2022 FAI Women's Cup final explained

2022 FAI Women's Cup Final
Event:2022 FAI Women's Cup
Team1:Shelbourne
Team1score:2
Team2:Athlone Town
Team2score:0
Date:6 November 2022
Stadium:Tallaght Stadium
City:Dublin
Woman Player1:Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne)[1]
Referee:Seán Grant (Wexford)
Attendance:5,073
Previous:2021

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.

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

Summary

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.

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

GK 1
RB 2
CB 4 Pearl Slattery (c)
CB 5 Shauna Fox
LB13
RM12
CM 6
CM 3 Jessie Stapleton
LM 11
AM 9 Abbie Larkin
FW 10
Substitutions:
GK 38 Courtney Maguire
MF 7
MF 8
FW 15
FW 16
MF 17
FW 18
FW 21
MF 25 Lia Riley
Manager:
Noel King
width=25!width=25
GK 1 Niamh Coombes
CB 22 Melissa O'Kane
CB 5 Jessica Hennessy
CB 13
RW 5
CM6
CM11 Laurie Ryan (c)
CM 17
LW 14
FW 12
FW 9 Emily Corbet
Substitutions:
GK 16
GK 30
DF 3
MF 10
FW 15
MF 18
DF 19
MF 23 Anthea Guvo
MF 24
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.

External links

Notes and References

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