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Date Time League Season
11 March 2023 5:30 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2023

Match Report

Rovers Secure First Home Win On Return to LOIW

Shamrock Rovers marked their home debut back in the Women's Premier Division with a comfortable 6-0 win over Treaty United.

It was a cagey start for The Hoops as Treaty’s Kiara Kilbey proved to be a thorn in the side of The Hoop’s defence, the Canadian’s tenacity rewarding her nicely as she routinely picked up the ball in dangerous areas and managed to muster three shots in the opening ten minutes.

Alannah McEvoy eventually broke the deadlock as she latched on to a ball from the right side of the box and dinked it over the shoulder of Anne-Marie Ulliac to give the hosts the lead.   

Rovers’ off-season transfer dealings with Shelbourne looks like shrewd business so far, starlet Katie Larkin causing chaos as she weaved in and out of Treaty’s defenders. Larkin went close to a goal on one occasion but was narrowly denied by the woodwork. Aoife Kelly, another ex-Shels player received the ball ten yards out from Áine O’Gorman, Kelly proceeding to thump the ball home and double her side’s advantage.

Kelly’s goal proved to be a floodgates moment in the match as the Shannonsiders came out in the second half looking shellshocked and incapable of clawing back the lead, damage limitation mode firmly switched on.

Rovers manager Collie O’Neill made an inspired substitution at half-time, replacing Larkin with Jaimie Thompson. Not even a full minute later, and a quick give-and-go saw Stephanie Zambra feed Thompson in as she grabbed her first goal in senior football.

That wasn’t all for Thompson as ten minutes later she received the ball on the edge of Treaty’s box before spotting Ulliac off her line, producing a superb looping effort on her weaker left foot to lob the unwitting keeper.

That initial lob was special enough, but Thompson wanted to go even better, as she again spotted Ulliac in no mans land, and decided to unleash another incredible lob-this time from 35 yards out. Lauren Kelly headed home from a corner to put the cherry on top of the cake.

The Hoops move up to second in the LOIW table, 1 goal shy of league leaders Shels. Rovers go to Tolka next Saturday in what could end up being a decisive match-up when it’s all said and done at the end of the season.

Treaty United will hope to get their first points of the season on the board when they welcome Athlone Town to the Markets Field. 

Shamrock Rovers

1Amanda Budden Goalkeeper
2Jessica Gargan 22 Defender
4Shauna Fox Defender
5Jessica Hennessy 16 Defender
8Aoife Kelly 17 Midfielder 41'
15Orlaith O’Mahony Midfielder
7Abbie Larkin 21 Forward
9Alannah McEvoy Forward 29'
10Stephanie Zambra 14 Forward
11Lia O’Leary Forward
13Aine O’Gorman Forward
14Lauren Kelly 10 Forward 90'
16Abby Tuthill 5 Defender
18Aoibhe Fleming Defender
21Jaime Thompson 7 Midfielder 47', 56', 66'
22Melissa O’Kane 2 Defender
23Chloe McCarthy Defender
30Jayne Merren Goalkeeper
17Alannah Prizeman 8 Midfielder

Treaty Utd

15Anne-Marie Ulliac Goalkeeper
2Grace McInerney Defender
4Chloe Hennigan Defender
13Ciara McCormack 8 Defender
19Jacqueline Reynaud Defender
21Cooper Lee Lane Midfielder
18Claire Winter Midfielder
22Hailey Walsh 11 Midfielder
20Kiara Kilbey 12 Forward
9Héidí O’Sullivan 23 Forward
10Katie Lawlee 7 Forward
1Kate Foley Goalkeeper
3Emma Deegan Defender
6Esra Kangal Midfielder
7Naoise Griffin 10 Midfielder
8Kelsey Wing 13 Midfielder
11Ruth McDonnell 22 Midfielder
12Rosie Young 20 Defender
14Emma Costelloe Midfielder
23Cara Griffin 9 Forward
  • Full-time in Tallaght. A convincing 6-0 win for Rovers leaves them one goal shy of league leaders Shelbourne, who they'll face off against in Tolka next Saturday. A promising start for Treaty quickly deflated as their defensive frailties were left on full display. They'll try and get their first points of the season on the board against Athlone next week.

  • 90'

    Lauren Kelly heads home from a corner to make it 6-0!

  • 88'

    McEvoy almost gets her second, Ulliac stands tall in a 1-1 situation and deflects the ball out of play.

  • 85'

    Jaimie Thompson awarded LOItv player of the match thanks to her stunning hattrick.

  • 82'

    Almost a horror own goal from Hennigan, Ulliac saving her blushes.

  • 80'

    Three more subs brought into play.

  • 75'

    It's been a great home debut for The Hoops and will hopefully attract bigger and better crowds to their upcoming fixtures in Tallaght.

  • 70'

    Four substitutions now come into play.

  • 66'

    It's a glorious hat trick for Thomspon!!! She picks it up 35 yards out, notices Ulliac off her line again, and goes for an incredible lob that flys into the net!

  • 65'

    As it stands Rovers are second in the league, they'll need a further three goals tonight to take the top spot.

