- Christine Allen
- Thu, Jul 25 2024
Christine Allen reports from Tolka Park
Ireland’s under 19 stars Lia O’Leary and Joy Ralph showed no signs of jet lag as they landed Shamrock Rovers a place in the Final of the All Island Cup with a 2-1 win over Shelbourne on Wednesday night.
Joy was evident on the faces of the Rovers Women as referee Mark Moynihan placed the whistle between his lips to signal the end of what was a frenetic seven minutes of additional time at Tolka Park.
Shelbourne’s Katie McCarn and Hannah Healy looked dead certs to dig out the equaliser in the final seconds but were denied by Hoops goal minder Amanda Budden from close range.
Rovers' opener came in the 9th minute when an early ball from Jessica Hennessy found captain Aine O’Gorman who cut inside and swept a high cross towards the back post.
Just like the Lithuanian time zone, O’Leary was a beat ahead throughout. The number eleven would muscle past former Hoop Jess Gargan and control the ball with her chest before striking it on the bounce with her weaker right into the bottom left hand corner.
Shelbourne however looked dangerous for the full 90 as Roma McLaughlin, Alex Kavanagh, Éabha O'Mahony and Quinn surged forward.
Were it not for a generous rub of the green, and the strength of the Rovers backline, Shels could have scored four or five - Maria Reynolds, Hennessy, Shauna Fox and Budden the fire hydrants the Dublin 24 outfit needed to temper the Reds heat.
In the upper tiers of the Main Stand, Ireland Women’s National Team Manager Eileen Gleeson was all smiles following her side's clinical dispatch over the French at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
In the centre of the pitch, Melissa O’Kane, Aoife Kelly and skipper O’Gorman once again demonstrated their technical prowess as they snaked between the Reds and Rovers looked to build from the back.
Ralph was marked tightly up front by Pearl Slattery but did well to let a shot off in the 27th and was denied only by Amanda McQuillan’s acrobatics.
At the other end, a crucial block off the line from Hennessy would deny Jemma Quinn on the half hour mark.
In the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Shels press was relentless, and Rovers were unable to get the ball out of their own half.
Jemma Quinn was rewarded for her high work rate in the 51st - the number 13 sprinting to get on the end of a sweet delivery from Gargan. Quinn did well not to miscue, and Budden could only watch as her volley sailed in slow motion into the top right bin.
Ralph’s rifle in the 67th against the run of play would take the air out of Drumcondra - O’Gorman playing a first time ball to meet the Greenhills native’s run. The number 19, who was marked tightly by Slattery throughout, showed quick feet to turn three red shirts and fire a strike on goal.
Ralph would turn to celebrate the moment the ball left her boot, so sweet was the connection as it whipped into the bottom left hand corner and Rovers nosed ahead of the home side once more.
Budden would deny Christie Gray from close range in the 72nd and Shauna Fox would nip the ball from Quinn’s toes minutes later to prevent what could have been a quality strike on goal.
Both Quinn and Fox would limp off the pitch following the robust challenge, but the sportsmanship was evident as they slapped hands and exchanged weary smiles on the sideline.
There was an audible sigh as Quinn was deemed unfit to continue, yet Shels still had ammo in their arsenal and would push O’Neill’s side right to the death.
“It’s coming!” Wearen rallied, as Shels hunted for the equaliser.
O’Gorman looked to put Rovers win beyond all doubt in the 94th but was denied by the far post.
Against all odds, The Hoops would withstand the Shels surge and secure their place in the grand finale of the All Island Cup in August where they will meet Galway United.
Shelbourne W: Amanda McQuillan; Leah F Doyle, Keeva Keenan (Megan Smyth-Lynch 85), Pearl Slattery; Mia Dodd (Hannah Healy 68), Jessica Gargan, Alex Kavanagh, Roma McLaughlin, Eabha O'Mahony (Christie Gray 68), Maggie Pierce; Jemma Quinn (Katie McCarn 80).
Subs not used: Jenna Willoughby, Rachel Graham, Lucy O'Rourke, Hannah O'Brien.
Booked: None.
Shamrock Rovers WFC: Amanda Budden; Shauna Fox, Jessica Hennessy, Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds; Aoife Kelly, Aine O'Gorman, Melissa O'Kane, Lia O'Leary, Fiona Owens (Stephanie Zambra 67); Joy Ralph.
Subs not used: Summer Lawless, Sorcha Melia, Alannah Prizeman, Lauren Kelly, Jaime Thompson, Ella Kelly.
Booked: None.
Referee: Mark Moynihan.
Attendance: 332
