Peamount Utd announce partnership with NUI Maynooth

On Tuesday evening, Peamount United made what they hope will be a major step to ensuring the former WNL champions will be at the fore-front of Women’s football in Ireland for years to come.

At hand to formerly launch the partnership between Peamount’ and NUI Maynooth were two highly qualified and experienced names within the Irish footballing circuit. Representing NUIM as soccer facilitator, former St Patrick’s Athletic defender Barry Prenderville declared his delight in obtaining a close link with Peamount, his sentiments echoed by recently appointed Peamount’ manager, Robbie Mulligan who citied the partnership as ‘a key part in development our players’ .

Joining forces will see NUI Maynooth scholars avail of an already highly efficient service provided by the university, to include, funding, physiotherapy strength and conditioning as-well as the opportunity to access a degree program and now bolstered by the prospect of continuing to play at the highest level of women’s football in Ireland, the Women’s National League, through Peamount United.

“The core of the project is to aid these young people, you can’t play professionally or semiprofessionally in Ireland, enhance their education while also providing for their clear talent on the pitch”, stated Prenderville.

“We at NUIM are linking with one of the most established and traditionally most successful female clubs in the country whether it’s at underage or at senior level. Peamount United are producing probably the most underage international players so obviously that’s a big plus and if we can get even a proportion of those girls coming to the university it will definitely improve the standard of our representative teams”.

Mulligan, a graduate of DCU, has worked within the realms Women’s football for 7 years, heading up the Southern California Blues soccer club in the US and holds a UEFA ‘A’ License. The Peas’ manager believes this new link will attract more players to the club but also help develop talent emerging from the youth set up, “It’s a great opportunity for both Peamount and NUIM, it’s a new way of keeping players in this country through scholarships because when people think of scholarships it’s in America and Canada where most of our female athletes tend to go.

“But our players now have the chance to stay here with a scholarship and play in the Women’s National League while from the clubs prospectus for the younger players, it’s a pathway which will help keep the younger players in our system while gaining their education”.

Mulligan has been busy since taking over the reins from Eileen Gleeson, with numerous players exiting in the close season, he has been attempting to erect a squad capable of dethroning, back to back champions Raheny United, “Between 10 and 12 players from last season’s squad have left, the majority heading towards UCD Waves, so we have been trying to add to the squad but pre-season has just started so there’s time yet”.