Denise O'Sullivan celebrates first trophy with Gotham - 'everything filtered through her'

Cork's Denise O'Sullivan has celebrated her first trophy with New York club Gotham FC - having joined on loan from Liverpool in July.

Gotham FC claimed the NWSL Shield on Sunday - the prize for the best regular-season record. They overcame Utah Royals 2-0 on the NWSL's 'Decision Day', with O'Sullivan excelling in her customary midfield role.

Gotham, with an overall 18-5-7 record, are now top seed for the NWSL playoffs - giving them home advantage all the way to a possible final. They first face No. 8 seed Seattle Reign next Sunday in the quarter-final.

Triumphing once again in the playoffs would make current champs Gotham the first back-to-back NWSL champions since O'Sullivan's North Carolina in 2018 and 2019. It would also make them the NWSL's first-domestic treble winners, having won the Challenge Cup and the Shield.

Former Chelsea Norwegian star Guro Reiten and USA youngster Jaedyn Shaw scored for Gotham, with Ann-Katrin Berger making two crucial saves for her 11th clean sheet of the season.

O'Sullivan's performance was lauded in the USA media, with The Sporting News reporting: "Midseason acquisition Denise O'Sullivan and substitute Savannah McCaskill were excellent in the engine room, with McCaskill coming on to replace an injured Jaelin Howell midway through the first half."

"O'Sullivan was brilliant in midfield both on and off the ball, as everything seemed to filter through her in possession."

The Irishwoman, who joined Gotham midway through the campaign, afterwards posted on X.

"League Champions. Truly deserved for an incredible group of people from top to bottom."

It's a star-studded Gotham lineup, also featuring US superstars Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle, ex-Chelsea Australian Sam Kerr, as well as England regular Jess Carter.

Last month, O'Sullivan told the Irish Examiner's John Fallon: “The calibre of players on the team is world class. It’s a challenge, I can’t get complacent there, the spots are up for grabs.

“It’s really good, a great environment to be part of and, of course, living in New York as well is a big bonus."

O'Sullivan has already won two NWSL championships, three NWSL Shields and two NWSL Challenge Cups during her time with North Carolina Courage.