2021 FAI Women's Cup final

The 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final (known as The EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup Final for sponsorship reasons) was the final match of the 2021 FAI Women's Cup, the national association football Cup of the Republic of Ireland. The match took place on 21 November 2021 at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Wexford Youths and Shelbourne contested the match.

2021 FAI Women's Cup Final
Match programme cover
Event2021 FAI Women's Cup
Date21 November 2021
VenueTallaght Stadium, Dublin
Player of the MatchEllen Molloy (Wexford Youths)[1]
RefereePaula Brady (Dublin)
Attendance3,053
2020
2022

The match was shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ2 HD in Ireland, and via the RTÉ Player worldwide with commentary from Ger Canning and Lisa Fallon. It was refereed by Paula Brady, assisted by David Berry and Conor Fitzgibbon with Claire Purcell as Fourth Official. The 3,053 attendance was a record for a stand-alone women's final in Ireland.[2]

Wexford Youths won 3–1 to secure the trophy for the fourth time in seven seasons and avenge their 5–0 defeat by Shelbourne in the 2016 final. Shelbourne, crowned League champions the previous week, missed the opportunity to claim a "double".

Match

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Summary

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On 31 minutes Shelbourne captain Pearl Slattery was cautioned for a foul by the centre circle, and when Shelbourne failed to clear the resultant free kick, Lynn-Marie Grant hoisted the ball high over goalkeeper Amanda Budden from the edge of the penalty area to give Wexford the lead. Shelbourne equalised on 39 minutes when Jessica Ziu's firm shot came back off the base of the post and fell to Ciara Grant who looped the ball in off the other post.[3]

Five minutes into the second half, Wexford retook the lead. Player of the Match Ellen Molloy cut inside from the right and crossed to Kylie Murphy, who finished low past Budden from 12 yards (11m). Saoirse Noonan broke clear on 60 minutes, but Wexford full-back Orlaith Conlon made a last ditch tackle in which she injured her knee and had to be substituted. On 74 minutes Molloy was involved in Wexford's third goal, when after having a shot blocked she headed the ball to Edel Kennedy on the edge of the Shelbourne penalty area. Kennedy hit a powerful half volley past Budden to score the best goal of the game.[4]

After their unexpected League title win the previous week, Shelbourne's players had partied until 7am at Tolka Park.[5] Fatigue contributed their lacklustre performance in the Cup final.[6] Although Wexford substitute Teegan Lynch had apparently not been listed in the matchday squad, Shelbourne declined to raise any complaint and instead congratulated their opponents: "the better team on the night".[7]

Details

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Wexford Youths3–1Shelbourne
L. Grant   31'
Murphy   50'
Kennedy   74'
Report C. Grant   39'
Attendance: 3,053
Referee: Paula Brady (Dublin)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wexford
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shelbourne
GK 18   Ciamh Gray
DF 3   Orlaith Conlon   60'
DF 4   Della Doherty
DF 5   Lauren Dwyer
DF 16   Nicola Sinnott
MF 8   Edel Kennedy
MF 12   Ciara Rossiter
MF 17   Aoibheann Clancy
MF 19   Lynn-Marie Grant   72'
AM 20   Ellen Molloy   93'
FW 6   Kylie Murphy (c)
Substitutions:
GK 21   Maeve Williams
MF 7   Freya De Mange
FW 9   Katie Law
FW 10   Sinead Taylor   93'
DF 11   Lynn Craven   60'
MF 23   Fiona Ryan
FW 23   Emma Walker
FW 24   Kira Bates-Crosbie
MF 2   Teegan Lynch[note 1]   72'
Manager:
  Stephen Quinn
 
GK 1   Amanda Budden
DF 2   Jess Gargan   80'
DF 4   Pearl Slattery (c)   31'
DF 5   Shauna Fox
DF 14   Chloe Mustaki
MF 3   Jessie Stapleton
MF 7   Jessica Ziu
MF 8   Rachel Graham   44'   80'
MF 12   Ciara Grant
AM 10   Noelle Murray
FW 25   Saoirse Noonan
Substitutions:
GK 16   Sophie Lenehan
MF 6   Alex Kavanagh   80'
DF 9   Keeva Keenan
MF 13   Mia Dodd
FW 18   Abbie Larkin   80'
MF 19   Leah Doyle
MF 20   Rebecca Creagh
MF 21   Taylor White
Manager:
  Noel King

Match officials

  • Assistant referees:
    • David Berry
    • Conor Fitzgibbon
  • Fourth official: Claire Purcell

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 20 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores level.
  • Eight substitutes named.
  • Maximum of five substitutions.

Notes

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  1. ^ RTÉ coverage of the match noted that Wexford Youths' second substitute Teegan Lynch was not named in the matchday squad.

References

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  1. ^ Duffy, Emma (21 November 2021). "'What's there to say? The kid is just unbelievable'". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  2. ^ Fitzmaurice, Aidan (21 November 2021). "Shelbourne's double dream dies as second half surges sees Wexford Youths claim FAI Cup". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  3. ^ Pyne, Anthony (21 November 2021). "Youths turn on style to shatter Shels' double dreams". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  4. ^ Cummiskey, Gavin (21 November 2021). "Edel Kennedy's stunner seals FAI Cup for Wexford and denies Shels a double". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  5. ^ Donnelly, Dave (16 November 2021). "Shelbourne captain Pearl Slattery: 'I'll never experience a day like that in football again'". Dublin Live. Reach plc. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  6. ^ Fallon, John (6 November 2022). "No hangover this year as Shels complete the double". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  7. ^ Fallon, John (22 November 2021). "Shelbourne won't appeal FAI Women's Cup final outcome over Wexford sub eligibility". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
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