Shamrock Rovers 1 - 3 Wexford Youths

These two sides met last week in the league and after a dour affair, Wexford collected the three points after a two nil win in Ferrycarrig.

Thankfully, this week's Cup encounter was a much more exciting affair as both sides produced better performances although the Youths women came out deserving winners in the end.

Played on a tight pitch in the AUL complex, both sides produced some good football in the opening few minutes with Rovers probably enjoying the better possession although did not unduly trouble the visitors defence.

Ten minutes in Wexford began to become more dominant and Michelle Watson had to make a good save from Jenny Clifford and Julia Testorp was unlucky when her header from the resultant corner went over the crossbar.

Clifford was beginning to cause the home side severe problems with runs down the left wing and on eighteen minutes she beat several players before rolling the ball back to Ashling Frawley who calmly slotted the ball past Watson for a deserved lead.

Six minutes later, Wexford were two nil ahead when a high swerving ball from Linda Douglas deceived the Rovers keeper and fell to Maria Delahunty who tapped the ball into the empty net and the visitors looked to be cruising to a semi final place for the third year in a row.

Although the home side did not trouble Mary Rose Kelly in the Wexford goal, they did finish the half with a flourish that lacked any sort of finish and the girls in Pink went in at the break two goals to the good.

The second half began ideally for the home side when some uncharacteristic lacklustre defending by Wexford allowed Laura Traynor through to score and give her side an unexpected lifeline. However, the visitors reacted well and Michelle Watson in the Rovers goal was called on time and time again to defy first a Jenny Clifford volley and then a Maria Delahunty shot.

Just past the hour mark, Delahunty put the game out of sight when she took down a high ball on her chest, turned and struck the ball to the roof of the net from thirty yards out. The home side did enough to stay in touch but never troubled the defence as Wexford piled on the pressure and Watson showed herself to be a keeper with great potential as she kept them at bay making another top notch save when sub Ciara Rossiter saw her shot flicked out for a corner in injury time.

On the day, Maria Delahunty, Jessica Gleeson and Lucy Sherwin all looked impressive for Wexford and while the team still have several high profile players to come back from injury, the current side are beginning to cement a place which will help to make the squad very strong overall.

Rovers will also probably be happy with this week's performance with Watson very impressive as were Grainne Walsh and Jessica Dillon.

Wexford now eagerly look forward to the draw which will see them go into the hat with holders Raheny United, Castlebar Celtic and DLR Waves with semi finals to be played on weekend of September 29th.

Shamrock Rovers: Michelle Watson, Ashling Driver, Grainne Walsh, Stacey Nesbitt, Ciara Smith, Joanne Ennis, Sarah O Donoghue, Andrea Carley, Laura Traynor (Laura Chambers), Rosie Maguire (Riona Cullen), Jessica Dillon.

Wexford Youth Women: Mary Rose Kelly, Lucy Sherwin, Linda Douglas, Lauren Dwyer, Jessica Gleeson, Ashling Frawley, Edel Kennedy, Rachel Hutchinson (Niamh Nolan), Maria Delahunty (Ciara Rossiter), Julia Testorp (Katie McCarthy)