League Report: Shelbourne 0 - 0 Bohemians

Paul Corcoran reports from Tolka Park

Shelbourne extended their unbeaten run to twelve games when they played out a 0-0 draw with Bohemians in the Women’s National League on Wednesday night.

The Reds are now eight points clear at the top of the table after the draw at Tolka Park.

Noel King named two changes to his side from their 1-1 draw with Athlone Town at the weekend, Shauna Fox and Keeva Keenan both dropped to the bench after picking up knocks at the weekend with Jemma Quinn and Alex Kavanagh coming into the starting line-up.

The away side were unchanged from their 3-1 loss to Wexford Youths at the weekend with manager Sean Byrne opting to stick with the same cohort that suffered a disappointing late defeat at Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday.

This Northside Derby was a cagey affair for the opening ten minutes with little in the way of chances to speak of, that was until Bohemians’ Rebecca Cooke went on a mazy run up the field which had the Reds on the back foot.

It was Cooke herself who took on the shoot after an extended period of pressure by the visitors, but her effort sailed over the bar.

Shelbourne had their first clear cut chance just a couple of minutes later when Alex Kavanagh slipped a ball through the defence to the feet of Noelle Murray, the striker was a dead cert to score only for the intervention of Rachael Kelly who bravely stripped the ball from Murray’s feet.

Megan Smyth-Lynch almost had the home side in front in spectacular fashion with a free-kick from the edge of the box in the 19^th minute, the midfielder’s effort had Kelly well beaten and was on its way in only for it to clip the crossbar.

Erica Burke did well to break the tackle of Pearl Slattery in the 35^th minute to break into the opposing half, she crossed the ball to Abbie Brophy and there was a touch of controversy after it appeared her shot was handballed in the box, but referee Mark Patchell waved it away immediately,

The Reds cleared and were almost immediately in for a goal at the other end when Jemma Quinn took the ball on, Kelly again came to the rescue with a big save from Quinn’s close range effort.

Brophy was causing havoc down the right wing all evening and she very nearly set up the opening goal two minutes later after some neat play outside the box got her beyond her marker, she crossed and Chloe Darby rose highest in the box, only for the midfielder to nod the ball narrowly over the bar.

Despite a good deal of pressure from the Gypsies up to half-time, it was Shelbourne that came out firing in the second half in the opening exchanges, Abbie Larkin drew a save from Kelly just after the re-start, that was then followed by a narrow miss from Rachel Graham and a long-range effort from Megan Smyth-Lynch just before the hour mark.

The Gypsies did have an effort on target when Rachel Doyle struck a good free-kick just after the hour mark, but Amanda Budden had her goal covered well to deny the midfielder an impressive goal.

Quinn’s cross in the 67^th minute caused trouble for the visitors when the defensive header wound up at Smyth-Lynch’s feet, she fired a shot off on goal but Kelly was able to get her hands to the effort and bat the ball over the bar.

Second half substitute Aoife Robinson went close for Bohemians with five minutes to go when Abbie Brophy found her at the near post with a cross, she couldn’t control the header and sent the ball over the bar.

Shels had a chance to clinch the three points in injury time when Noelle Murray sent a free-kick into the box, Jessie Stapleton headed the ball on and substitute Izzy Glennon flashed a leg at the ball but sent the ball wide.

Shelbourne FC: Amanda Budden; Jess Gargan, Jessie Stapleton, Pearl Slattery, Alex Kavanagh (Shauna Fox, 64), Rachel Graham, Abbie Larkin, Noelle Murray, Megan Smyth-Lynch (Izzy Glennon, 88), Leah Doyle (Emma Starr, 75), Jemma Quinn (Keeva Keenan, 75).

Subs not used: Amanda McQuillan, Courtney Maguire, Taylor White, Kate O'Dowd.

Bohemians WFC: Rachael Kelly; Ann Marie Byrne, Isobel Finnegan, Lisa Murphy, Katie Lovely, Rachel Doyle, Chloe Darby (Aoife Robinson, 71), Kira Bates-Crosbie, Rebecca Cooke, Abbie Brophy, Erica Burke (c).

Subs not used: Molly O'Brien, Oletta Griffin, Katie Burdis, Abbie O'Hara, Niamh Prior, Bronagh Kane, Erin Phelan, Freya Roche.

Booked: Lisa Murphy (18) Rebecca Cooke (90).

Referee: Mark Patchell.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Megan Smyth-Lynch (Shelbourne)