Things have been much different this season and Alannah McEvoy admits Peamount are struggling to understand why.
Fourth place in the WNL is unfamiliar territory for the 2020 double winners.
With reigning champs Shelbourne nine points ahead of the Peas - albeit having played a game more - the Greenogue outfit have it all to do.
READ MORE: No escaping the Peas for Shelbourne's prodigal star Megan Smyth-Lynch
Despite that, she promises a fired-up Peas performance against Shels in the tie of the FAI Women's Cup quarter-finals.
"We were flying last season, there wasn't a bother on us - everyone thought we had won the League until Shels got ahead on the last day," said McEvoy, who left Shels for Peamount in ahead of the 2020 campaign.
"We won the double in 2020 and I thought, 'brilliant move!'. Obviously we were so close last year again.
"Ever since then we have found it hard to get back to where we were and no-one can put a finger on it. It's annoying.
"It feels like every time we have got a run going a loss knocks us back.
"But yeah, it's Shelbourne, and it's always a big one. We've lost twice to them this season, so it's been different, but we want to make up for the last time."
There wasn't much between the sides in Peamount's 1-0 loss at Tolka Park in May. It was a similar story at PNL Park a fortnight ago - yet Shels ran out 4-0 winners as sub Abbie Larkin wreaked havoc.
"We know what not to do," grimaced the 21-year-old, who is doing an Early Childhood Education and Care course in NCI, ahead of the Tolka clash.
"We won't play so much of a high line, especially if Abbie Larkin is playing!
"Their last couple of results haven't been great, just as ours weren't at the time we last played them.
"Maybe they looked at that and were able to take advantage. Hopefully we can do the same this time."
Like many young WNL players, McEvoy - whose grandfather played for Ireland - has ambitions to play in the WSL and, ultimately, to play senior international football, as she has done through the age grades.
Seeing her friends Jess Ziu and Izzy Atkinson join the exodus cross-channel makes her all the more determined to follow suit.
But she is hopeful that the recent success of the Women's Euros in England will boost the WNL, too.
"There was so much coverage and publicity around it, and a lot of people who might not have been fans of women's football will have watched and seen how good a product it was," said McEvoy.
"They might now think about watching it more.
"When you think you had Karen (Duggan), Aine (O'Gorman) and Steph (Roche) on RTE giving their opinions and doing so with real knowledge of the game, it's great to think they're my team-mates and it might bring more people out to watch us."
FAI Women's Cup Quarter-Finals
Saturday, August 6th
Bohemians v Sligo Rovers, Dalymount Park, KO 1pm
Shelbourne v Peamount United, Tolka Park, KO 2pm
Wexford Youths v DLR Waves, Ferrycarrig Park, KO 6pm
Athlone Town v Cork City, Athlone Town Stadium, KO 7pm
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