  • 61'

    A seriously inspired substitute from Collie O'Neill to bring on Thompson, as he surely surprised a few in taking off Larkin who had been excellent in the first half.

  • 56'

    Jaimie Thompson makes it four with a stunning strike! She catches Ulliac off her line and loops it over the unwitting keeper with her weaker left foot.

  • 53'

    Treaty United's initial shows of energy has well and truly been beaten out of them, as they now switch to damage prevention now.

  • 51'

    It was Thompson's first goal in senior football.

  • 47'

    Not on the pitch for a minute and Jaimie Thompson makes it 3-0!

  • 46'

    Action resumes in Tallaght. Jaime Thompson replaces Larkin for The Hoops, while Cara Griffin comes on for Heidi O'Sullivan.

  • 45'

    Whistle blows for half-time in Tallaght.

  • 42'

    Aoife Kelly doubles her sides lead smashing it past Ulliac from ten yards out. O'Gorman notching the assist.

  • 37'

    Larkin goes oh so close again! She bursts through and fires the ball at Ulliac who saves, Larkin picks up the rebound and drops the shoulder past Chloe Hennigan before she releases a strike that rattles the post.

  • 34'

    As Rovers continue to get more comfortable in this game, McEvoy's goal could well prove to be a floodgates moment for The Hoops.

  • 29'

    Goal! McEvoy latches on to the ball on the right side of the box and dinks it over Ulliac's shoulder ever so calmly.

  • 27'

    Great chance for Larkin! Alanah McEvoy feeds her into that left-hand channel and Larkin takes it into her feet and tries to shoot across Anne-Marie Ulliac but narrowly misses the target.

  • 25'

    Treaty are certainly holding their own this game and they've arguably been the better side so far. The Hoops have held most of the possession but bar O'Gormans chance, haven't been able to muster up too much.

  • 22'

    Rovers main outlet of attack has been down the left-hand flank but the partnership between Lia O'Leary and Shuna Fox looks to have not gelled fully, the gives-and-gos just a little bit clunky and often misplaced.

  • 19'

    Zambra floats a ball in that clears every player's head and goes out for a goal kick.

  • 14'

    Golden chance for Áine O'Gorman. Larkin finds O'Gorman beautifully in acres of space but she fires wide.

  • 12'

    Kilbey's tenacity proving to be a thorn in The Hoops side currently. Routinely taking advantage of Rovers lax passing but has been able to definitively punish them. The Canadian's managed three shots so far.

  • 8'

    Kilbey picks up on a poor pass from Stephanie Zambra outside the box and attempts to guide the ball towards the bottom left corner, instead shooting a few yards off target.

  • 6'

    Kiara Kilbey almost catches Amanda Budden napping, nicking on the end of the keepers clearance but unable to get a decent touch on it.

  • 4'

    O'Gorman puts it down the line for Gargan to run on to but can't quite reach it and the ball rolls out for a Treaty goal kick.

  • 1'

    And we're underway in Tallaght, the hosts getting things moving.

  • On the cusp of kick-off at the moment. A disappointingly empty East Stand on display...

  • Ireland U-19 international and new Shamrock Rovers signee Lia O'Leary on her switch from Tolka to Tallaght: "I came up through the academy at Shelbourne and broke through to the senior side last season. I am very grateful for all the opportunities they gave me and how they helped me develop as a young player," O'Leary said. "I just thought Rovers was the best decision for me. The standards were a factor. I’ve really enjoyed it since I have been here...It’s great to train with the likes of Áine, Stephanie and Abbie at Rovers. My goal is to be a senior international one day. I just have to keep working hard and improving to get there."

  • Despite this being Rovers' first game out at Tallaght Stadium, many of the squad will be more than used to the pitch thanks to their international experience. There's only one change in their starting XI that took all three points at The Showgrounds last week, with Jessica Gargan replacing Melissa O'Kane in the defence.

  • Treaty's North American signings impressed in their last outing against Bohs, and five of them start tonight. Jacqueline Altrogge starts at the back, Cooper Lee Lane, Claire Winter and Hailey Walsh form a bank of three in the midfield while Kiara Kilbey leads the line. O'Neill remarked that Claire Winter could be the one to cause his side trouble, saying: "She’s very comfortable on the ball and an awful lot of their good play comes through her, so she’s one we’ll need to nullify if we want to get a result on Saturday."

  • Speaking on his team's opposition tonight, O'Neill said: "There’s an awful lot of new players in relation to last year so it’s a different make-up, especially with a new manager coming in. They’re going to be very tough to break down…make it difficult for us and look to hit us on the counter-attack and from set pieces.”

  • Hoops gaffer Collie O'Neill intends to get his side playing some glamorous football that will keep Rovers fans coming back to Tallaght week after week: "We’ll try and put on a nice brand of football, make it entertaining so that they’ll look forward to coming back again to see something that is progressive and positive."

  • Welcome along to this evening's live commentary of Shamrock Rovers vs Treaty United. The Hoops play their first-ever game at Tallaght since their relaunch into the LOIW was announced last year. Treaty showed major signs of improvement in their opening weekend loss to Bohemians and will surely be a far more competitive side than the one who picked up just two points and conceded 110 goals last season.

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.