Details

Date Time League Season
4 September 2021 2:00 pm FAI Women's Cup 2021

Match Report

Noonan notches Shels to semis

League leaders Shelbourne advanced to the semi-finals of the Evoke.ie WFAI Cup courtesy of Saoirse Noonan’s second half winner against her former colleagues at Cork City.

Shelbourne were frustrated for the majority of the contest by brilliant shot stopper Abby McCarthy who made numerous wonderful saves.

But Shels eventually found a way through and continue their ambitions of winning the double.

Inspired by Afghanistan’s women’s football team, many of whom have reportedly fled the country after the Taliban’s takeover, today Shelbourne’s jersey bears a message of solidarity.

Shelbourne were boosted before kick off when news broke that they had re-signed striker Sarah Rowe after her stint with the Mayo Senior Ladies Gaelic Footballers.

Early on, Jessica Ziu hit the post after great build up play by the Shels attack, with Noelle Murray holding the ball up well causing the City defence problems.

Noonan went through on goal but was denied by a strong save and the shot stopper followed it up with another vital stop to deny Alex Kavanagh.

The City defence continued to struggle with Shelbourne’s lively attack as McCarthy continued to get them out of jail with some fine stops in the first half.

City improved in the second half and went close through Sarah McKevitt but other than that failed to create any clear-cut opportunities.

Noonan was denied by the brilliance of McCarthy multiple times as a frustrating day looked to be on the cards for the in-form striker.

But eventually Noonan got her vengeance as she scored against her former club, with the winner being her 12th goal of the season in just nine games.

She broke the deadlock after lively substitute Rowe’s effort was blocked but Noonan was on hand to place the ball into the empty net.

City pressed for a late equaliser but failed to create enough to seriously threaten Amanda Budden’s goal. 

Shelbourne

1Amanda Budden Goalkeeper
2Jessica Gargan Defender
3Jessie Stapleton Defender
4Pearl Slattery Defender
6Alex Kavanagh 9 Midfielder
7Jessica Ziu Midfielder
8Rachel Graham Defender
10Noelle Murray Forward
11Saoirse Noonan Forward 79'
12Ciara Grant Midfielder
14Chloe Mustaki 19 Midfielder
16Sophie Lenehan Goalkeeper
18Abbie Larkin Midfielder
19Leah Doyle 14 Defender
21Taylor White Forward
22Ella O’Connell Midfielder
30Shauna Fox Defender
9Sarah Rowe 6 Forward

Cork City

1Abby McCarthy Goalkeeper
3Nathalie O’Brien Defender
4Danielle Burke Defender
4Ciara McNamara Defender
9Christina Dring Forward
14Shaunagh McCarthy Defender
16Laura Shine Forward
18Becky Cassin Midfielder
20Eva Mangan Midfielder
23Sarah McKevitt Forward
6Niamh O’Donoghue Midfielder
8Kate O’Donovan Midfielder
11Rachel O’Regan Midfielder
15Leah Murphy 24 Forward
19Tiffney Taylor Defender
22Kelly Leahy Midfielder
24Lauren Walsh 15 Defender
25Lauren Singleton Defender
26Kristen Sample Goalkeeper
  • Full time: Shelbourne 1-0 Cork City

  • 92'

    Shelbourne sub: Chloe Mustaki is replaced by Leah Doyle

  • 90'

    The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of three additional minutes.

  • 87'

    Rowe is denied by McCarthy as the City goalkeeper continues her stellar display.

  • 86'

    Corner to Shelbourne.

  • 85'

    Sarah Rowe breaks into the penalty area but her effort on goal is poor and sails wide.

  • 84'

    Shelbourne break forward once more but McCarthy races off her line to read the danger.

  • 79'

    GOAL! Saoirse Noonan breaks the deadlock after Sarah Rowe's effort was blocked but Noonan places the ball into the empty net to get her vengeance.

  • 77'

    Cork City sub: Leah Murphy is replaced by Lauren Walsh.

  • 76'

    Jess Ziu goes through on goal after being picked out by Murray but her effort hits the post for the second time today.

  • 74'

    Jess Stapleton heads just wide from the corner.

  • 73'

    Sarah Rowe again has a shot after cutting inside and curls the ball towards the top corner but McCarthy produces one of the saves of the season to deny her.

  • 73'

    Play is back underway.

  • 72'

    A break in play as Noelle Murray is down receiving treatment.

  • 71'

    Shels break forward and Sarah Rowe goes close after being picked out by a long ball but her effort on goal is well saved by McCarthy.

  • 71'

    The corner comes to nothing and Shelbourne clear their lines.

  • 70'

    Corner to City after they broke on the counterattack.

  • 69'

    Jess Gargan puts the ball into the box but McCarthy is alert to the danger.

