Preview: Peas begin their Champions League mission

Reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions Peamount United flew to Croatia on Monday to begin their Women's Champions League mission, whch begins Wednesday morning with a clash against the Belarusians Dinamo-BGU FK.

James O'Callaghan's side won the league last October after a brilliantly efficient campaign, and though they have failed to hit those heights this year, Europe offers a tantalising shot at redemption.

Peamount are fifth in the league, 12 points adrift of leaders Athlone Town having played two games more. Bohs knocked them out of the FAI Cup last month, so they really are all in on this.

The Peas entered the tournament through the 'Champions Path', which means they have to come through a Round 1 semi-final and final before making it to Round 2, where the likes of Manchester City, PSG, Real Madrid and potentially Arsenal lie in wait.

If they were to scalp someone over two legs in Round 2, Peamount would go into the group stages of the competition. That would be an achievement so seismic it's almost difficult to comprehend, but for now the Dubliners must focus on the first hurdle in their European odyssey.

There are 11 four-team tournaments in the Champions Path, all dotted around the continent.

Peamount are in Tournament 9, which takes place in Osijek, Croatia, where they will square up to Dinamo-BGU FK from Minsk. The winners will take on either Osijek or Slovakian outfit Spartak Myjava this Saturday.

Thirteen years ago Peamount 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.

PSG ended the dream with a 5-0 aggregate win, but they were heady times for