Shelbourne Ladies 5-0 Wexford Youths Women: Shels avenge 2015 defeat in style
by Daire Walsh at Aviva Stadium
Mark Leavy’s side avenged last year’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Wexford Youths by meting out a thrashing to the holders
Shelbourne Ladies lifted the Contintental Tyres Women’s FAI Cup thanks a five-goal rout of holders Wexford Youths Women.
Leanne Kiernan was a hat-trick hero at the Aviva Stadium as Shels exacted sweet revenge for the penalty shoot-out defeat to the Slaneysiders in last year’s final. Noelle Murray and a Kiernan double handed the Dubliners a three-goal interval cushion, enhanced by additional second-half contributions from Gloria Douglas and Kiernan.
and with a three-point lead at the summit of the Women’s National League, they will be aiming to complete a domestic double in 2016.
The game sparked into life in the 16th minute, when the elusive Kiernan was fouled inside the opposition penalty area by Nicola Sinnott. Murray’s subsequent spot-kick for Shels was comfortably saved by Youths shotstopper Sophie Lenehan, before Shels eventually broke the deadlock just past the half-hour mark.
Wexford failed to deal with an awkward free-kick by Shels full-back Courtney Higgins, and Murray spectacularly volleyed beyond the reach of the stranded Lenehan.
This was a major tonic for Shels – and they swiftly doubled their lead on 34 minutes, as Kiernan finished into an empty net after taking the ball past the onrushing Lenehan.
It was already beginning to look quite ominous for Wexford, and Kiernan compounded their woes in first-half stoppage-time by claiming her second goal with a neat finish from close-range.
Youths were left with a mountain to climb when action resumed, but Aoibhin Webb did have an early second period strike turned behind by Amanda McQuillan.
Shels continued to pose a considerable attacking threat however, and they created further daylight between the teams with 64 minutes gone on the clock, when a dangerous Siobhan Killeen delivery was met by a thunderous header from Douglas. Despite seeing her effort crashing off the crossbar, the ball eventually bounced into the net.
Claire O’Riordan was denied a consolation for Wexford by the feet of the ever-alert McQuillan, and after Jessica Gleeson had upended Killeen close to goal, Kiernan completed her side’s rout with a clinically-struck penalty.