Women's FAI Cup Report: Shelbourne 2 - 2 Wexford Youths (Youths win 4-2 on penalties)

See a slideshow of pictures from the game as taken by Tom Beary, Peter Fitzpatrick and Eoin Smith by clicking here.

Wexford Youths earned a first Women’s FAI Cup final success on Sunday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium when they came from behind to defeat Shelbourne Ladies on penalties.

In their first cup final appearance, Wexford Youths started the brighter of the two sides and had early chances, but Emma Hansberry failed to find the target from dead balls. With Shelbourne being limited to half chances, Siobhan Killeen will feel she should have controlled possession better deep inside the Youths box from a Rachel Graham cross.

After a scrappy opening fifteen minutes, Youths had a great chance when Claire O’Riordan dispossessed Shauna Newman before Ciara Rossiter whipped a dangerous ball across the six yard box. With Shels being forced to defend for large periods of the game, they had a great opportunity to counter attack when Noelle Murray broke from deep, but by the time she tried to find Grace Murray, Ruth Fahey stepped in to intercept.

As Shels continued to grow in the game, Noelle Murray was again involved, this time she earned a dangerous free-kick before she flicked on Newman’s delivery towards the front post, but Mary Rose Kelly saved well.

Jamie Finn was next to try her luck, but her shot from the edge of the box went the wrong side of the Youths goal. With twenty-eight minutes on the clock Youths will feel they should have taken the lead, but O’Riordan fired wide from close range. On the half hour mark, Youths were forced to make an alteration between the posts when Rose Kelly landed awkwardly and damaged her knee.

Despite the alteration in goal, Youths continued to push forward with Rossiter forcing a fantastic save from Niamh Reid Burke. With half-time fast approaching Youths had three opportunities on goal, but Kylie Murphy, Breen and O’Riordan failed to test the keeper.

After Youths having the best chances in the opening period, it was Shels who had the second-half’s first opportunity, but Finn failed to find the target. Soon after Finn’s effort, Shels were forced to defend dangerously inside their own box as first Keeva Keenan blocked Hansberry before skipper Pearl Slattery denied the midfielder for the second time in quick succession before Breen found the side netting from the resulting corner.

With ten minutes on the clock in the second-half, Shels grabbed the lead after Siobhan Killeen cut in from the left before firing over Tamara Furlong's head with a lovely weighted lob. Soon after falling behind, Youths had two shouts for a penalty when Keenan made two courageous tackles inside her own penalty area.

The sides, continued to exchange opportunities with twenty-five minutes remaining, both Niamh Walsh and Rachel Graham firing wide for Shels while O’Riordan fired wide for Youths. With both sides beginning to tire, Youths continued to create promising opportunities with first Breen firing wide when through on goal before several minutes later, Murphy will feel she was unlucky not to score when she headed off the crossbar from close range.

Less than two minutes later, Youths had another great chance to equalise, but O’Riordan fired wide from close range. Despite being under the Cosh, Shels had late goals to extend their lead, but Sarah Rowe’s tame effort was easily gathered by the keeper before Noelle Murray forced the keeper into a brilliant save with a long range effort.

As the trophy looked like it was staying in the capital for another year, Youths grabbed an equaliser in the fifth minute of additional time when a Hansberry free-kick was saved by Reid Burke before Breen recycled and Rossiter appeared to bundle the ball over from close range.

With extra-time for the third consecutive cup final at the Aviva stadium, Youths began the brighter with O’Riordan and Breen having efforts before Hansberry hit the crossbar. In the second period of extra-time, Rianna Jarrett forced a good stop from Reid Burke after she latched onto a ball and struck from the edge of the box.

Five minutes into the second-half of extra-time, Youths took the lead in what seemed like a harsh decision on the Shels goalkeeper, Maria Delahunty stroke home from the edge of the box after Reid Burke appeared to be pushed on her goal line.

In the last minute of extra-time Casey McQuillan’s side grabbed an equaliser when Finn headed off the crossbar before Rebecca Creagh’s shot found Dearbhaile Beirne free at the back post to slot home.

With the game being decided from twelve yards, Fahey, Jarrett, O’Riordan and Murphy were successful from the spot to give the Southeast side glory after Furlong saved from Noelle Murray and Shauna Newman hit the crossbar.

Shelbourne Ladies: Niamh Reid Burke (GK): Keeva Keenan, Niamh Walsh, Pearl Slattery, Shauna Newman: Siobhan Killeen (Dearbhaile Beirne 85), Rachel Graham (Lauren Dwyer 68), Jamie Finn, Grace Murray (Sarah Rowe 59),  Rebecca Creagh: Noelle Murray

Subs Not Used: Amanda McQuillan (GK), Fiona Donnelly, Avril Brierley, Sinead Taylor

Booked: N.Murray (87)

Wexford Youths: Mary Rose Kelly (Tamara Furlong 32): Nicola Sinnott, Ruth Fahey, Edel Kennedy, Ciara Rossiter: Linda Douglas (Maria Delahunty 61), Kylie Murphy, Emma Hansberry, Aisling Frawley (Rianna Jarrett 77): Carol Breen, Claire O’Riordan

Subs Not Used: Orlaith Conlon, Jessica Gleeson, Becky Cassin, Rachel Hutchinson

Booked: None.

Referee: Paula Brady

Attendance: 1,000 (estimate)

Extratime Player of the Match: Keeva Keenan (Shelbourne Ladies)

You can listen to post match interviews from both managers with Aaron Clarke, Willie Doyle (here), Casey McQuillan (here)