2 days ago
Rovers come from behind to dump Shels out of the cup
Shamrock Rovers dumped holders Shelbourne out of the FAI Cup at the quarter-final stage with a thrilling come-from-behind victory at a feisty Tolka Park.
Two goals in a minute after the break did the damage for The Hoops who continued their Tolka Park hoodoo over the Reds - unbeaten in five now in Drumcondra - despite falling behind to an excellent team goal, finished off by Pearl Slattery in the first half.
With maybe a potential hint of revenge stirring in visitors dressing room following last season's dramatic loss at the same stage, in which a jubilant Jemma Quinn planted the Shelbourne flag in the middle of the Tallaght pitch, the Hoops started brightly with flying wingers Anna Butler and Ella Kelly looking to get in behind the Shels back three on every occasion.
But the home side, who now sit top of the tightly contested league table having leapfrogged Athlone Town at the summit racking up three wins on the spin, showed good patience and played their way into the hotly contested encounter.
With little in the way of goalmouth action, it took until just after 20-minutes for the first shot in anger and was well worth the wait for the 705 in attendance.
Started by last week's match winner against Waterford, Alex Kavanagh, the home side put together a passing move of the highest quality followed by a majestic turn and pass by Aoibheann Clancy in the middle.
The Irish international then played a perfectly weighted slide rule pass to Slattery, who had stayed forward following an earlier set-piece, and the skipper finished with all the quality of seasoned number nine through the legs of Summer Lawless.
The hosts then went close to doubling their lead shortly after when Noelle Murray sprayed a wonderful left footed pass on the diagonal finding Mackenzie Anthony who broke the offside trap and hit a rasping effort that was agonisingly close to finding the near top corner, catching Lawless off guard.
Having nicked a win at Tolka earlier in the season, and having relative success in recent times Stephanie Zambra's side held no fear and kept plugging away but were dealt a huge blow just before the break when Maria Reynolds looked distraught picking up an injury.
On the stroke of half time Anthony really should have gotten herself on the scoresheet when Scarlett Herron slipped on a through ball and spilled into the American's path. Anthony again missed the target by a matter of inches dragging her low shot just wide of the target.
After a slight tactical change that saw Aine O'Gorman switch to right back following Reynolds injury, Zambra must have also read her side the riot act as her side punished Shels misses with two goals in a minute to completely flip the game on its head.
Firstly, the towering Scarlett Herron powered in a back post header from a deep corner before Anna Butler nipped in to take advantage of a sloppy Keeva Kenna pass straight from the resulting tip off and slotted home to give her side the lead.
With a sense of anxiety beginning to swirl around Tolka, it was Wearen's turn to look to the bench introducing the match winner from last seasons quarter final Megan Smyth-Lynch and the exciting young Maeve Wollmer.
With 15 minutes left the latter spurned yet another chance for the home side as she found herself free at the back post but somehow screwed her shot back across goal from a couple of yards out.
With time running out the visitors frustrated the home side with some intricate play in the final third and continued to carry a goal threat but it was now or never for Shels as they threw the kitchen sink at Rovers.
In a dramatic ending, the talismanic Murray curled a stunning effort off the bar that, most inside the ground thought was destined for the top corner, and with a couple of minutes left Kavanagh played an inch perfect ball over the top onto Anthony's chest, who rounded Lawless with her first touch.
Just as it looked as if the Shels striker was tapping home into an empty net, somehow the Rovers stopper got back around to claw the goal bound strike away with one of the saves of the season to ensure her side progressed to the semi-final.
Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Nia Hannon (Maeve Wollmer, 67'), Pearl Slattery, Keeva Keenan (Jemma Quinn, 83'); Jess Gargan, Alex Kavanagh, Rachel Graham (Megan Smyth-Lynch, 72'), Aoibheann Clancy, Leah Doyle; Noelle Murray, Mackenzie Anthony
Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Rebecca Devereux, Gabriella Del Pico, Lucy O'Rourke, Aoife Sheridan, Sarah McCaffrey
Shamrock Rovers: Summer Lawless; Fiona Owens, Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds (Claire O'Reilly, 46'), Aoife Brophy; Anna Butler (Della Cowper-Gray, 88'), Melissa O'Kane, Jamie Thompson, Ella Kelly; Aine O'Gorman, Emily Corbet
