Rovers women book final spot in the All Island Cup

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, reports Christine Allen.

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.

Were this game to be replayed, the possible permutations to the final scoreline are vast – so competitive was the battle that was played out in front of a crowded Main Stand on what was a balmy Wednesday evening.

Jemma Quinn was the prime factor and could have netted a hatrick for the Tolka faithful.

The former Killester Donnycarney forward struck the post in the 51st while a save from Budden, who was firing on all cylinders, kept Rovers ahead in the 16th.

Rovers’ opener came in the 9th 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 timezone, 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 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 the pearl of Tolka, 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 Quinn on the half hour mark.

The divine was most certainly donning the green and white of the Dublin 24 outfit as both sides entered their respective dressing rooms with just one goal between them.

Rovers Under 17 duo Sorcha Melia and Tallaght native Ella Kelly beamed as they jogged back onto the pitch for the second half – their selection in Collie O’Neill’s senior squad a nod to the talent being cultivated by coaches Keith Coffey and Terry Gleeson at the Roadstone Academy.

In the first 10 minutes of the second, 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.

The electricity generated by the celebrations underneath the roof of the Main Stand appeared to power the fluorescent lighting – the bulbs glowing to life as the clock ticked towards 9pm.

“Be alive in there!” Manager Eoin Wearen encouraged as Shel’s continued to launch a red siege on the turquoise shirts.

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 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 Shel’s still had ammo in their arsenal and would push O’Neills 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 supacell and secure their place in the grand finale of the All Island Cup in August where they will take on Galway United at Tallaght Stadium.