WLOI Match Report: Corbet Crusades as The Hoops march to victory at Tallaght

Christine Allen reports

What a difference a year makes.

March, 2025 and Shamrock Rovers have a taste of what being top of the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division feels like - thanks in part to an unplayable pitch at Greenogue.

Pure semantics for the Shamrocks.

Having taken a combined four points off both the defending Champions Athlone Town and league runners up Shelbourne, The Hoops 4-1 victory over Treaty United at Tallaght places Collie O’Neills squad right in the mix.

It’s in stark contrast to last year’s sluggish start, where three consecutive draws left Rovers playing catch-up.

Under an ashen sky, the home side wasted no time in showcasing the potency of their three-pronged attack.

Back-to-back efforts from Joy Ralph and Emily Corbet tested the credentials of Finnish shot-stopper Liisa Tuomi, who reacted well to get a hand to their swirling efforts.

As the minutes ticked by, the moisture on the surface sucked the pace out of the ball and a number of The Hoops backpasses were left wanting - Bella Flocchini’s interception of one such pass, a real goal scoring opportunity, had Ciara Breslin’s threaded ball bore less weight.

Sean Russell’s outfit began to gain momentum as the water sprayed and pressed high - Flocchini's step overs dazzling The Hoops backline as Breslin looked to release Katie Lawlee on the left.

Their persistence paid off in the 18th minute when a Madison McGuane corner found Jillian O’Toole, who stole ahead of the imposing Reynolds to nod Treaty into the lead.

The visitors looked set to secure a second in the 22nd through the lively Lawlee.

As the number eleven adjusted her position at an angle to Keane, you saw the flight of the ball in your mind's eye.

Destined for the bottom right hand corner, fate intervened and the Ireland underage international skied the strike into the rafters of the South Stand.

Then, a change in momentum as The Hoops became more attuned to the conditions and began to zip the ball across the Tallaght turf - peppering the Treaty goal for fun.

Tuomi parried a powerful strike from Greenhills native Ralph who prodded and weaved in her trademark fashion on the left, while Melissa O’Kane’s long range effort forced another.

The break came in the 39th for O'Neills unit when Aoife Brophy unleashed a speculative long range pass towards Corbet.

The experienced assassin pedalled with pace to beat her markers, slotting the ball into the bottom right hand corner to secure the leveller.

1-1

In the second half, both teams took to the turf gunning for the second.

Feints and shimmies were the call of the day for McGuane who channelled her inner Vivianne Miedema in the centre of the park - the number ten almost finding half-time substitute Madelyn Robbins in space but for a crucial Scarlett Herron interception.

Brophy switched to right back full and pushed up the right flank.

With a floating high ball towards Corbet, she secured her second assist.

Nosing ahead of the advancing keeper, the number 10 showed no fear and committed to the glancing header.

2-1 to The Hoops.

In keeping with the rhythm of the contest, Treaty came within inches of levelling the score through Flocchini in the 56th but were denied by a razor sharp Keane who sprinted off her line to muffle the strike.

The visitors were left to rue yet another missed chance in the 62nd when Brophy rounded off a sweeping move initiated by crusader Corbet - sticking the ball with precision point accuracy into the top left hand corner to make it 3-1.

With a two-goal cushion, Rovers controlled proceedings in the final 20 minutes.

Substitutes Ella Kelly and Katie O’Reilly injected fresh energy in attack as Melissa O'Kane dropped deep to shield the defence.

The number eight remained composed on the ball in the centre of the park, marshalling with Reynolds to ensure that Treaty had little joy in the closing minutes.

Littlejohn too showed her experience and class throughout, her ball to Keelin Comiskey in the 83rd just one passage of play that shows the suavity that the senior Irish WNT player brings to Tallaght.

Robbins' shot on goal in the 91st was the final sting in a dying rally for Treaty who conceded once again in stoppage time.

Ralph, bursting past Daly to control another visionary long ball from Brophy, executed a slick drag-back and dink to fool the defender as she controlled the ball with her right and fired home.

All aboard the Hoops express—full steam ahead.