WNL Report: Shelbourne Ladies 1 - 1 UCD Waves

An early Áine O’Gorman penalty was cancelled out by a first goal of the season for Shels skipper Pearl Slattery as Shelbourne and UCD Waves were forced to share the spoils at Morton Stadium on Saturday evening.

After two wins from their opening two games, Waves came into Saturday’s game seeking a third consecutive victory and it was Noel Kealy’s side who started the brightest with Julie Ann Russell having game's first opportunity when her long range effort was easily claimed by Amanda McQuillan.

Despite Russell’s effort being easily saved by the Shels keeper, the visitors took the lead two minutes later when Tiegan Ruddy was adjudged to have fouled Russell. O’Gorman converted the spot kick.

As Shels looked for a way back into the game, Siobhan Killeen almost saw her cross from the right flank sail into the back of the net, but Waves keeper Brooke Dunne recovered to claim possession under her crossbar.

Soon after, Shels did in fact force an equaliser after UCD failed to clear a Killeen corner. The ball fell to Slattery, who poked home from close range despite the best efforts of Claire Walsh on the goal line.

Waves had another excellent chance to regain their lead midway through an even opening half when Dearbhaile Beirne found Catherine Cronin with a beautifully-weighted cross, but the winger's first time volley was straight at the Shels shot-stopper.

With chances limited for the remainder of the half, Waves had two excellent opportunities late on. First Emily Cahill headed an O’Gorman corner straight at McQuillan before the same combination combined in additional time. This time Cahill’s headed effort cannoned off the woodwork.

When the sides resumed for the second half, it was Waves who once again started on the front foot.

Nine minutes after the break O’Gorman found herself through on goal after she raced onto a through ball, but her low shot was palmed away by McQuillan before Cronin failed to trouble the Shels shot-stopper with the rebound.

As UCD continued to press forward, both Russell and O’Gorman saw efforts easily saved by the Shels keeper.

With Shels being resorted to long range efforts for a large proportion of the second period, their best opportunity of the half arrived with 20 minutes remaining.

Ruddy dispossessed UCD before releasing Niamh Prior with a long range ball, but the winger's effort was excellently saved by Dunne before the shot-stopper denied Killeen on the rebound from close range.

As both sides went in search of a winning goal, both Cahill and Slattery exchanged opportunities however neither failed to trouble the opposition keeper with their headed efforts.

Despite late pressure from the Waves through O’Gorman and Lauren Kelly, they failed to trouble the Shels goal and the sides were forced to settle for a point a piece.

You can listen to a post game interview with UCD Waves player Julie Ann Russell here.

Shelbourne Ladies: Amanda McQuillan; Courtney Higgins, Jamie Finn, Tiegan Ruddy, Lynn Craven, Siobhan Killeen, Pearl Slattery, Roma McLaughlin, Fiona Donnelly (Kate Mooney 68), Niamh Prior; Alex Kavanagh.

Subs Not Used: Niamh Reid Burke, Chloe McNamee, Carla Moran.

Booked: Tiegan Ruddy (5) Pearl Slattery (77), Siobhan Killeen (89).

UCD Waves: Brooke Dunne; Jetta Berrill, Emily Cahill, Claire Walsh, Rebekah Carroll; Dearbhaile Beirne, Karen Duggan, Orlagh Nolan, Julie Ann Russell, Catherine Cronin (Lauren Kelly 68); Aine O’Gorman.

Subs Not Used: Erica Turner, Sinead Gaynor, Naimi Chemaou, Sophie O’Donoghue, Kerri Letmon, Katie Burdis.

Booked: Jetta Berrill (89).

Referee: Natasha Valentini.

Attendance: 120 (estimate).

Player of the Match: Tiegan Ruddy (Shelbourne Ladies)