League Report: Shamrock Rovers 3 - 1 Shelbourne

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

It was a perfect warm up for Shamrock Rovers for their FAI Cup semi-final next weekend against Shelbourne in Tallaght as they defeated Shels 3-1 on Saturday in league action to move above the Reds and into second place in the table.

Five of Collie O’Neill’s Rovers starting lineup had been with Shels last season and it certainly looked like the Reds could have done with one or two of them in their team on their first trip to Tallaght to take on a Rovers side in Women’s Premier Division action.

O’Neill brought back in Amanda Budden, one of those five former Shels players, into the Rovers goal following her recent injury but she had very little to do in a dominant first half by the Hoops who led 3-0 at the break.

Budden’s opposite number Amanda McQuillan did well in the fifth minute to come through traffic to collect a Stephanie Zambra corner under pressure but the Shels netminder likely won’t be happy with the first two goals she conceded.

Scarlett Herron, who was impressive for the Hoops throughout, was given far too much time and space outside the Shels penalty area in the 14^th minute. Her well struck shot went low to McQuillan’s left but the keeper seemed too slow to get down and allowed the ball by her.

Mid-way through the half McQuillan was caught out after Rovers moved the ball through Aoife Kelly and Lia O’Leary to Áine O’Gorman. The Hoops skipper put a cross in from the right which deceived the goalkeeper to find the back of the net and deflate the vocal travelling Reds supporters with their team going 2-0 down.

Shels did create a number chances of their own. An early Keeva Keenan shot / cross required a Budden boot to clear and there were some long range efforts from the Reds through Noelle Murray and Alex Kavanagh but it was Rovers who got the next goal.

It came two minutes after Stephanie Zambra had hit the post from an acute angle. Joy Ralph got the assist for the third four minutes from the break with her cross from the rights slotted home delightfully for the Hoops on the volley from Alannah McEvoy.

Noel King made four switches at the break to try and get back into the game but it did give them additional impetus in the second period forcing Budden into a number of saves.

A defensive header from Shauna Fox in the 57^th minute allowed Kerri Letmon in but Budden bravely came out to block and Rovers scrambled it clear. She did well next to stop Kerri Letmon as she ran onto a Margaret Pierce pass and even better to save from Nadine Clare ten minutes from time.

In second half injury time sub Rebecca Deveraux with a fine turn and shot did at least get a goal back for Shelbourne but it was all too little too late.

Shamrock Rovers WFC: Amanda Budden; Jessica Gargan, Shauna Fox, Jessica Hennessy, Lia O'Leary; Aine O'Gorman, Scarlett Herron, Aoife Kelly, Alannah McEvoy; Joy Ralph (Melissa O'Kane 70), Stephanie Zambra (Jaime Thompson 59).
Subs not used: Summer Lawless, Abby Tuthill, Tiegan Ruddy, Alannah Prizeman, Maria Reynolds, Lauren Kelly, Shannon Coady.
Booked: Jaime Thompson (78).

Shelbourne W: Amanda McQuillan; Keeva Keenan, Maggie Pierce, Pearl Slattery, Leah F Doyle; Megan Smyth-Lynch (Christie Gray h/t); Rachel Graham (Nadine Clare h/t), Alex Kavanagh (Libby Moore h/t), Kerri Letmon (Hannah Healy 84); Noelle Murray, Morgan Rees (Rebecca Devereux h/t).
Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Taylor White, Jemma Quinn, Catherine Greversen.

Booked: None.

Referee: Daniel Murphy
Attendance: 388
extratime.com Player of the Match: Scarlett Herron (Shamrock Rovers)

FAI Cup Report: Galway United 0 - 1 Bohemians https://t.co/rV8xKQOJr0pic.twitter.com/UAnxA8eHTK

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 7, 2023