Galway United 0

Shamrock Rovers 0

(Utd won 4-3 on pen)

By Mike Rafferty at Tallaght Stadium

SPECIAL moments win special games and so it was in Tallaght Stadium on Saturday night as Galway United Women claimed back-to-back All-Island Cup titles.

Moments like the potential match saving late tackle by Eve Dossen to prevent an almost certain goal, the penalty save by goalkeeper Jessica Berlin, to Jamie Erickson who slotted home the winning spot kick to spark a massive celebration on the hallowed turf of the hosts.

Having won the inaugural title when defeating Cliftonville by 1-0 in the Showgrounds last year, Galway United made it 11 games unbeaten in the competition as they survived sustained Shamrock Rovers opening half pressure, before establishing some momentum of their own on the resumption.

However, when matters finished scoreless and with no extra time in this competition, it was straight to penalties.

It was the home side who shot first and Stephanie Zambra and Aine O’Gorman duly obliged with their two first efforts. In turn, they were matched by the confident finishing of Therese Kinnevey and Kate Thompson.

Aoife Kelly slotted home the Rovers third effort, but unfortunately United’s Jenna Slattery had her effort saved by the diving Amanda Budden as the home side now led by 3-2. United goalkeeper Jessica Berlin had saved two penalties when Galway defeated Wexford in the semi-finals and she came to the rescue once more when diving to her left to keep out Joy Ralph’s effort.

United Substitute Aislinn Meaney restored parity when slotting home to make it 3-3. It was down to the last kick for each side and Scarlett Herron fired her effort over the crossbar for Rovers and it was advantage United.

It was all down to central defender Jamie Erickson and she was coolness personified as she stood poised over the ball for a time, before dispatching the match winning goal to the back of the net to clinch a 4-3 penalty shoot-out success.

Of course, these two teams had met a week previously in League action with United winning 1-0 courtesy of a Slattery penalty on that occasion and manager Phil Trill made two changes from that selection as Berlin returned in goal to replace Kaylee Hammer, while Rola Olusola came into the attack instead of new signing Emma Doherty, who was ineligible to play in this competition.

Shamrock Rovers made three changes as Galway City native Shauna Fox, Joy Ralph and Scarlett Herron all started and, indeed, it was the Dublin side who kicked off in impressive fashion and continued to do so for the majority of the opening half.

Pictured: Galway United’s Aoibheann Costello holds off the challenge of Shamrock Rovers’ Fiona Owens during Saturday’s Avenir Sports All-Island Cup Final at Tallaght Stadium. Photos: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.