Women's FAI Cup Final Preview: UCD Waves v Raheny United

• Extratime Team
• Sun, Nov 02 2014




RAHENY United will head into Sunday’s FAI Continental Tyres Women’s Senior Cup Final looking to secure the trophy for the third consecutive year.

 

Casey McQuillan’s side have proven themselves to be the side to beat in Irish women’s football ever since capturing the cup in 2012 in a thrilling final against Peamount United and since then they have twice won the National League and also retained the cup in a classic encounter against Castlebar Celtic at Aviva Stadium last year.

 

The Pandas – who are likely to be without striker Clare Shine – may be the favourites against UCD Waves on the back of their 3-1 league victory against Eileen Gleeson’s side last month but McQuillan is not taking anything for granted.

 

Many of the Waves team played under Gleeson at Peamount while Caroline Thorpe and Kerrie Ryan now play for UCD having starred for Raheny in last year’s final.

 

“There is very seldom much between ourselves and this group of players, whether they were in their previous club Peamount or with UCD Waves as they are now,” said McQuillan.

 

“I think the stage is set for a very good final which will showcase the quality of players in the league. Last year’s final experience will be a help to our side but it’s down to who performs on the occasion.”

 

UCD Waves boss Gleeson is pleased that her side – which was only brought together during the summer – has reached a national final so early into their existence.

 

“It’s great for the club that we’ve got this far so early but we did have it as one of our goals to reach the FAI Continental Tyres Women’s Senior Cup Final,” she said.

 

“Last year’s final showed the quality that is in the league and we know that Raheny have proven themselves to be the side to beat recently but we have players who are used to big occasions like this so we’ll go into the game confident that we can perform.”