Match Report: Blues 0 Shelbourne 4

A fantastic crowd of 1,076 came to the RSC today to watch history being made as Waterford FC played their first ever home game in the Women’s Premier Division. The atmosphere was excellent and the weather beautiful so it made for a great occasion. The Blues delivered too with an impressive display and enjoyable football until a very strong Shelbourne squad ultimately overwhelmed them midway through the second half.

It almost started horribly when Shels got into the box down their right wing, but Maeve Williams was out quickly to smother the ball. However, after that initial danger, Gary Hunt’s Blues really settled into the game and the contest was very even through most of the first half. Shelbourne’s Noelle Murray fired a shot across goal and Roma McLaughlin was booked for a dive in the box while Waterford’s Erin O’Brien had an opportunistic shot from 25 yards held by goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan.

 

(Image courtesy of Hugh de Paor)

Then came the first of three penalties awarded to the visitors. This one was a foul. The second was extremely soft. The third was not a foul. After Lauren Walsh had clipped McLaughlin, the vastly experienced Noelle Murray stepped up to the spot. She thumped the ball low to the middle of the goal, but Williams got down brilliantly to save. It was great to hear a massive roar from the crowd at the RSC for the first time in a Women’s Premier League fixture.

Ferrybank’s finest held a shot from outside the area by Kate Mooney and watched attempts from both Aoibheann Clancy and Murray fly over her crossbar as Waterford made it to half-time level with a degree of comfort. The teamwork and tenacity of the young Blues was outstanding and, while it was largely a rearguard action against one of the best teams in the country, Waterford were handling the Shels threat confidently. 

The Dubliners had more chances in the second half and Williams’ goal was coming under increasing pressure. She punched clear from a corner in a crowded box, pushed a hooked shot from Rebecca Cooke away and watched a strike from Clancy flash past the post. Shelbourne manager Eoin Wearen sent a pair of substitutes on to change the game and Mackenzie Anthony, a new signing from the US, made the breakthrough just four minutes later when she headed in at the back post for her first goal in Irish football.

 

 

After a brave and battling effort for 64 minutes, the rest of the game was a mix of frustration and farce. Leah Doyle doubled the lead direct from a corner in the 67^th minute when her delivery carried on the wind, but Maeve will be disappointed to concede that one. The Blues had no chance to regroup from those goals when Shels were awarded a second penalty for minimal contact between Dan Burke and Anthony. It was a poor decision and put the game completely out of reach as McLaughlin sent Williams the wrong way to convert.

Incredibly, it was to get worse two minutes later, after Anthony had headed off the woodwork, when referee Aaron Pisarnik pointed for a third penalty. Walsh was deemed to have fouled Anthony much to the shock of everyone in the ground. This one was very clearly not a foul, but justice was done as Murray tried to make amends for her earlier miss only to have a second spot-kick saved superbly by Williams.

Having escaped that debacle, sadly Waterford conceded a disappointing fourth goal as Shels captain Pearl Slattery made space between two defenders to power a header home from a corner. Four goals in ten minutes turned the match totally, but credit to the home fans who stayed behind the Blues to the end. Walsh prevented a fifth with an excellent tackle on Rebecca Devereux in the final minutes when, for just a second, the crowd waited to see if the officials could conjure up another penalty, but it ended with the visitors victorious by four goals.

 

 

The Blues battled really well and can build on this. Shelbourne were deserving winners, despite the poor officiating in the second half, and will be strong contenders for the title they last won in 2022. Sophie Slattery thoroughly deserved the Player of the Match award for an immense performance in midfield. Chloe Atkinson was a very good outlet in attack again and will show that more against less testing opponents. Danielle Griffin impressed at right back and Mia Lenihan looks likely to create chances.

Another week together now for this new team before taking on Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds next Saturday night live on TG4. These are just the very first steps on a path with tremendous potential for football in the region.

 

Maeve Williams; Danielle Griffin, Sophie Moran (Hannah Griffey, 77), Lauren Walsh, Dan Burke, Jess Lawler (Zoey Croke, 89); Mia Lenihan (Aoife Mulkern, 77), Sophie Slattery, Olivia Shannon (Aoibh Thomas, 89), Chloe Atkinson; Erin O’Brien (Nancy Edogiawerie, 89).