- Macdara Ferris
- Sun, Jul 02 2023
Macdara Ferris reports from Blanchflower Stadium in Belfast
Shamrock Rovers got their second win in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup but it wasn’t enough to make it out of the group and through to the semi-finals of this new competition.
Their loss last week in Wexford, coupled with Youths late winner against Peamount United on Saturday, meant progression was out of their hands when they travelled up the M1 on Sunday.
Glentoran knew they needed to beat the Hoops if they were to join Cliftonville, Galway United and Cork City in the knock out stages but they failed to do so.
A Shannon Coady brace along with a Melissa O’Kane goal gave Rovers the win and meant it is Wexford Youths who make the semi-finals.
It was an impressive win for the Hoops against Glentoran who are top of the league unbeaten with nine wins from ten games and a side packed with Northern Ireland internationals.
Collie O’Neill made four changes from the Rovers team who lost 5-3 in Wexford last weekend with Stephanie Zambra coming in for her first start since March and Amanda Budden back in goal for her first appearance in this competition.
Rovers were clinical with the chances that came their way in the first half. The Hoops had the lead inside 14 minutes when Coady slotted home with a powerful volley when the ball fell to her in the box after Zambra challenged for the ball with Kelly Bailie.
They doubled their lead just after the half hour mark when Melissa O’Kane got on the end of a Coady pass to steer the ball into the corner of Ellie Scott’s goal.
The Glens will have felt hard done by to be trailing by two at the break but they failed to make Budden work in the first half despite the pressure that they put on the Hoops defence.
The home side, who were playing this tie in Harland and Wolff Welders' Blanchflower Stadium, showed plenty of attacking threat through Emily Watson on the right flank and the lively Joely Andrews. The experienced Demi Vance – formerly of Rangers and Leicester – caused the Hoops plenty of difficulty with a number of surging runs off the left.
The Glens pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half with Zambra ruing a short back pass that allowed Kerry Beattie to beat half time substitute Summer Lawless to the ball and poke it home by the keeper.
Soon after Jess Gargan twice almost scored an own goal as her interception facing her own goal put the ball by Lawless and then running back she got to the ball just before the goal line with her clearance coming off the post but out to safety from a Hoops perspective.
Rovers restored their two goal lead in the 70th minute when Coady exploited a collision between Orlaith O'Mahony and Glens skipper Jessica Foy. The ball ran through to Coady who rounded Scott and slotted it home.
Lawless pulled off a fine save late on from Vance but she could do nothing about Vance’s penalty three minutes from time after substitute Aoibhe Fleming handled Emily Wilson’s cross but it was too little too late for the team from East Belfast.
Rovers go into the lengthy World Cup break with a win and their next competitive game is not till the FAI Cup at the end of next month.
Glentoran: Ellie Scott (Ashleigh McKinnon 81); Jenna McKearney (Sarah Tweedie 75), Kelly Bailie, Jessica Foy; Emily Wilson, Emma McMaster, Chloe McCarron, Demi Vance; Kerry Anne Beattie (Megan Neill 81), Samantha Kelly (Kascie Weir 69), Joely Andrews.
Subs not used: Rebecca Magee, Nadene Caldwell.
Booked: None.
Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden (Summer Lawless 46); Jessica Gargan ©, Jessica Hennessy, Savannah McCarthy, Lia O'Leary; Orlaith O'Mahony (Aoibhe Fleming 84), Melissa O'Kane(Alannah Prizeman 75), Aoife Kelly; Shannon Coady (Lauren Kelly 84), Stephanie Zambra (Jaime Thompson 68); Alannah McEvoy.
Subs not used: Shauna Fox, Chloe McCarthy.
Booked: None.
Referee: Louise Thompson.
Attendance: 500 (estimate)
extratime.com Player of the Match: Shannon Coady (Shamrock Rovers)
