Collie O’Neill on this weekend’s Hoops and Shels FAI cup clash in Tallaght

Collie O'Neill on the sideline during his team's 3-1 win over Shelbourne

Collie O'Neill on the sideline during his team's 3-1 win over Shelbourne Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

In the first season since their return to senior women’s football Shamrock Rovers have chance this weekend to reach next month’s FAI Women’s Cup Final which will be played in their home stadium.

On Saturday, they take on last season’s double winners Shelbourne in the cup semi-final in Tallaght – a venue where they defeated the Reds 3-1 in the league last weekend. It was a victory that moved Collie O’Neill’s team above Shels and into second in the table.

The Hoops re-entry into the league this season after a nine year absence caused quite the stir – particularly after the signing of six players who lined out in the WNL last year from both Peamount United and Shelbourne.

The only defeat for Rovers in the league so far came against Peamount in June and it means the league title looks likely out of their reach as they sit nine points behind United with four matches to play albeit with one of them a game in hand on the Peas.

However, the Hoops have silverware in sight if they can overcome Shelbourne for the second time in eight days and go on to win the final against either Sligo Rovers or Athlone Town next month.

The win over Shels last weekend laid down a marker for this cup semi-final with the Hoops taking a 3-0 into the half time break thanks to goals from Scarlett Herron, Áine O’Gorman and Alannah McEvoy. Five of the team lined out with the Reds last year.

Speaking to extratime.com after the game, the Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill said he was “pleased with the result” but did note there was “room for improvement in the performance.”

The eye catching goals – involving plenty of passing and movement – have been the hallmark of this Hoops team under O’Neill this season.

“It took us a while to get into that game - 15 or 20 minutes - but I think once we settled in and started playing I thought we were good,” said O’Neill. “Particularly our third goal, to be able to pull them apart like that is something that weve been doing over the past couple of weeks.



“It is the bit that maybe I'm hard to please with and I’m what unhappy with is that we can do that more often. We have worked hard on it. We have different patterns of play that we work on the training ground and the speed is getting better and better. There is an extra level there - they are only growing.”

Since the loss to Peamount before the long World Cup break, the Hoops have won five in a row in the league and FAI Cup. Shelbourne’s injury time goal in Tallaght was the first they conceded since the defeat to the Peas.

“I was very dissapointed we didn’t keep a clean sheet. I love clean sheets. Amanda (Budden – returning from injury in goal), Shauna (Fox) and Jess (Hennessy) did really well. It was a different type of game in the second half. You are dealing with long balls and second balls.

"I thought for most of it we dealt well with it but will have to make some adjustments to be ready for next week.

“There will be a lot of attention around the semi-final. The Shels fans were pretty loud and vocal and it will be the same next weekend.



“It is a bit of a strange one that we play them again so soon but we are only treating it has half time but the score is reset at 0-0. We are going to try to add to what we've been able to do against them and it will come down to fine margins.”

An additional margin the Hoops now have in midfield is Scarlett Herron who was very impressive scoring for the second league game in a row and picking up the TG4 player of the match award against Noel King’s Shels.

“She is a good player with a great engine,” said O’Neill about the 18-year-old midfielder who signed from Athlone Town during the summer. “It is amazing when you see her GPS stats they are off the charts. I think the girls up in Monaghan run off a different type of diesel!

“She has been a great addition along with Joy (Ralph) and Tiegan (Ruddy) that have come in. They are great additions to the squad and helps us set a higher standard. Players need to work harder to get into the side.”

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile