- Jessica Farry
- Sun, Nov 27 2011
A Slideshow of Images from the game by Ian Anderson
Shamrock Rovers earned their first point of the 2011 Women’s National League against Wexford Youths at Tallaght Stadium. The hosts were reduced to ten women on 49 minutes after Carol Conlon was given a straight red for an off the ball incident.
It was a pretty chilly afternoon in Tallaght and both sides were quick to get themselves warmed up with a frantic start with the visitors starting brighter. The hosts were playing admirably intricate football and were causing trouble for the Youths. Linda Douglas was a rock though and the Hoops were struggling to get anything past her.
Aoife Maloney was Shamrock Rovers most dangerous player but she was unfortunately replaced just past the half hour mark by Grainne Walsh. The Tallaght side had numerous free-kicks which they failed to convert in to anything and Charlotte McCormack was not bothered in the Wexford goals.
The Rovers keeper Sarah Devlin can be credited with keeping it scoreless as she kept out several efforts from Wexford. Rianna Jarrett was extremely active in the first half but Maria Delahunty failed to convert a perfect cross from the Republic of Ireland international.
The second half arrived and it was all Youths after the dismissal of Carol Conlon. Sarah Devlin was forced in to action once again when her defence got lost and left Rianna Jarrett all by herself but she was unable to get past the Rovers number one. Defensive errors were few in the first half but the second 45 was riddled with them.
Niamh Kinsella was gifted a golden opportunity after the Youths back four got muddled up but Charlotte McCormack was not forced to pull off anything spectacular to keep the ball out. Just two minutes later, McCormack had to cover after a miscommunication between Jessica Gleeson and Trisha Cleary. Luckily for the Wexford side, the ball hit off the back of Aisling Cusack and went out for a goal kick.
Laura Chambers, sister of former Rovers midfielder James Chambers, was brought on 10 minutes before the end and added a new lease of energy to the game earning a free-kick four minutes after her introduction. Unfortunately for both sides there just wasn’t enough time for either to grab the winner.
Shamrock Rovers: Sarah Devlin, Lynsdey Hayden, Michelle Dunne, Carol Conlon, Zara Dillon, Joanne Ennis, Niamh Kinsella, Aisling Cusack (Laura Chambers, 80), Niamh Nolan, Orla Nolan, Aoife Maloney (Grainne Walsh, 33).
Wexford Youths: Charlotte McCormack, Jessica Gleeson, Linda Douglas, Clare Conlon, Trish Cleary, Kylie Murphy, Tara Moloney (Alysha Cullen, 40), Ciara O’Brien, Rianna Jarrett (Ceeley Claydon, 80), Maria Delahunty, Fiona Bennett (Rachel Hutchinson, 80).
Attendance: 100 (unofficial estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of The Match: Sarah Devlin.
