Shels too strong for Stones
Dominant Dubliners net six of the best against U-17s
GREYSTONES suffered a home defeat to Shelbourne in 6-0 loss at Woodlands on Saturday afternoon.
United were looking to add to their good performance in Bray last time out and build on their 2-2 draw against a tough Bray Wanderers side.
Shelbourne started the game dominating the possession with some quick passing and holding possession of the ball.
Greystones found it hard to create many chances in the opening ten minutes as Shelbourne sat back and took no chances of losing the ball.
Greystones were lucky not to conceded a penalty in the 15th minute when defender Annika Henry took down Ciara Giles in the penalty area, but Giles was in an offside position before she was tackled in the penalty area and the home side were given a free out.
Shels went close to opening the scoring on the 25th minute mark when midfielder Lucy Edwards was taken down just outside the penalty area, Edwards struck the free-kick well but Greystones keeper Maria Ryan got down well to parry the ball out of danger.
The home side management switched striker Holly Farrell into centre midfield and Holly Tobin into a more attacking position up front
This worked well for the remainder of the first half as Tobin provided a more attacking threat and Farrell worked hard in midfield, breaking up play and winning the ball back for her side.
Shels took the lead just before half-time as attacker Abbie Larkin saw Ryan off her goal line and lobbed the keeper to
give her side the lead going in at half time.
Greystones came out in the second half looking to get an equaliser as they pushed forward to grab a goal back, unfortunately this left them a little short in defensive areas.
Shels got their second and third goal, with a matter of minutes between the strikes.
Leah Riley reacted quickest to slot home a rebounded shot, three minutes later Abbie Larkin grabbed her second goal of the game as the home side backline had stopped playing as
the linesman put up his flag as Larkin was clearly in an offside position but the referee over ruled the linesman and award the goal, much to the frustration of the home side management teams and players.
Larkin wrapped up her hattrick in the 65th minute with a tidy finish past Maria Ryan in goal.
Larkin made a great run through the centre of defence before slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
Shels didn’t let up as they continued to dominate the possession, midfielder Zoe Leonard was controlling the game with some excellent passing and broke up all the Greystones attacks along with Lucy Edwards who put in a great shift throughout the game in centre midfield.
Larkin was again on the scoresheet in the 80th minute when she cut inside on her preferred right foot and curled the ball into the top corner of the net.
Larkin bagged four goals throughout the game, she was clinical in front of goal and gave
Maria Ryan in goal a game to forget.
Shels finalised the result five minutes from time as skipper Zoe Leonard found the back of the net, which was much deserved as she controlled the game from midfield from start to finish.
A disappointing result for the home side who were well in the game in the first half but Shels quality was a little too much in the second half and struggled to take their chances in front of goal.
United will now have to re-energise themselves for their next fixture at home against Wexford Youths.
1. Maria Ryan, 2, Annika Henry, 3. Katelynn Allison Curtis, 4. Katelyn Boggan, 5. Julia Jablonska, 6. Aoife Connolly, 7. Molly Garland, 9. Holly Farrell, 11. Shanise O’ Reilly, 14. Ava Carroll, 19. Holly Tobin. Subs: Chloe Doyle for Molly Garland (45min), Zoe Butler for Ava Carroll (60min), Katie Ivory for Holly Farrell (70min)
1. Eden Tyler, 3. Shannon Gibson, 5. Chloe McCarthy, 6. Roisin White, 9. Leah Riley, 10. Abbie Larkin, 11. Zoe Leonard, 12. Ciara Giles, 13. Abby McHugh, 17. Sophia Mangan, 21. Lucy Edwards.
C. O’Reilly