A Night For The Ages - Rovers Women begin to forge their own history

There are moments in sport that spark change.

Change for a parent, a player, a coach, a club, a fan..

On a humid Friday night in August, packed tightly beneath the barrelled roof of the Main Stand at Tolka Park, the Rovers away contingent were about to witness a palpable shift first-hand.

Those who travelled to Drumcondra on the 15th of August 2025 will, in years to come, speak of it in reverent tones.

The Rovers Women, re-established in 2022, have only just begun to carve out their own history — and on this night, under interim Head Coach Stephanie Zambra, they etched a defining chapter by overcoming the reigning Reds in a titanic Dublin Derby.

For the neutral, Rovers were clear underdogs in this Sports Direct FAI Cup Quarter-Final: a young squad facing the seasoned cup holders and current league leaders on home soil.

But Hoops fans knew better. So did Zambra - the woman who has restored belief within the Dublin 24 squad since stepping up in July.

Aware of Shelbourne’s pedigree, the former number ten and her staff arrived fully prepared, their squad primed to balance buoyancy with discipline.

Shouts of “Gwan Shels!” began to peter out as a spirited Shamrock Rovers nullified the Reds in attack and surged down both wings.

Ella Kelly calls for the ball as Thompson carries.

The flags of the Rovers Women Ultras rippled in Anna Butler’s wake as she cruised past the Riverside Stand, while Ella Kelly electrified the away supporters with her trademark energy on the far left.

In midfield, Melissa O’Kane toyed with the red shirts as they chased in vain. Spinning, weaving - her movement and flair of another vintage.

Sublime.

In defence, Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds and Aoife Brophy frustrated Mackenzie Anthony and Noelle Murray, standing firm as Shelbourne probed.

Yet despite Rovers’ aggressive start, Eoin Wearen’s side defended stoutly. Keeva Keenan, Nia Hannon and Pearl Slattery shielding McQuillan as Corbet pressed relentlessly.

When a threaded ball briefly unlocked the backline, it was Slattery — the Pearl of Drumcondra — who struck in the 22nd minute.

As smoke and flares threatened to obscure Rovers’ path to the semi-final, the spirit of the Shamrock lingered, roused by the drums of the Ultras who guarded the team’s honour when the Ballybough End became a little raucous.

Emily Corbet, Áine O’Gorman and Butler, backed by the tenacious Fiona Owens, continued to press for the equaliser, but Shelbourne’s backline were granite.

On the stroke of half-time, Anthony had a golden opportunity to extend Shels lead in a one on one showdown v Lawless but much to the relief of Rovers fans, dragged the strike wide and to the right.

Claire O’Reilly showcased her volleying technique moments before the starters returned from the dressing room, stamping Rovers’ authority further when she replaced the injured Reynolds on the restart - O'Gorman switching to right back.

Then, in the 49th, Herron leapt to fire a bullet header on foot of another Jaime Thompson delivery into the back of the net, sucking the air out of Tolka and reviving the away supporters.

Chants of “ROVERS! ROVERS! ROVERS!” were in mid flow when seconds later, Corbet’s press forced Keenan into a wayward pass that the Laois native slipped to Butler. Dinking beyond Keenan, Butler found herself in space and fired into the bottom right hand corner to nose The Hoops ahead.

Pandemonium ensued behind the perspex of the away dugout as the scoreboard to its direct left flicked to 2 for Rovers.

The shackles were off.

Rovers were standing tall, stepping into their full height against the champions.

But forty minutes remained, and if there is one team you would not bet against, it's Shelbourne:

The second half, much like the first, was competitive until the latter phase when Tolka transformed into a SIEGE of red - Wearen introducing Megan Smyth-Lynch, Maeve Wollmer and Jemma Quinn.

Shels pressed, probed, and poured forward - every attack another test of The Hoops’ mettle.

Enter Summer Lawless — heroine of the hour.

With every collect, catch, parry and block, the Shamrock end roared in unison with their netminder.

Lawless watches the play following a kick-out

When Murray rattled the crossbar in the 83rd, Hoops hearts stopped until the ball was under O'Kane's control - the former Athlone Town maestro unleashing a swerving drive bound for the bottom left hand corner that just skimmed the side netting.

And then came the moment Hoops fans will retell to future generations when in the 85th, Kavanagh conjured magic with a swirling ball over the green-and-white shirts. Anthony ghosted in, chested it down and the leveller looked inevitable.

Until.

Until

UNTIL

Lawless scrambled across the goalmouth and got a hand to it, sending the Rovers fans into raptures.

The save of the night. The save of the season. Perhaps the greatest save those in attendance have ever witnessed.

Shouts of "Gwan Summer!" as the Rovers number one hoofed a kick-out high.

In the dying moments, Zambra paced along the sideline as both the gaffer and her team were willed on by the travelling contingent.

When the final whistle blew, the release was thunderous.

Rovers.

Rovers.

Rovers.

Together

We are one

Or as a lad and his brother from Manchester will sing in Croke Park tonight - "All my people right here, right now. Dya know what I mean? Yeah, yeah."

By Christine Allen