Peamount United are targeting a Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup run in a bid to finish a frustrating season with some silverware but the returning Eleanor Ryan-Doyle knows they have their work cut out against cup specialists Athlone Town on Saturday.
The Newcastle, Co Dublin club, who were inaugural Women's League Of Ireland champions back in 2011-12, are languishing in eighth position in the 12-team Premier Division and therefore have little choice but to throw all of their eggs in the WFAI Cup basket.
They've drawn home advantage for their quarter-final tie with an Athlone side who have reached the last three cup finals, including a 2023 penalty shootout victory over current holders, Shelbourne.
"The way the season has gone, we only have really the cup to play for," Ryan-Doyle told RTÉ Sport this week.
"It's something that we always want to win. If it's not the league, we want to win cups. We want to win trophies all the time.
"So no matter what we're playing for, we want to win. And unfortunately, this season obviously hasn't gone as planned in the league sense or the other cup. So, it is something we really, really want to win."
They could scarcely have been handed a tougher last-eight task, however. Athlone are riding high in Europe this season and their pedigree in knock-out competitions is growing by the season.
Ryan-Doyle, a cup winner with the Peas back in 2020 and now back in the domestic fold after a frustrating stint cross channel, is under no illusions as to the challenge her side faces on Saturday.
"Athlone are at the peak at the moment, with the Champions League, they're playing in the next round for that," Ryan-Doyle remarked.
"So it'll be a very tough challenge, but if we play the way we can play and obviously get the goals that we can get, it's going to be a tough battle for them against us.
"The home draw is massive. We have the crowd coming to us, they have to plan on our home ground. Great pitch and hopefully, yeah, it'll be tough for them to come to Newcastle to beat us."
Peamount United and Athlone Town kick off their WFAI Cup quarter-final at PRL Park, Greenogue from 5pm on Saturday.
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