  • 66'

    Noonan is dispossessed when through on goal. Certainly hasn't been the attackers day today.

  • 61'

    Noonan has another shot after being picked out by Ciara Grant but her first time effort goes wide.

  • 56'

    Noonan goes through on goal but her effort is poor and straight at McCarthy.

  • 52'

    End to end stuff here at Tolka Park as City have grown into the game.

  • 51'

    Murray's free kick is straight into the wall and City clear.

  • 50'

    Noelle Murray is brought down just inches outside the penalty area. Nevertheless a free kick in a promising position.

  • 49'

    Shelbourne have started the half well putting the City defence under serious pressure.

  • 46'

    Shelbourne sub: Sarah Rowe replaces Alex Kavanagh

  • 46'

    We're back underway.

  • 45'

    Half time: Shelbourne 0-0 Cork City

  • 44'

    City have endured a difficult half but the scores remain level and they are certainly still in the tie.

  • 39'

    Kavanagh's free kick is whipped in and Pearl Slattery heads into the net but is ruled offside.

  • 37'

    Amanda Budden is dispossessed and the ball falls to McKevitt with Budden back pedalling but her effort is off target. Huge opportunity missed.

  • 36'

    McCarthy claims the ball well.

  • 36'

    Corner to Shelbourne.

  • 33'

    Noonan attempts an audacious effort on the half volley but McCarthy deals well again with the danger.

  • 29'

    Kavanagh's corner comes to nothing as a clash of heads occurs and City win a free kick.

  • 28'

    Murray is again superbly denied by McCarthy as her header from a Kavanagh cross is tipped over the bar and out for a corner.

  • 26'

    Play is back underway as Cassin is okay to continue.

  • 25'

    There is a break in play as Cassin is down receiving treatment for a head injury.

  • 24'

    Murray picks out Noonan in the box but her shot is well saved by McCarthy. The City defence is in sixes and sevens here.

  • 23'

    Noelle Murray pounces on a lackluster pass from the City defence but her shot lets her down and is comfortably saved.

  • 21'

    Becky Cassan has a shot from outside the box that goes way over the crossbar.

  • 20'

    The free kick comes to nothing and Shelbourne clear their lines.

  • 19'

    Free kick to City in a threatening position after Rachel Graham's foul.

  • 18'

    Jess Stapleton takes a free kick quickly and picks out Ciara Grant in the penalty area but her poor touch lets her down.

  • 13'

    What a save by Abby McCarthy! Noonan goes through on goal but is denied by a strong save and the shot stopper follows it up with another vital stop to deny Alex Kavanagh.

  • 12'

    The hosts as expected are on top here.

  • 11'

    Murray's cross into the box is a good one but isn't quite reached by Noonan.

  • 8'

    Jessica Ziu hits the post after great build up play by the Shelbourne attack, with Noelle Murray holding the ball up well causing the City defence problems.

  • 3'

    Inspired by Afghanistan’s women\'s football team, many of whom have reportedly fled the country after the Taliban take over, today Shelbourne\'s jersey bears a message of solidarity.

  • 1'

    We're underway.

  • Fantastic news for Shelbourne before kick off as Sarah Rowe has re-signed for the club.

  • The weather in Dublin is currently 19 degrees Celsius, with a 3% chance of rain, humidity levels of 78% and a wind of 10 mph.

  • City have endured a difficult campaign thus far as they lie in eighth place, just one point clear of bottom side Treaty United. Scoring goals has been a major issue for Collins’ side as they have found the back of the net just 20 times this season – the lowest goals scored in the league.

  • Shelbourne haven’t lifted the FAI Cup since 2016 when they thrashed Wexford Youths 5-0 in the final.

  • Shels are currently top of the Women’s National League on 46 points, two clear of second place Peamount, who have a game in hand. The home side come into the match off the back of a 3-1 win against today’s opponents, courtesy of goals from Emily Whelan, Noelle Murray and Ciara Grant.

  • Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of today's WFAI Cup clash between Shelbourne and Cork City.

Past Meetings

(Series 20)
1 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

(Series 11)
1 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

(Series 13)
2 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

(Series 4)
1 - 3
LOI Men's First Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

(Series 2)
0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

(Series 3 - Group 1)
4 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

(Series 10)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

(Series 1)
3 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

(Series 1)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

(Round 17)
0 - 4
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

(Round 12)
5 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

(Round 7)
2 - 7
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

(Round 19)
2 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

(Round 11)
1 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

(Round 4)
4 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

2 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

2 - 4
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

4 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

5 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Cork City

1 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross

Cork City v Shelbourne

Ground

Tolka Park
Tolka Park (Shelbourne FC), Drumcondra South A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.