'It's one of the most selfish decisions I've ever made' - Irish international O'Gorman swaps UCD for Peamount

Peamount United have landed a major blow in the battle to Women's National League race with the signing of UCD Waves captain and Irish international Áine O'Gorman.

 

The striker has spent the past three-and-a-half years with the Students since but has opted to return to her former club in search of a new challenge – and the hunt for trophies.

 

Having captained UCD to the FAI Cup final in November – though she missed the defeat to Cork City with a medial ligament injury sustained on international duty – she's used to leading and putting the needs of others before her own.

 

The 28-year-old is entering her prime, however, and she's decided now is the time to put her own ambitions first and in a return to Greenogue she sees the possibility to win titles.

 

With Peamount having narrowly missed out on the title last month following a last-day defeat to champions Wexford Youths, the potential is there to add to her 2011-12 league winner's medal.

 



“I was looking for a fresh start and a new challenge, and obviously I'd had good seasons with Peamount in the past and they have a good young side.

 

“I want to be successful and I want to win trophies. I want to be part of a good set-up and I think Peamount has the ingredients to be very successful.

 

“The management team over there are very ambitious, so it seems like a good environment. I want to maximise what I can do.

 



“It's probably one of the most selfish decisions I've ever made, to move on from a group of girls I've played with for a while, but hopefully it's the right decision.”

 

Leaving UCD – a club she's led from the front since its creation in 2013 – was a difficult decision but ultimately one she felt was the right one in order to realise her potential for trophies.

 

Waves' tilt at the title tapered off disappointingly last season while they were outfought by an up-and-coming Cork City side at the Aviva Stadium, and O'Gorman felt the time was right to move.

 

“It was something I had to think long and hard about and I was chatting to the girls because, obviously,

 

“I didn't want to let any of the girls down at UCD or anything like that. I suppose I had to move on for myself and have a fresh start and a new challenge.”

 

While she'd glide into any side in the league, when she made the decision to leave UCD there was only ever going to be one team the former Doncaster Belles player could bring herself to play for.

 

“Peamount is probably the only other club I would play for. I've played for them in the past and I don't think I would even consider any other options.

 

“If I was going to leave UCD I was going to go to Peamount.”