Storm Babet sees postponement of two Women’s Premier Division games as Shamrock Rovers look to refocus on securing second spot

Macdara Ferris reports from UCD Bowl

While the Shamrock Rovers Women’s Premier Division game away to DLR Waves fell foul of the weather on Wednesday, ahead of the planned match Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill was full of praise for Peamount United who secured the title over the weekend.

O’Neill, whose team suffered the disappointment of losing at home to Shelbourne in the FAI Cup semi-final on Saturday, is looking for his side to finish the league strongly so they can secure runners up spot ahead of Shels.

The Reds defeated Sligo Rovers 2-1 in Tolka Park on Wednesday to move three points clear of Rovers who have a game in hand.

“Kudos must go to James (O’Callaghan) and the (Peamount United) team for the work that they’ve done because it was one of those things where we were hoping they would slip up,” said O’Neill speaking to shamrockrovers.ie about United winning the league.

Peas claimed the title on Saturday as even if results went Rovers way to see them finish level on points, the Peas head-to-head record meant they won the league (beating Rovers 1-0 in Tallaght prior to the World Cup to go with a scoreless draw in PRL Park earlier in the campaign).

“It might be this week, it might be next week, but they never did. They kept on going so kudos must go to them for being that consistent through the whole of the season.”

The Hoops had signed a number of players this season who had lined out with the Peas in the last campaign - Aoibhe Fleming, Lauren Kelly, Summer Lawless, Áine O’Gorman, Alannah McEvoy  and Stephanie Zambra.

O’Neill is now targeting second spot in Rovers’ first season back in senior woman’s football since 2014. “For us and our achievements here, with a good framework built, it would be nice if we could get that runner-up spot.

“We’ll be trying our best now to win each one of those last four games. I think it’d be nice for the group, for all the work that they have put in to come second to what has been a very, very good Peamount this year.”

The Hoops have to pick themselves up after the disappointing 2-0 cup semi-final defeat to Shels.

“There’s still a lot of reflection going on. Overall the mood has been down. One of the realisation now, that was a great opportunity that we let slip.

"So there was a bit of disappointment there but at least the attitude has been good and it’s been open and honest, so that we try and look for fixes that we don’t come into this kind of situation again.”

Storm Babet was the cause of the Women's Premier Division game between Galway United and Athlone Town also being postponed.

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