Peamount's Champions League journey ends in Croatia

Peamount United's Women's Champions League journey ended on Saturday evening as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Osikjek in Croatia.

The Peas are in the 'Champions Path' and took part in a four-team mini-tournament this week as they chased progression in the glamour competition.

They had beaten Belarusians Dinamo-BGU FK in the round 1 semi-final on Wednesday to leave themselves 90 minutes away from a place in round 2.

However, the reigning SSE Airtricity women's Premier Division champions came up short despite taking an early lead in tough conditions.

Temperatures hovered around the 30-degree mark as Peamount enjoyed a dream start against Osijek, who were playing on their home patch.

Ariana Anastasiadis failed to hold Karen Duggan's effort from outside the box and Dearbhaile Beirne pounced to knock home the rebound.

Peamount stayed in control during a scrappy opening half played on a dry, bobbly pitch.

Leading at half-time, James O'Callaghan would have asked for more of the same from his charges, but they endured a disastrous start to the second period.

On 47 minutes, Izabela Lojna beautifully steered home a volley with the outside of her boot following a good diagonal from skipper Maja Joscak.

And three minutes later, substitute Paula Petkovic punished a mix-up at the back to turn the game on its head. Niamh Reid-Burke's attemped pass was misguided, with Petkovic getting to the loose ball and clipping a fine first-time finish over the stranded keeper's head and into the net.

Duggan almost equalised with 19 minutes to go when her volley was instinctively pawed onto the woodwork by Anastasiadis.

But the Peas couldn't muster a leveller, with Osijek progressing to Round 2, where the likes of Manchester City, PSG, Real Madrid and