Details

Date Time League Season
30 October 2021 7:30 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Larkin lights up on TV for Shels

Goals in each half from Abbie Larkin and Jessica Stapleton saw Shelbourne earn a hard fought win over Galway in Tolka Park on Saturday evening.

Shelbourne took the lead in the sixth minute with their first attack; Leah Doyle’s cross from the left was slotted home by Larkin.

It was all Galway after that as they tried to get into the game but were made rue a number of missed chances. Shels sealed the win in the 74th minute when Jessica Stapleton got onto the end of Larkin’s pass and she hit a powerful shot past Leah Hayes Coen.

With leaders Peamount and second place Wexford Youths recording victories in their respective games Shelbourne knew they needed a win to keep up the pressure on the top two. 

It was tough on Galway who created several chances throughout but were made rue missed opportunities while Shelbourne keeper Amanda Budden thwarted them on a number of occasions.

With just six minutes gone on the clock Shelbourne took the lead through Larkin. After that it was all Galway as they tried to get back into the game. Emma Starr shot over in the 25th minute and five minutes later Chloe Singleton hit a poor effort after a superb crossfield ball from Lynsey McKey.

Minutes later Shels keeper Budden did well to deny Abbie Callanan. Galway continued to pile on the pressure but to no avail. In the 43rd minute Galway keeper Leah Hayes Coen was quick out of her goal to clear the ball after Saoire Noonan was put through.

At the start of the second half Galway keeper Hayes Coen was called into action, pulling off a superb save to deny Larkin. 

Down the other end Galway had half chances but weren’t able to find a way past Shels netminder Budden. Their end product let them down on several occasions. Shels doubled their advantage in the 74th minute when Larkin turned provider and Jessica Stapleton made no mistake.

That goal settled Shels and they passed the ball around well and with ease. Galway’s only chance in the final quarter was a shot from distance from Emma Starr but it was right at Budden and she was able to save. 

Shelbourne

1Amanda Budden Goalkeeper
2Jessica Gargan Defender
3Jessie Stapleton Defender 74'
4Pearl Slattery Defender
6Alex Kavanagh Midfielder
8Rachel Graham Defender
11Saoirse Noonan Forward
19Leah Doyle 13 Defender
24Ciara Grant Midfielder
30Shauna Fox Defender
Abbie Larkin 21 Forward 6'
16Sophie Lenehan Goalkeeper
13Mia Dodd 19 Defender
17Keeva Keenan Defender
21Taylor White Forward
Rebecca Creagh Forward

Galway WFC

20Leah Hayes Cohen Goalkeeper
2Becky Walsh Defender
3Savannah McCarthy Midfielder
5Meabh de Burca Defender
7Chloe Singleton Midfielder
10Lynsey McKey Forward
13Aoibheann Costello 19 Midfielder
14Therese Kinnevey Defender
18Emma Starr Midfielder
21Nicole McNamara 11 Defender
23Abbie Callanan Forward
25Karen Connolly Goalkeeper
11Sinead Donovan 21 Midfielder
19Saoirse Healey 13 Forward
25Hannah Walsh Goalkeeper
  • 92'

    Five minutes of additional time to be played here in Tolka Park.

  • 89'

    Emma Starr with a shot from distance but it's right at Amanda Budden

  • 87'

    Shelbourne are passing the ball around with ease.

  • 75'

    Abbie Larkin with the pass to Jessie Stapleton and she hit a powerful shot past Leah Hayes Coen. Tough on Galway

  • 74'

    Jessica Stapleton doubles Shelbourne's lead

  • 70'

    Ciara Grant with a good ball into the box but it's cleared by a Galway defender.

  • 68'

    Emma Starr chests the ball down and hits a volley but it just goes wide.

  • 62'

    Will Galway rue those missed chances?

  • 60'

    Chloe Singleton nicks the ball and goes through but Amanda Budden is able to save.

  • 58'

    Lynsey McKey does well and plays the ball into Aoibheann Costello but there is too much on it and Amanda Budden is out.

  • 56'

    Leah Hayes Coen is lucky that her foot doesn't make too much contact with Abbie Larkin when she's put through in the box.

  • 56'

    Leah Hayes Coen is lucky that her foot doesn't make too much contact with Abbie Larkin when she's put through in the box.

  • 55'

    Chloe Singleton's cross has too much and it goes well wide.

  • 54'

    Galway do all the hard work but the end product is letting them down.

  • 52'

    A well struck free from Alex Kavanagh just goes inches wide but the flag was up for offside.

  • 46'

    Galway keeper Leah Hayes Coen pulls off a terrific save to deny Abbie Larkin and Shelbourne a second goal

  • 43'

    Saoirse Noonan is put through but Galway keeper Leah Hayes Coen comes out quickly to clear the danger.

  • 41'

    It has been all Galway but they still trail by that sixth minute goal from Abbie Larkin

  • 37'

    Chloe Singleton beats Alex Kavanagh and puts in a cross but it's too high and goes the far side of the pitch.

  • 37'

    Galway passing the ball around very well with Emma Starr involved in a lot of their good play.

  • 33'

    Shels keeper Amanda Budden does very well to block down Abbie Callanan's shot. Galway have really come into this game.

  • 30'

    Lynsey McKey plays a superb crossfield ball to Chloe Singleton who has time to take a shot but hits her effort wide.

  • 29'

    Galway have had a lot of the ball but it's the home side that lead through that Abbie Larkin goal.

  • 25'

    Emma Starr with a strike that sails over the Shelbourne bar.

  • 21'

    Abbie Callanan with a chance to hit a shot but very good defending from Shels' Shauna Fox.

  • 7'

    Leah Doyle with a cross from the left and it was slotted home from close range by Abbie Larkin

  • 6'

    Abbie Larkin with the game's opening goal.

  • 2'

    Meabh De Burca tries her luck but it's straight at Shels keeper Amanda Budden

  • Galway a little light on the bench. They can only name four subs. Shelbourne have six named.

  • These two sides met three weeks ago in the FAI Cup semi-final with a stunning goal from Shelbourne's Noelle Murray the difference between the sides.

  • With leaders Peamount and second place Wexford Youths very much in control in their respective games Shelbourne will hope to claim the 3 points here and keep the pressure on.

  • Good evening and welcome to the Final Whistle's coverage of Shelbourne and Galway in the WNL. I'm Deniese O'Flaherty and will be taking you through this evening's game. The TG4 cameras are back at Tolka Park and it's great to see.

Past Meetings

(Semi Final)
1 - 0
FAI Women's Cup
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Series 16)
1 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Series 7)
5 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Series 2 - Group 1)
5 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Series 6)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 18)
3 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 13)
0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 5)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 17)
0 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 10)
2 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 3)
1 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

2 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

5 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

1 - 6
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

0 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

Ground

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

Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland