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FAI Women's Cup preview: Shelbourne v Bohemians

Updated / Saturday, 24 Sep 2022 10:18
Chloe Darby (L) with Keeva Keenan
Chloe Darby (L) with Keeva Keenan

It's a Dublin derby at Tolka Park with a place in the Evoke.ie FAI Cup final at stake.

Last year's beaten finalists Shelbourne welcome underdogs Bohs to their home patch and though Noel King's side will be favourites, they come into this one off the back of a wobble in the league.

Defeats to Peamount United and Athlone Town have seen Shels - who were in total control at the summit in July - slip back to second, four points off Wexford Youths.

There's too much experience in the Shelbourne dressing room for panic to set in however.

Instead, they are looking at the cup as the ideal opportunity to get right back on track.

"Bohs is always a tough game for us," said midfielder Keevan Keenan, who didn't feature in last year's decider because she was still recovering from a broken ankle. The former Celtic player had to watch from the bench as Wexford Youths lifted the trophy after a 3-1 win.

"We know what we’re getting off Bohs. We know they’ll be up for it and we have to match that.

"It's nice to be involved this year. I missed out last year with the broken ankle so it was bittersweet us getting to the final. I’m happy to be involved this year and hopefully be able to turn things around."

Shels will be without USA World Cup winner Heather O'Reilly, who has moved back to the States due to work and family commitments. She has not ruled out making a late-season return, and Keenan was fulsome in her praise of the down to earth star.

FAI Women's Cup preview: Athlone Town v Wexford Youths

"You only need to look at her background. To be able to say you played with someone like that is incredible. It's good to be able to talk to someone like that and just pick their brains, see what they think.

"She pulled us through in parts. She was quite a big voice in training and stuff like that. Heather is level headed with her feet on the ground. She has a lot of time for everyone.

"She didn’t come in big headed thinking she was better than everyone else. She was a normal Joe Soap.

"I think a lot of us thought she’d come in thinking she was something, because obviously, she is something! But she was very level headed and had time for everyone. She just kicked about with us."

No doubt O'Reilly will be keeping a close eye on proceedings at Tolka, where Bohs are entering unchartered territory. The Gypsies have never gotten this far in the competition.

Then again it's only two and half years since they were first entered into the Women's National League so there's been steady improvement. They're in the last four thanks to a 3-1 win against Sligo Rovers in the quarters and are in god form, having lost just once in the last six games.

"This is the furthest we've got, the final will be even better," said Chloe Darby.

"Sligo was a great day, a good few fans, we always appreciate the fans getting behind us. Unfortunately it is in Tolka this week but hopefully we can get a few away fans as it's not too far down the road.

"It’s a semi-final. If you’re not going in thinking you are going to win, there is no point in playing. I wouldn’t really look at Shels' recent form and take them for granted, they’re a top, top side. They were in the final last year themselves.

"Hopefully if we can get everyone on form on the day, we can get a result

"I think it shows the shows the support [the club] have been giving us, that we’re in a semi-final in our third season. Yeah, it shows the progress that we’ve made."

Shelbourne v Bohs, Tolka Park, 2pm

HOW THEY GOT HERE

1st round: Bohemians 1-0 Galway WFC; Shelbourne bye
1/4 finals: Bohemians 3-1 Sligo Rovers; Shelbourne 3-2 Peamount United

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