WLOI REPORT: Ralph Revs for Rovers Under the Rising Sun
- Christine Allen
- May 4
- 3 min read
Professional. Commanding. Clinical.
Three words to describe Shamrock Rovers 4–1 victory over DLR Waves at the UCD Bowl.
Ominous in their all-black kit under the bright May sunshine Rovers pressed - Aine O'Gorman, Joy Ralph and Emily Corbet haunting the DLR defence from the opening bell.
Keelin Comiskey set the tempo early doors with a series of quick throw-outs, while Corbet dipped and sprinted along the left, forcing Jess Gleeson and Leah Donnelly to make several key interceptions
Against the run of play, Michelle Doonan came close for the Waves in the 8th minute.
Spotting Katie Keane off her line, the DLR Dynamo reacted instinctively with a delicate chip, but Keane scrambled back to catch.
The Waves struggled to piece together a string of passes as Rovers dominated possession - Doonan's attempts to turn the tide alongside Aisling Meehan and Rachel Doyle abruptly shut down by Scarlett Herron and Comiskey on the right.
Corbet dipped and weaved on the left channel and in the 10th fired a one-touch effort from close range, but Eve Badana’s reflexes were not left wanting.
Ralph bopped, chopped and turned up top, blasting a flurry of shots towards the DLR goalminder, but it was Corbet who beat the Waves keeper first when Comiskey threaded a precise pass that sent the number ten bursting down the left.
Striking first time, she caught DLR cold in the 17th with a cross-come-shot that Katie McCabe herself would be proud of.
1-0 to The Hoops.
As the Waves fought to avoid another whitewash, Nadine Clare and Neema Nyangasi sparked in flashes, but neither could match the composure of Rovers number eight - Melissa O'Kane.
With timely interceptions and intelligent switches of the ball, O'Kane assuaged concerns, while Jaime Thompson, like a cheat code, unlocked opportunities with visionary passes - adding a layer of unpredictability to Rovers' play.
Rovers extended their lead after the half-hour mark when Scarlett Herron rose high to meet a Comiskey corner. The deflection skimmed off Maria Reynolds, but Aisling Meehan took the last touch, inadvertently turning it into her own net.
Aoife Brophy did well in both attack and defence, cutting out the pacy Abbie Brophy as she probed for an opening.
Just before half-time, Thompson played a perfectly weighted pass through a narrow gap to Ralph, but the Greenhills native was unable to generate enough power on the final touch.
The home side emerged with renewed intent after the break; A. Brophy’s elusive runs and Rebecca McMahon’s resolute defending igniting a competitive edge.
Their persistence paid off in the 59th when Rachel Doyle picked out Aisling Meehan with a superb pass.
Meehan, breaking free from the wall of black shirts, took one deft touch with her left to round Keane before calmly slotting the ball into the net.
2-1
And then...
RALPH.
Seconds after the restart, a defensive lapse from DLR saw the number 9 gifted the ball - but there was still work to be done.
Controlling the take down with her right boot, Ralph nudged it past the defender with panache before calmly slotting it home with a finish as stylish as Rovers new threads.
3-1
Anna Butler's introduction added an extra spark to the Rovers' attack, the former Academy player showing no sign of nerves as she pressed the blue shirts and pushed forward.
In the 74th minute, a loose back pass from DLR opened the door, and Emily Corbet stepped through, curling a strike over Badana and into the back of the net.
Four for the Hoops, and surely three points in the bag.
In the final stages, DLR fought to salvage a respectable scoreline, but Maria Reynolds produced another masterclass in defence, calmly snuffing out the Waves' attacks alongside Herron.
With twenty minutes remaining, both sides made a flurry of substitutions.
For DLR, Amy Ryan and Robyn Bolger's introductions were one of a number of changes made by Laura Heffernan, while Rovers also made several switches – Ruesha Littlejohn bolstering their defensive solidity as the game wound down.
But Rovers had the game comfortably in hand - Melissa O'Kane pulling the strings in midfield to keep the Waves at arm’s length.
The Hoops ultimately saw the game out with ease, securing their third win in the Women's Premier Division.
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