Creagh expecting more ruthless Raheny

REBECCA CREAGH has given a fascinating insight into the more ruthless approach Raheny United are taking into the second season of the Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League ahead of their match against Cork Women’s FC at Morton Stadium on Sunday.

Gerard McDermott’s unit finished behind Dublin rivals Peamount United last term by three points despite beating Eileen Gleeson’s side in two of their three league meetings.

Raheny defeated Peamount 4-1 at home, 2-0 away but lost 1-0 on April 8 in front of their own supporters, virtually guaranteeing the title would be heading to the Greenogue-based club.

However, in reality it was the dropping of nine points in the 12 matches against those outside of Peamount that impacted negatively on Raheny’s title aspirations.

This season, however, Raheny do not plan to be as forgiving when pitted against opposition they will be expected to beat.

As the attacking midfielder explains, Raheny United 2.0 as it were will be relentless in their quest to usurp the champions from their pedestal.

“We had beaten Peamount out in Greenogue and it was probably one of our better performances last season after we won the first match against them not having played very well at all.

“But then when we met them in the third league game and cup semi-final things went downhill.

“We had shots hitting the posts, crossbar and ones that went wide which was frustrating.

“In relation to the matches where we were expected to win but didn’t, at the time we wouldn’t have admitted it but in the back of everybody’s minds we were building ourselves up for the Peamount games.

“Subconsciously we probably thought we would cruise to victories, rightly or wrongly, against Castlebar and Wexford Youths,” Creagh explained.

However, this season will be very different if things go according to plan, as the gifted orchestrator illustrates.

“We have a totally different outlook to the league this season and intend to take every game as it comes because we can’t afford to be complacent in any game.

“There is not as much pressure on us either because all the talk last season was about Peamount and Raheny but now it is just all about Peamount which suits us.

“There is less expected of us this time even though we only missed out on winning the division by a slight margin in the end so we are on a bit of a joy-ride so to speak.

“Gerard has told us that we need to be setting the pace in each game, working hard from the get-go and that we cannot underestimate any opposition.

“We are all aware that we have to be far more ruthless in every match and we intend to be because the league is there for the taking provided we brush up on our finishing,” she stated.

And McDermott has drafted in three, new, shrewd recruits – Caroline Thorpe from Peamount, Noelle Murray from Shamrock Rovers and Kate McKeever, formerly of Dundalk – to enhance their title challenge.

Raheny began their present campaign with a comprehensive 6-1 away win at Jackson Park, Kilternan, home of new club DLR Waves with Creagh scoring their first and fourth goals.

Creagh, one of the most influential players in the country from the perspective of creating attacks in particular, hopes the hard graft put in during the off season at the gym and tweaked possession-based game will bear fruit as the campaign evolves.

“We have worked an awful lot on mastering our possession and pressing game and everybody seems fitter now too which makes that game-plan easier to implement.

“Every player in the squad put a lot of hours in at the gym too in pre-season and that was very important because we will be working as hard as we did against DLR Waves for the entire season,” she revealed.

The immediate obstacle in front of Raheny for now however is Cork, a side they defeated four times last term including in the cup quarter-final. But Creagh appreciates the Leesiders have the talent to trouble Raheny if they do not bring their A game.

“Cork certainly have the quality to bridge the gap that was there between the teams last season. You need to only look at Denise O’Sullivan to know that, she is a wonderkid!

“They are obviously in this league for a reason. They just need to keep their heads up and work hard. No team gets success without working for it.

“I reckon they will be very motivated to beat us and will be coming out all guns blazing but we won’t be underestimating them.

“We’re expecting a really physical challenge from Cork on Sunday,” she opined.

Creagh, interestingly, scored eight league goals last term, four of which she ironically notched against Cork.

Her outstanding form resulted in her receiving the official Player of the Month award for April, a place in the Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League All-Stars team and a nomination for the Player of the Year accolade, being one of just six performers short-listed in the country.

Having begun this season in devastating fashion too, Creagh is hopeful of forcing her way into Sue Ronan’s Republic of Ireland senior squad on a more regular basis building on her previous U17 and U19 international experience.

“I have played underage international football and been in some senior squads, especially when Noel King was in charge, but Sue thankfully brought me in again for a few friendlies and hopefully I can make my actual debut very soon.

“I have a great desire to play for Ireland so will keep my head down and do my best to break into the squad this season too,” she added.