Kerri Letmon fires superb Peas through in Champions League qualifiers

Kerri Letmon rose from the bench to fire Peamount United past Dinamo-BGU FK after extra-time, as the Dubliners marched into the Champions League qualifiers round 1 final.

The Peas are in the 'Champions Path' and must come through a semi-final and final in the Croatia-hosted four-team tournament to make round 2.

They faced a tall order against Dinamo-BGU, a side stacked with Belarus internationals, but James O'Callaghan's charges produced a terrific display in 26-degree heat.

The reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions got off to the perfect start at Stadion Gradski vrt, Ellen Dolan drilling home a good low finish in the sixth minute.

Dinamo-BGU hit back in the 33rd minute when Anna Sas levelled from a corner.

It was a nip and tuck thereafter with both sides cancelling each other out, and the game drifted into extra-time.

A spark was required to crack the contest open, and in the 96th minute, substitute Letmon provided it, coolly sliding a good finish past Ekaterina Kovalchuk.

Peamount held their nerve to close out the game and will play either Croatian team Osijek or Slovakians Spartak Myjava on Saturday in the final. Those two clash later today in the other semi-final.

Thirteen years ago the Peas made history when they became the first ever Irish side to emerge from the Women's Champions League qualifying phase, beating Parnu of Estonia and Slovenians Krka to make the round of 32 knockout phase.

A repeat of that would be an immense achievement, and O'Callaghan's players will now focus on recharging the batteries for one more push to progress to round 2.

Dinamo: Ekaterina Kovalchuk; Anastasiya Maher, Alina Charlionak (Hanna Siniauskaya 71), Anna Sas, Yana Artishevskaya (Darya Harshkova 46), Yulia Slesarchik,