WYW v Shelbourne (Womens Cup Final)

Started slowly but ultimately a cracking game in the Aviva yesterday as both sides deserve tremendous credit for serving up a brilliant game of football. As expected WYW started with the same XI as in the semi-final and began brightly and it looked as if they couldn't lose. But Shels had an excellent day at the back and also matched a very tough WYW midfield of Edel, Kylie and Emma particularly in the air. Game had a real turning point on the half-hour when Mary Rose Kelly got injured in the Youth's goal and was replaced by Tamara Furlong. Surely, a 19 year old with not much game time couldn't anchor a cup-winning side?
Youths then had their two clear chances of the first half when Ciara Rossiter just couldn't manage to lob Niamh Reid Bourke in the Shels goal and then Claire O'Riordan was put through down the right but pulled her shot slightly about a yard wide. 0-0 at half time. Shels hadn't committed too many forward at this stage while I thought Wexford were still coming to grips with the extra zip that a damp Aviva pitch undoubtedly has.
Shels then got their opening goal on 52 minutes when Killeen for Shels came inside Nicola Sinnott and curled an excellent effort into the top right for 1-0 to Shels. Thought Wexford then raised their game quite a bit as they look most comfortable when pouring players forward. Thought Paula Brady missed an obvious peno for Wexford when Carol Breen was taken down inside the box and this is confirmed by seeing it on RTE's I-player. WYW then missed a number of clear chances when Carol shot wide when put through, Kylie Murphy smacked the crossbar with a header and Claire had a header which she put over. Tamara then pulled off a good save to keep WYW in the game and, with hope virtually gone of the cup being dipped in the silvery Slaney, Ciara Rossiter somehow managed to get the ball over the line in the last minute of injury-time. 1-1 after the 90 plus minutes.

WYW looked the stronger going into the extra-time and you'd have put your house on Rianna Jarrett, who had come on as a sub with 15 minutes to go, converting a routine header at the far post, but she let it glance off her and wide. Rianna then had another low effort on target which Reid Bourke just managed to touch round the post for a corner, and then WYW had a corner which fell to sub Maria Delahunty, who probably has the best ball-striking skill in the club, and her technically expert waist-high volley was a class bit of finishing. Didn't pick up the interference with Reid Bourke in the Shels goal until I saw the RTE replay. 2-1 to the Youths. Looked like the win was achieved until Wexford didn't defend well a free-kick in the last minute and the ball eventually fell to a Shels player who had an easy finish for 2-2.

Didn't expect Youths to win the penalties as you had Tamara Furlong against a senior international squad goalkeeper. But, with huge credit to Tamara, she looked the more likely of the two to keep the opposing penalties out and saved one while Shels fourth hit the corner of the post and bar to bring the cup to Wexford for the first time. Can see some massive games between these two sides and I can only hope that the Wexford public come out to give more support to a team that immensely deserves it as the League season unfolds. After the match, had divided my nod as player of the match between Ruth Fahy, who was as brave as a lion, and the very classy Nicola Sinnott, but also thought Ciara Rossiter had a cracker of a game while watching the replay. WYW's successful peno takers were Ruth, Rianna, Claire and Kylie. Cup to Wexford on 2-2 after extra time and Wexford winning 4-2 on penos.