always, but especially this year has just been next to none, and to have her as captain has just been unreal. They dealt with setbacks accordingly, with Ellen Dolan, Jess Fitzgerald, Freya Healy and Mia McGonnell among the youngsters from the schoolgirls’ system stepping up to the plate. “Ridiculously talented,” Duggan beams.Dolan is under the photography spotlight in the opposite dressing room, so The 42 grabs her for a quick word.
O’Callaghan has been around a little longer than Dolan, but the same applies as our conversation winds up next door. “Obviously, things are going to change next year, we do need funding from the FAI, we need better support in place. The football speaks for itself, we’re at a really high standard and we’ve proven that.”There’s no doubt that further investment is needed, particularly with Champions League football on the agenda next year.
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