Karen Duggan may be no stranger to picking up trophies but she has learnt to take nothing for granted in the SSE Airtricity Women's National League.
The Kilkenny native has been named as the winner of the SSE Airtricity Women's National League Player of the Month Award for September.
It is another trophy to add to a cabinet that is already stuffed with two Player of the Season awards, six Team of the Season honours, three League winners' medals and one FAI Women's Cup winners' medal. Plus a few runners-up medals that may not be polished as the others.
Yet, the Peamount United player is still fighting in every game just as hard and never expecting for luck to just fall her way. Take last weekend for example, a gritty duel away to Bohemians and she fractures a couple of bones in her hand, but she played her part to help the champions take the three points.
Peamount need players like Duggan to keep producing big performances if they are to stay in front in one of the best title races in League history. The 30-year-old - who was switched to centre-back in September - is happy to take any plaudits, as long as she can share them with her team-mates.
Duggan said: "I'm very privileged to win an SSE Airtricity Player of the Month award. I think there was a lot of stiff competition this month. It was an interesting month, obviously we had the break in the League and fewer games to look at but the standard has been really, really high."
Leanne Sheill, SSE Airtricity Marketing Manager, said: "Congratulations to Karen Duggan, on being named SSE Airtricity Women’s National League Player of the Month for September. It’s been great to see the commitment and quality that Karen and Peamount United have been shown over the last month with them climbing back to the top of the League.
Karen Duggan of Peamount United with her SSE Airtricity Women’s National League Player of the Month award for September!
📸 @SportsfilePOM https://t.co/qDzaBzTMhM pic.twitter.com/Vw7SBO5D5T— sportsfile (@sportsfile) October 1, 2021
"As proud sponsor of the League this season, we’ve been delighted to see the continued return of spectators to stadiums in recent weeks. And we expect this will make the thrilling title race that is unfolding all the more special! We can’t wait to see how it all unfolds and who comes out on top."
Duggan hailed the involvement of SSE Airtricity as title sponsors of the League, saying: "The impact of having SSE Airtricity has been huge on the League. It becomes more and more visible, we're able to get more and more people out to the games because of what we're seeing on Twitter and online...and long may it continue.
"It's going to help participation in the underage Leagues and help us to grow from strength to strength."
Duggan was selected ahead of Wexford Youths ace Ellen Molloy and Cork City midfielder Eva Mangan, who finished second & third respectively in the voting.
4️⃣ big games on this w/e!
Including @shelsfc v @DLRWaves live on @SportTG4 #WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/Hl8gNdvwjx— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) October 1, 2021
2021 SSE Women's National League Player of the Month Winners
March / April: Rachel Kearns (Galway WFC)
May: Eleanor Ryan-Doyle (Peamount United)
June / July: Kylie Murphy (Wexford Youths)
August: Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC)
September: Karen Duggan (Peamount United)
NO WAY THROUGH ❌
Stats leaders on the players making vital interceptions#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/1Uiqp5xiXi— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) September 30, 2021
TG4
LET'S MAKE HISTORY!
As the TG4 cameras set up in Tolka Park for the first ever live broadcast of an SSE Airtricity Women's National League game, there is another reason to get excited.
Shelbourne's duel with DLR Waves is free for supporters to attend and there is a big push by both clubs to make this a record crowd for a League game.
Be part of this historic occasion! Bring the family, tag along with friends. Come and enjoy the passion and skill of top flight women's football.
Shelbourne v DLR Waves
Saturday, October 2nd
KO 17:00
Tolka Park
FREE ENTRY
LIVE ON TG4
Today is the day when #WNL makes the TV 😀
⚽️ @shelsfc v @DLRWaves
📺 LIVE on TG4
⏰ KO 17:00
🏟 Tolka Park pic.twitter.com/wiH4GJLbuK— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) October 2, 2021
