It was party time at Peamount as United celebrated their first title in three seasons, and one which boss James O'Callaghan called his "sweetest of all the league titles", by hitting Sligo Rovers for six to round off their season in style.
The jubilation from the manager and players alike was completely understandable given it was such a tumultuous season off the field, starting with losing a number of club stalwarts, to then seeing top scorer Kate Mooney depart midway through the season, and juggling lengthy injuries to the likes of star left-back Tara O’Hanlon.
But the Peas kept plugging along, losing just twice in a hugely competitive league to regain the crown.
On the field, and following a respectful guard of honour, Sligo Rovers tried their best to play spoil-sport at a chilly PRL Park, as the curtain came down on another thrilling WNL season. And the visitors didn't make the near 400-kilometre round trip just to make up the numbers forcing a dangerous set-piece and right-winger Casey Howe looking dangerous with the ball at her feet.
The talented Irish Under-19 International trio of Jess Fitzgerald, Freya Healy & Ellen Dolan were named in a strong starting 11 and were influential throughout. Both Healy and Dolan forced Sligo stopper Amber Hardy into two superb saves from point blank range within the first 10-minutes as the champions looked to put on a show for a big crowd in South Dublin.
Erin McLoughlin, was next to go close but was once again smothered by the exceptional Hardy to keep it level.
It took until 10 minutes from the break for the deadlock to be broken when midfield maestro and player-of-the-match Jess Fitzgerald, having been tee’d up invitingly by Dolan, struck an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner from 25-plus yards.
And the opener, not only put her side in the lead, but also massively benefited the club's academy thanks to an incredibly-generous initiative from one of the clubs sponsors IP Telecom, who pledged to donate 500 euro to the young Peas setup for every goal scored.
The donation tally was doubled on the stroke of half time when Ellen Dolan latched onto a clever Healy through ball before finishing expertly over the helpless Hardy.
Five minutes after the restart it was three when Leah Kelly’s hands were raised too high in the area, blocking Dearbhaile Beirne’s cross from the left. McLoughlin stepped up to coolly convert, getting the goal her performance deserved.
The hosts were running riot down the left and the same avenue provided the fourth and Dolan’s second brilliantly converting a side foot volley, having been picked out by the rampaging Beirne.
Jess Fitzgerald grabbed her second minutes later with yet another stunner from distance, powering home a free kick before the impressive Emma Doherty grabbed a consolation as she broke the offside trap, racing through to round Niamh Reid-Burke to pull one back for the visitors.
The hosts were ruthless in the second half and substitute Avril Brierly got in on the act of "who can score from further out" as her thunderbolt flew into the bottom corner with still a quarter of an hour still to play.
But settling for six, the home side greeted the final whistle with a massive roar as the bench emptied to celebrate together on the pitch.
Elsewhere around the League, Shamrock Rovers missed out on finishing second after drawing 4-4 with Athlone Town, who saw Dana Scheriff score twice to finish as top goalscorer with 13 goals in total.
Shelbourne won 5-1 away to Cork City, with Christie Gray netting twice, Bohemians triumphed 1-0 over Treaty United courtesy of a Mia Dodd penalty and Galway United beat Wexford Youths 4-0 at Ferrycarrig Park, with Abbie Callanan and Rola Olsuola scoring a brace each.
The domestic season will conclude with the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup Final next Sunday, at Tallaght Stadium with Athlone Town taking on holders Shelbourne.
Peamount United: Niamh Reid-Burke, Lauryn O’Callaghan (Shannon Thomas, 83’), Jetta Berrill, Chloe Moloney (Mia McGonnell, 64’), Dearbhaile Beirne, Karen Duggan, Jess Fitzgerald, Sadhbh Doyle, Erin McLoughlin (Louise Masterson, 83’), Ellen Dolan (Avril Brierly, 64’), Freya Healy (Rebecca Watkins, 56’)
Subs: Niamh Richardson, Niamh Coombes, Toni Marie Ceno
Sligo Rovers: Amber Hardy, Leah Kelly (Ciara Henry, 67’), Emma Hansberry (Jessica Casey, 81’), Lauren Boles (Kate Nugent,86’), Emma Doherty, Casey Howe (Katie Melly, 82’), Keri Loughrey, Eimear Lafferty (Amy Roddy, 68’), Jodie Loughrey, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie
Subs: Bonnie McKiernan, Amy Hyndman, Kerrie O’Hara, Helen Monaghan
