Aine O’Gorman believes Peamount United have what it takes to beat Wexford Youths on their own patch to lift their first trophy in five years on Saturday.
The Peas haven’t won a trophy since lifting the same trophy back in 2013 – during O’Gorman’s previous stint with the club – although they came agonisingly close last year.
The title race went right down to the wire last season, when Wexford beat Peamount at Ferrycarrig Park 2-0 on the final day in what was a straight shoot-out for the league.
That was before 100-times-capped O’Gorman returned to the club for a fourth stint in Pea green following four seasons at UCD Waves.
The Enniskerry native was part of the Waves squad that lifted the WNL Shield last season – and were beaten in the FAI Cup final – but she missed both through injury.
And the 29-year-old, who lifted two league titles and competed in the Champions League for Peamount in the past, is determined to see that trophy drought come to an end.
“I’m really looking forward to the game,” she told the Dublin Gazette at the launch of Dublin City Council’s Dublin Sportsfest at Irishtown Stadium.
“It’s against Wexford, so it’ll be nice to beat them, lift the cup and bring it back to Dublin.”
Getting one over on Wexford will be no easy task – the champions have lost just one league game all season, conceding a miserly ten goals along the way.
They represented the league with distinction in the Champions League last month, mixing it with big professional sides like Ajax of Amsterdam and beating Linfield in Belfast.
And, in Rianna Jarrett, they have the league’s top scorer and most improved player, whose 25 goals just about eclipse the 21 scored by the Peas’ own Amber Barrett.
O’Gorman has chipped in 11 goals of her own – including a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Cork City – though she missed out on Ireland cap 101 when Jarrett was selected to face Northern Ireland.
“Rianna has had a really good season and she’s a quality player. I’m delighted for her, especially with her history of knee injuries.
“She brings a different dynamic to our team, as she does with Wexford. She’s been on fire in front of goal, so I can’t really complain, but hopefully we can stop her in two weeks time.”
The week after sees Peamount return to Wexford in the league, where they’re still hopeful of reining in the seven-point gap between them and the league leaders.
“Shels beating Wexford in the league maybe keeps it still within touching distance. Shels and Wexford have to play again and we play Wexford the week after the cup final in Ferrycarrig.
“There’s a few tough games coming up and hopefully they drop a few points and we can nip in there.”
