Details

Date Time League Season
20 May 2023 5:30 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2023

Match Report

Rovers Edge DLR Waves In Sven Goal Thriller

A seven-goal thriller in Tallaght Stadium saw Shamrock Rovers take a 4-3 win over DLR Waves, overcoming an early deficit to gain a 4-1 lead that was nearly squandered in the second half.

The visitors who had desperately struggled for form so far this season got off to the dream start, Eve O’Brien finding the ball on the edge of the box and producing a low, hard effort that buried its way into the bottom left corner. The goal was Waves’ first goal in four games, such had been their struggles in front of target this season.  

Rovers were quick to respond in deadly fashion. Moments after that initial period of jubilation for DLR waves, Áine O’Gorman put in a looping cross to the back post to find Savannah McCarthy. McCarthy’s effort was strong, Eve Badana getting a hand to the ball but unable to prevent the header from hitting the back of the net.  

The Hoops gained control of the match in the 19th minute, Lia O’Leary darting down the left wing and lofting in a cross for Áine O’Gorman at the back post. Badana got out to collect the cross, but as it proved to be a theme of the match, was unable to collect and instead deflected the cross into the path of Jessica Gargan, the defender firing home into an open net from close range.  

Rovers had switched to a more traditional 4-3-3 for the clash, dropping their preferred back three in the absence of Shauna Fox and Jaime Thompson. Áine O’Gorman and Lia O’Leary in particular relished the extra freedom their more advanced starting positions brought them, enjoying the lesser impetus on tracking back and aiding their defence.

It was O’Leary again causing chaos in the Waves’ box, drilling in a low cross for the onrushing Abbie Larkin. Larkin was forced to stretch for the ball but again Badana was unable to get a handle on the effort, the rebound falling back to the feet of Larkin to make it three for Rovers.

Aoife Kelly threaded an incisive ball through for Alannah McEvoy to latch on to, the Waves’ defence left in disarray as McEvoy bounded through on goal and slotted home into the bottom right corner, looking to have put the game well and truly out of sight.   

From the second half and onwards Rovers looked content to spare their legs and knock the ball around the park with ease. They could’ve been accused of growing too lax, second-half-substitute Amber Cosgrove pulling a goal back for her side with a clinical finish across Budden’s goal.  

The Hoops were again punished for their continued impunity, O’Brien volleying home from the edge of Rovers’ box and into the roof of the net to make it 4-3 and setting the game up for a grandstand finish, the hosts ultimately able to see out the win.

The win sees Roves remain in second place in league standings, Peamount United maintaining their one-point cushion at the top of the table with a 2-0 win earlier in the afternoon.

The Hoops face a challenging task next week, facing off against a Galway United team that has defeated the likes of Shelbourne and Athlone this season.

The result marks Waves’ fourth loss on the trot. They’ll play a strong Bohemians outfit next Saturday. 

Shamrock Rovers

1Amanda Budden Goalkeeper
2Jessica Gargan Defender 24'
3Savannah McCarthy Defender 15'
22Melissa O’Kane 15 Defender
5Jessica Hennessy Defender
16Abby Tuthill 14 Defender
8Aoife Kelly Midfielder
7Abbie Larkin Forward 28'
9Alannah McEvoy Forward 43'
11Lia O’Leary Forward
13Aine O’Gorman Forward
14Lauren Kelly 16 Forward
15Orlaith O’Mahony 22 Midfielder
17Alannah Prizeman Midfielder
18Aoibhe Fleming Defender
23Chloe McCarthy Defender
25Summer Lawless Goalkeeper
40Shannon Coady Forward

DLR Waves

18Eve Badana Goalkeeper
2Nicole Keogh Defender
5Jessica Gleeson Defender
13Neema Nyangasi 23 Defender
17Oleta Griffin Defender 79'
6Isobel Finnegan Midfielder
12Bronagh Kane 3 Midfielder
10Katie Malone Forward
16Freya Roche 11 Forward
20Michelle Doonan 14 Forward
22Eve O’Brien Forward 10', 69'
1Rugile Auskalnyte Goalkeeper
3Aoife Brophy 12 Defender
4Hannah Tobin Jones Defender
7Sarah McKevitt Forward
8Rebecca McMahon Midfielder
11Catherine Cronin 16 Midfielder
14Amber Cosgrove 20 Forward 60'
23Cliodhna Donnelly 13 Midfielder
  • Full-time in Tallaght. Shamrock Rovers 4-3 DLR Waves.

  • 90'

    Three minutes of added time to be played in Tallaght.

  • 89'

    O'Leary is crowned player of the match after a fine performance on the left wing.

  • 86'

    Lauren Kelly squanders a brilliant chance to seal the game, slicing a drag back from Abbie Larkin from just a few yards out.

  • 81'

    If Rovers manage to see out the win tonight they'll remain in second place, league leaders Peamount United picking up a 2-0 victory over Galway United.

  • 76'

    A batch of subs for Rovers. Lauren Kelly replaces Abby Tuthill, O'Mahony on for Mellisa O'Kane.

  • 73'

    Freya Roche comes off for Catherine Cronin .

  • 67'

    Goal! It\'s now all to play for in Tallaght Stadium, O'Brien volleying home from the edge of the box into the roof of Amanda Budden\'s net to make it 4-3!

