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Date Time League Season
2 July 2023 2:30 pm Avenir Sports All-Island Cup 2023

Match Report

Hoops Help Youths Reach All-Island Semi-Finals

After an afternoon of thrills and spills, Wexford were the real winners from Blanchflower, the Hoops 3-2 win at Glentoran sending them through as group victor's.

With both sides high scorers so far in this tournament, six and five goals bagged in two games respectively, the Blanchflower Stadium crowd were hoping for more of the same. 

The sides began cagily though, both feeling each other out through the opening quarter of an hour. 

Then, Rovers, who had looked more threatening on the counterattack, struck devastatingly seventeen minutes in. 

Alannah McEvoy put in the hard yards on the wing, her cross was only partially cleared and Shannon Coady was there to hook home a sweetly struck, half-volley, which soared unstoppably, into the top corner. 

Glentoran replied with more corners which had Rovers under the cosh, Shauna Fox and Amanda Budden marshaling their defence well. 

Whilst Emily Wilson was a danger wide right, Rovers reminded of their talent just past the half hour, Melissa O'Kane working a low, bobbly shot past Ellie Scott as the visitors took control, doubling their lead. 

Fox headed wide thereafter but half time came with the WPD women two goals to the good. 

At the break, Summer Lawless replaced Budden in Rovers' goal but moments later, she was picking the ball out of her net. 

Kerry Beattie expertly pulling one back with a clinical finish cueing an eruption inside Blanchflower. 

The hosts had the momentum, away captain Jessica Gargan feeling the strain after a difficult few minutes defending, nearly poked an own goal in but she sprinted back and cleared superbly composed, just ahead of Beattie to spare her own blushes. 

Joely Andrews went close next for the hosts but again, against the run of play, Rovers flexed their attacking muscles. 

Applying the smart finish to their third was the tireless Orlath O'Mahony slotting in to start the singing from a small but loud Rovers contingent. 

Both benches were deployed in the closing stages but it was a starter who struck next! 

Demi Vance converting a penalty late on after Jessica Hennessey handballed, teeing up a grandstand finale! 

Rovers though, led by Gargan, were resilient and when they escaped the defenders, Andrews saw her shot saved by Lawless legs' excellently as Rovers held on in a five goal thriller! 

Ultimately in vain as Wexford advance from Group B but plenty of entertainment bodes well for fans of both these sides, going forward! 

Glentoran

12Ellie Scott 1 Goalkeeper
3Jessica Foy Defender
4Emma McMaster Defender
26Jenna McKearney 28 Defender
21Kelly Baille 23 Defender
8Demi Vance Midfielder 87'
15Samantha Kelly 18 Midfielder
17Joely Andrews Midfielder
97Chloe McCarron Midfielder
19Kerry Beattie 14 Forward 49'
11Emily Wilson Forward
1Ashleigh McKinnon 12 Goalkeeper
6Nadene Caldwell Midfielder
14Megan Neill 19 Defender
18Kascie Weir 15 Forward
23Rebecca Magee 21 Defender
28Sarah Tweedie 26 Defender

Shamrock Rovers

1Amanda Budden 25 Goalkeeper
2Jessica Gargan Defender
3Savannah McCarthy Defender
5Jessica Hennessy Defender
22Melissa O’Kane 17 Defender 33'
8Aoife Kelly Midfielder
15Orlaith O’Mahony 18 Midfielder
9Alannah McEvoy Forward
10Stephanie Zambra 21 Forward
11Lia O’Leary Forward
40Shannon Coady 14 Forward 17', 71'
25Summer Lawless 1 Goalkeeper
4Shauna Fox Defender
14Lauren Kelly 40 Forward
17Alannah Prizeman 22 Midfielder
18Aoibhe Fleming 15 Defender
21Jaime Thompson 10 Midfielder
23Chloe McCarthy Defender
  • 90'

    FULL TIME - Rovers win 2-3 but Lawless made a great late reaction save to deny Andrews a leveller!

  • 88'

    Demi Vance ice cool there! Grandstand finish now

  • 86'

    2-3! Brilliant penalty!

  • 86'

    PENALTY TO GLENTORAN

  • 85'

    Lauren Kelly on in a double Rovers' switch

  • 81'

    Triple Gelntoran changes

  • 80'

    Crossbar from an Andrews corner!

  • 70'

    3-1 to Rovers! A smart finish by the advancing Orlath O'Mahony

  • 66'

    Rovers change as Jaime Thompson replaces Stephanie Zambria

  • 65'

    Great clearing header by Jessica Hennessy, Andrews then sees her shot blocked, Glentoran knocking on the door!

  • 59'

    The free hits the wall but they recycle, McMaster's cross reaching Joely Andrews who cant sort her feet in time and Lawless gathers

  • 57'

    Free to Glentoran, a very good area

  • 52'

    Gargan has had a frustrating start to this half and she nearly scores at the wrong end but gets back on the goal line as Beattie lurked! Game has roared into life

  • 50'

    Glentoran strike one back, Kerry Beattie finishing a clever cross off expertly!

  • 46'

    SECOND HALF - Back underway!

  • 45'

    HALF TIME - Wilson whistles a cross in and that's HT, Rovers in control, 0-2 up

  • 45'

    An away corner is well claimed under pressure by Ellie Scott in Glentoran's goal

  • 40'

    Glentoran's biggest problem as they chase a goal is that there aren't enough players in the box in time to meet deliveries, crosses which have been dangerous

  • 36'

    Shauna Fox has a header from close-range that she looks disappointed not to bury!

  • 33'

    Rovers double the lead! Melissa O'Kane with a bobbly finish into the corner! Crowd silencer

  • 32'

    Kelly Baille is impressing for the hosts, plenty of well-timed tackles defensively

  • 31'

    Rovers' look dangerous on the counter, Glentoran are lively but lacking a clincal edge so far!

  • 24'

    Really good surge forward from McEvoy but under pressure by Jessica Foy, smacks her shot wide

  • 23'

    Emily Wilson doing damage out wide, wins a corner for the home team

  • 20'

    That goal has boosted the visitors whose tails are up now, Glentoran defend a flurry of corners well though

  • 17'

    Rovers lead, Shannon Coady with a scorching half-volley!

  • 14'

    Rovers looking sharper now, Jessica Gargan is free out right but the pass is overhit and drifts harmessly out

  • 9'

    Emma McMaster nearly gets away but Amanda Budden is alert in the Rovers' goal

  • 5'

    Alannah McEvoy looking lively for Rovers early on, wins a corner which Glens defend well

  • Underway in a mizzly Belfast!

  • Good afternoon and welcome to Blanchflower Stadium, Belfast where the Avenir Sports Cup continues today, Glentoran hosting Shamrock Rovers. Kick off is at 2:30pm and both teams are available to view under the lineups tab

Ground

Blanchflower Stadium
Danny Blanchflower Stadium, Holywood Road, Sydenham, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT4 1PD, United Kingdom