Lawlor claims Player of the Year title

She may have been one of the league’s outstanding players, but Peamount United’s Sara Lawlor was still stunned after she was named player of the year at the WNL awards ceremony on Tuesday.

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it at all” the striker said. “It was even great to be nominated. I really wasn’t expecting it, with the likes of Denise O’Sullivan and Steph [Roche], but when they said my name I was so delighted.”

Peamount’s ‘goals for’ column grabbed plenty of headlines throughout the season, with Eileen Gleeson’s side netting 66 times. Lawlor and her strike partner Stephanie Roche scored an incredible 39 of those goals, and Lawlor credits her strike partner with much of her good form. 

“I love working with Steph up front” Lawlor said. “I think we complement each other. I’m fast, she’s more technical. She drops off and I play on the last shoulder, so we seem to connect really well.”

Their run-in to the league title wasn’t as smooth as it could have been, with the trophy only being sealed on the final day of the season. Lawlor says that Peamount are a better side after such a dramatic title race with Raheny United. 

“We also knew going into the season that Raheny were well up for it and that they were going to give us a run for our money. I think overall we were the better side, our score lines reflect that.”

“Bringing it to the last day and actually winning it at home on the last day was the way we wanted to win it. So it worked out well in the end.”

After the League Cup final this Sunday in Tallaght Stadium against Shamrock Rovers, attention will turn again to the Champions League. Peas made history last season by reaching the knockout stages, and Lawlor admitted that the excitement was building already.

“We’re all double excited about the Champions League again” she said. “Last year it was an amazing thing for the club and for Ireland to get so far. We’re looking forward to another break after Sunday. A nice 4-6 week break, then back in for the Champions League.”