2022 FAI Women's Cup final

The 2022 FAI Women's Cup Final (known as The EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup Final for sponsorship reasons) was the final match of the 2022 FAI Women's Cup, the national association football Cup of the Republic of Ireland. The match took place on 6 November 2022 at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Shelbourne and Athlone Town contested the match.

2022 FAI Women's Cup Final
Match programme cover
Event2022 FAI Women's Cup
Date6 November 2022
VenueTallaght Stadium, Dublin
Player of the MatchJessie Stapleton (Shelbourne)[1]
RefereeSeán Grant (Wexford)
Attendance5,073
2021

The match was shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ2 HD in Ireland, and via the RTÉ Player worldwide with commentary from Ger Canning and Stephanie Roche. It was refereed by Seán Grant, assisted by Ciaran Delaney and Fintan Butler with Ray Matthews as Fourth Official. The 5,073 attendance was a record for a stand-alone women's final in Ireland.[2] President Michael D. Higgins was the Guest of Honour.[3]

Shelbourne beat first time finalists Athlone Town 2–0 to secure the trophy for the second time and avenge their defeat by Wexford Youths in the 2021 final. Crowned Women's National League champions the previous week, Shelbourne claimed a League and Cup "double".[4]

Match

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Summary

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After six minutes, Shelbourne took the lead when Alex Kavanagh's left-wing free kick was not collected by Athlone's goalkeeper Niamh Coombes on her goal-line. Coombes was under heavy pressure from Jessie Stapleton, and protested she had been impeded after the ball deflected into the goal off Stapleton's back. Shelbourne scored again on 23 minutes when Megan Smyth-Lynch's inswinging corner kick saw Shauna Fox beat Coombes to head the ball back across goal, where it was headed in from close range by Fox's central defensive partner Pearl Slattery.[5]

In the second half Athlone enjoyed more possession but were fortunate when Keeva Keenan's 49th-minute cross bounced off their crossbar. Scarlett Herron thought she had reduced the arrears on 70 minutes, but her header was disallowed for a marginal offside decision.[6] In the 78th minute Madie Gibson, the American striker whose semi-final hat-trick had secured Athlone's place in the final, struck a clear chance wide of goal as Shelbourne held on.[5]

Athlone manager Tommy Hewitt was unhappy with the decisions of the officials but "immensely proud" of his defeated players.[7] Shelbourne's victorious captain Pearl Slattery was pleased to secure the double and to avenge the "unfinished business" of their defeat in the previous year's final.[8]

Details

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Shelbourne2–0Athlone Town
Stapleton   6'
Slattery   23'
Report
Attendance: 5,073
Referee: Seán Grant (Wexford)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shelbourne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Athlone
GK 1   Amanda Budden
RB 2   Jessica Gargan
CB 4   Pearl Slattery (c)   54'
CB 5   Shauna Fox
LB 13   Leah Doyle
RM 12   Keeva Keenan   77'
CM 6   Alex Kavanagh   90+2'
CM 3   Jessie Stapleton
LM 11   Megan Smyth-Lynch   72'
AM 9   Abbie Larkin
FW 10   Noelle Murray   90+2'
Substitutions:
GK 38   Courtney Maguire
MF 7   Heather O'Reilly   72'
MF 8   Rachel Graham   77'
FW 15   Jemma Quinn   90+2'
FW 16   Lia O'Leary
MF 17   Taylor White
FW 18   Aoife Kelly
FW 21   Emma Starr   90+2'
MF 25   Lia Riley
Manager:
  Noel King
 
GK 1   Niamh Coombes
CB 22   Melissa O'Kane
CB 5   Jessica Hennessy
CB 13   Kelsey Munroe   60'
RW 5   Gillian Keenan   60'
CM 6   Muireann Devaney
CM 11   Laurie Ryan (c)
CM 17   Scarlett Herron   90+2'
LW 14   Róisín Molloy   43'   89'
FW 12   Madie Gibson
FW 9   Emily Corbet
Substitutions:
GK 16   Bonnie McKiernan
GK 30   Ciara Glackin
DF 3   Kayleigh Shine   60'
MF 10   Kellie Brennan
FW 15   Lucy-Jane Grant   90+2'
MF 18   Kate Slevin   60'
DF 19   Emma McGrath
MF 23   Anthea Guvo
MF 24   Millie Daly   89'
Manager:
  Tommy Hewitt

Match officials

  • Assistant referees:
    • Ciaran Delaney
    • Fintan Butler
  • Fourth official: Ray Matthews

Match rules

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

References

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  1. ^ O'Connor, Seán (7 November 2022). "Shelbourne manager Noel King praises Shelbourne's 'future internationals' after Reds earn redemption". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  2. ^ Sneyd, David (6 November 2022). "Joy for Shelbourne as their history-makers clinch FAI Cup for a famous double". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  3. ^ Morahan, George (7 November 2022). "Record Cup Final Attendance Highlights The Power Of Evoke.Ie Sponsorship". Business Plus. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  4. ^ Walsh, Daire (6 November 2022). "FAI Women's Cup Final: Shelbourne complete double with victory over Athlone". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  5. ^ a b Pyne, Anthony (6 November 2022). "Shels break Athlone hearts to complete the double". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  6. ^ "FAI Women's Cup final recap: Shelbourne 2-0 Athlone Town". RTÉ Sport. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  7. ^ Pyrne, Anthony (6 November 2022). "Athlone boss Hewitt fumes as 'officials didn't do their job'". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  8. ^ Kelly, David (6 November 2022). "'We got let down with a few decisions' – Athlone Town manager not happy with FAI Cup final referee". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
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