Sinead Peach: York captain hungry to end trophy drought as she targets seventh major final
Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix
York star Sinead Peach will resume her pursuit of a first major honour this weekend as her side take on Wigan in a Women’s Super League semi-final clash at Headingley.
There are few current players in the sport who have endured as much major final agony as York’s 24-year-old hooker.
Since 2017, the player has participated in four Challenge Cup finals and two Super League finals, yet she is yet to lift a major piece of silverware.
Nevertheless, Peach has taken a positive look at the situation and revealed her previous defeats have only made her more determined as she attempts to help York to a historic first title.
“I’ve been to some major finals and semi-finals and come up short quite a few times,” said Peach. “Being in reaching distance so many times and having it pulled away from you… It makes you more hungry doesn’t it?
“Never being able to lift that cup and celebrate that win, it just makes you more hungry each year. Obviously, it’s something that I’ve dreamed of.
“Being in all these finals, it’s something that I wanted to have achieved. To achieve that with the team we have at York, it will be massive for the club, for the city; and for everyone that’s put blood, sweat and tears into it.
“Looking into this season, we’ve probably started preparing for this one a year ago when we started to rebuild at York. We were looking at a two-year project before challenging for silverware.
“It’s within reaching distance, two games away. I’m hoping and I’m confident that it is something we can achieve with York this year.”
Sinead Peach helps York clinch League Leaders’ Shield
Peach has enjoyed another strong season this year after helping her side to the League Leaders’ Shield – the first in York’s history and second such success for the hooker.
The former Featherstone and Castleford player will now enter her 10th career semi-final in a game which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
“It’s crazy that this will be the 10th one that I’ve been to,” added Peach. “Each time it’s been a bigger and better occasion. The women’s game is progressing so much. The first semi-final that I was at, compared to where it’s going to be now on Sky Sports, it’s just unbelievable for the women’s game.”
York sealed the Shield and their semi-final clash against Wigan after beating Leeds at Headingley in the final regular season game.
Peach added: “To be on the pitch and to fight up to the final minutes of the game, it was really something special that we all achieved.
“We tried our hardest all season to try and be the best in the league, so to know that we did achieve that is unreal.”
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Knights are raring to go
Looking ahead to taking on the Warriors, Peach said: “They’ve done it tough this season, they’ve had injuries which affected them. But I’m sure they’ll give it all they’ve got in this next game. There’s a big massive trophy at stake so I’m sure they’ll want to be in that grand final.
“When we played them last, it was a tight game to start with. Obviously, the conditions played a part, but we’ll be raring to go and I’m sure we’ll give them all we’ve got.”
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