  • 61'

    And it pays off instantly! Katie Malone plays in Cosgrove down the left, and the sub finishes across goal to pull a goal back for her side.

  • 59'

    Graham Kelly attempts to get his attack moving, bringing on Amber Cosgrave in place of Michelle Doonan.

  • 55'

    No real chances of note so far this half, Rovers happy to knock the ball around the park and play the long game.

  • 50'

    O'Gorman squares the ball across to O'Leary, Badana getting down well to save.

  • 46'

    Two substitutes made for Waves as play gets back under way. Aoife Brophy comes on for Neema Nyangasi, while Cliodhna Donnely replaces Bronagh Kane.

  • Half-time in Tallaght. Shamrock Rovers 4-1 DLR Waves.

  • 44'

    Aoife Kelly threads a through ball for Alannah McEvoy to latch on to, the Waves defence left in complete disarray. McEvoy bounds through on goal and calmly slots the ball into the bottom-right corner to make it 4-1.

  • 39'

    Ever since that opening goal from Waves it's been all Rovers, Graham Kelly's side really struggling to retain the ball for a sustained period of play.

  • 34'

    Rovers look to have shifted to a more traditional 4-3-3, dropping their preferred 3 at the back in the absence of Shauna Fox and Jaime Thompson. O'Gorman, and particularly O'Leary, look to be really relishing the added freedom out on the wings with less impetus on tracking back.

  • 28'

    Goal! It\'s O\'Leary again causing chaos in the Waves\' box, this time she drills a cross into the onrushing Abbie Larkin. Larkin is forced to stretch for the ball and Badana saves but again fails to collect, the ball dropping back in to Larkin again who slots home from point-blank range.

  • 24'

    Goal! O\'Leary again breaks down the left wing whipping in a cross that Badana is forced to save. Badana is unable to collect, and the ball finds itself at the feet of Jessica Gargan who fires home from close-range to give her side the lead.

  • 19'

    Lia O'Leary darts down the wing and squares a dangerous cross into Alannah McEvoy, Nicole Keogh doing well to clear the cross with her outstretched leg, preventing a near certain goal.

  • 15'

    Goal! Áine O'Gorman lifts in a cross that finds Savannah McCarthy at the back post, the defender getting up well to produce a strong header. Eve Badana gets a hand to the effort bus is unable to prevent the ball hitting the back of the net.

  • 11'

    Goal! The ball falls to Eve O\'Brien on the edge of the box, O\'Brien striking the ball hard and low into the bottom left corner, Amanda Budden left with no chance.

  • 6'

    A few changes for Rovers' starting XI, Abby Tuthill slotting in for the injured Shauna Fox at the heart of the defence. Áine O'Gorman looks to have moved a bit higher forward in the absence of Jaime Thompson.

  • 1'

    And we're off! The visitors get action underway.

  • Rovers' forward Jaime Thompson fails to make the bench as she deals with a knee injury sustained against Athlone. Shauna Fox also remains sidelined with a knock. Stephanie Zambra is expected to spend another 2-3 weeks on the treatment table after flaring up a hamstring injury during the rehabilitation process.

  • Waves have struggled for goals this season, evidently missing the threat of Kate Mooney, the striker netting six goals since her departure to Peamount United in January. Her replacement, under-age international Joy Ralph, misses out on the matchday squad through injury. Waves starting full back Aoife Brophy starts on the bench with a knock.

  • O'Neill expects a difficult game from DLR Waves despite their patchy season so far: “They’re going to be a very well organised and very hard to break down team. In fairness to Graham [Kelly] he has them very well organised and they’ve been unlucky in a lot of their games, where it’s just been individual mistakes that’s cost them. “Our tempo and the quickness of our play is what can break them down because they’re well organised, they know how to fill gaps and they’ll make it extremely difficult for us.”

  • O'Neill attributes his team's ability to play out of the press to their superior conditioning: "Then our extra fitness levels get us through the second half. That’s when teams go up through the gears and have that extra level to go to, and that’s where we’re finishing off most teams.”

  • Last week saw Rovers grab a 1-0 win against Athlone Town, Lia O\'Leary scoring her 3rd goal in two games to give her side all three points. Manager Collie O\'Neill believes that teams are coming out increasingly aggressive against The Hoops, citing the game against Athlone as well as Cork City, where Rovers managed to overcome a rocky first half and cruise past Cork 5-0 in the end. \"It seems to be a theme of a lot of the games…where teams try and have a good go at us and thankfully, so far we’ve been able to withstand the pressure that they throw at us in the first half," he said.

  • Evening all, welcome along to tonight's match coverage of Shamrock Rovers vs DLR Waves in Tallaght. The Hoops sit in second place in league standings currently and are yet to taste defeat so far this season. DLR Waves have so far struggled to build on last year's fifth place finish, sitting in eight spot, their only wins coming against bottom placed Cork City and Sligo Rovers so far.

Past Meetings

(Round 20)
0 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

DLR Waves v Shamrock Rovers

(Round 13)
2 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v DLR Waves

(Round 6)
2 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

DLR Waves v Shamrock Rovers

(Round 20)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

DLR Waves v Shamrock Rovers

(Round 18)
1 - 4
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v DLR Waves

(Round 5)
2 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v DLR Waves

Ground

Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W

Alex is a second-year Journalism student at DCU. As well as being a soccer enthusiast, he's also an avid athletics fan, competing in the sport for over ten years.