Details

Date Time League Season
21 November 2021 10:30 pm FAI Women's Cup 2021

Match Report

Wexford Youths win Women’s FAI Cup

Wexford Youths are the 2021 Women’s FAI Cup Champions, after a fantastic second half performance saw them beat recent WNL winners Shelbourne.

Goals from Lynn Marie Grant, Kylie Murphy and Edel Kennedy sent Youths to victory, in front of a record crowd at Tallaght Stadium.

It was a slow enough start to the affair but both sides were well up for the physical battles.

Shels’ Saoirse Noonan came the closest inside the first quarter of an hour but Keev Gray was equal to her effort.

Youths did take the lead on the half hour mark when Lynn Marie Grant’s looping effort found the back of the net to give the Wexford side the lead. Shels did reply and Jessica Ziu was dangerous every time she picked the ball up inside the Youths half.

Ziu cut in from the left-hand side and fired an emphatic effort off the right post before Ciara Grant fired finished from close range to equalise for Noel King’s side. The scores went in level at a goal apiece.

Youths went out firing at the start of the second half. Ellen Molloy’s inch perfect pass split the Shelbourne defence straight into the path of Murphy. The Wexford Youths skipper finished first time into the bottom corner.

Noel King’s side almost hit back just after. Gargan’s cross found Noonan inside the danger area, but the Shelbourne attacker couldn’t direct her effort on target.

Shels almost equalised for the second time when the ever-lively Noonan broke through into the Youth’s penalty area but Orlaith Conlon made a terrific, goal saving challenge.

With just under 15 minutes to go, Kennedy scored a screamer after flicking the ball up and hitting it on the half volley from just outside the box to secure it for Wexford.

Youths almost scored their fourth goal of the game in the closing stages when Ciara Rossiter's effort skimmed the Shelbourne crossbar.

Stephen Quinn’s side will bring the FAI Cup back to the South East for the third time in five years. The victory caps off an excellent first season in charge for the Wexford boss.

Shelbourne

1Amanda Budden Goalkeeper
2Jessica Gargan 18 Defender
3Jessie Stapleton Defender
4Pearl Slattery Defender 30'
7Jessica Ziu Midfielder
8Rachel Graham 6 Defender
10Noelle Murray Forward
11Saoirse Noonan Forward
24Ciara Grant Midfielder 39'
30Shauna Fox Defender
Chloe Mustaki Midfielder
16Sophie Lenehan Goalkeeper
6Alex Kavanagh 8 Midfielder
13Mia Dodd Defender
17Keeva Keenan Defender
18Abbie Larkin 2 Forward
19Leah Doyle Defender
21Taylor White Forward

Wexford Yths

18Kiev Gray Goalkeeper
3Orlaith Conlon 11 Defender
5Lauren Dwyer Defender
6Kylie Murphy Midfielder 50'
8Edel Kennedy Midfielder 76'
12Ciara Rossiter Defender
16Nicola Sinnott Defender
19Lynn Marie Grant Forward 31'
20Ellen Molloy Midfielder
21Della Doherty Midfielder
28Aoibheann Clancy Midfielder
2Teegan Lynch Midfielder
9Katie Law Forward
7Freya de Mange Midfielder
10Sinead Taylor Forward
11Lynn Craven 3 Defender
22Fiona Ryan Defender
24Kira Bates Crosbie Midfielder
25Emma Walker Midfielder
  • And it's all over and Wexford Youths are FAI Cup Champions.

  • 90'

    Ciara Grant was the only one back for Shels who denied Ellen Molloy after she broke free on the counter.

  • 90'

    Gray saves Ziu's effort from distance. There will be six minutes of additional time.

  • 85'

    Rossiter nearly seals it for Youths but her effort goes narrowly over the bar.

  • 64'

    Lynn Craven with a vital block to deny the ever lively Noonan.

  • 62'

    Gargan's ball finds Noonan inside the area but her effort flies over the bar.

  • 60'

    Lynn Craven replaces the injured Orlaith Conlon on the hour mark.

  • 53'

    Saoirse Noonan broke one on one but Orlaith Conlon times her challenge to perfection, to save Wexford Youths. The left back has gone down injured following the tackle.

  • 53'

    Shels' keeper Amanda Budden is down injured but it looks like she can continue.

  • 50'

    Youths go ahead after just five minutes in the second half, Molloy's inch perfect pass finds Kylie Murphy who finished first time past Budden.

  • 46'

    Ellen Molloy with a strike from outside the area but she slices it wide of the target.

  • 46'

    And we're back underway.

  • 45'

    Half time at Tallaght Stadium after an entertaining first 45 minutes. Goals from Lynn Marie Grant and Ciara Grant mean the sides go in level at the interval.

  • 39'

    Shels equalise. Ciara Grant with the finish after Jessica Ziu's effort from distance rebounds off the post.

  • 37'

    Ziu has been dangerous for Shels and came close after weaving in and out of the Youths' defence but lost possession at the vital moment.

  • 31'

    Lynn Marie Grant with a great looping finish into the back of the net to give Youths the lead.

  • 30'

    Pearly Slattery is the first player booked this evening after a late challenge on Ellen Molloy.

  • 24'

    Saoirse Noonan with some great play down the right hand side and forces a good save from Gray to deny her.

  • 22'

    Ellen Molloy tries her luck with a first time , left footed effort but it's easily saved by Budden

  • 19'

    Both sides still yet to make a clear cut chance but some very hefty challenges going in.

  • 9'

    Mustaki's cross finds Jessica Ziu inside the area but her header is saved comfortably by Gray.

  • 7'

    Pearly Slattery has been solid and seen a lot of possesion so far for Shels. Saoire Noonan looking dangerous so far for Noel King's side.

  • 4'

    Both sides seem up for it with the game being played at fast tempo, with neither side shying away from some physical challenges.

  • 1'

    We're underway here in Tallaght Stadium.

  • The teams arriving out on the pitch ahead of kick off. Great atmosphere building around the stadium.

  • Warm-ups are well underway here at Tallaght Stadium.

  • Shelbourne Starting Line Up: Budden, Gargan, Mustaki, Slattery, Grant, Fox, Murray, Graham, Stapleton, Ziu, Noonan.

  • Wexford Youth Starting line up: Gray, Conlon, Doherty, Dwyer, Murphy, Kennedy, Rossiter, Sinnot, Clancy, Grant, Molloy.

  • Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for the final of the Women's FAI Cup between League Champions Shelbourne and Wexford Youths. Team news to follow shortly.

Past Meetings

(Series 27)
3 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

2 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

(Series 18)
1 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

(Series 9)
0 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

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

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

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

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

(Round 20)
2 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

(Round 14)
1 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

(Round 8)
0 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

(Round 15)
1 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

(Round 8)
1 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

0 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

3 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

2 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

1 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

1 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

3 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Wexford Youths

3 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford Youths v Shelbourne

Ground

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

Luke is a final year Journalism student in DCU. He is a Sports Reporter for Wicklow People Sport and FinalWhistle.ie.