Write from the heart. Write what you know - Let's Go Rovers Lets Go

I first reported on Rovers Women at the UCD Bowl back in March on a brisk Saturday, when the team drew level with DLR Waves following a controversial Aine O’Gorman equaliser from the penalty spot.

My standout memories from that game centre around Shauna Fox’s tenacity as she muscled a determined Robyn Bolger on the left and sought to supply Lia O’Leary, who’s natural talent glinted in the weak spring sunshine. 

I’d be lying if I claimed that on that first day, as I sat self-consciously with my Chromebook at the back of the Bowl, that I was a Rovers Women’s fan.

I wasn’t - not really. 

I was a Tallaght native, sure. 

An aspiring sports writer.

Did I want the team to win? Yeah.

Was I delighted to be given the opportunity to write match reports on the team for the club?

Of course.

But was I a true Hoop? 

No, I wasn’t.

As the weeks passed and the draws mounted, it very quickly became apparent that a number of parties across the island were relishing Rover’s string of levellers.

I understood. 

While relatively new to the women’s game in Ireland myself, I was aware that the interest generated around the return of the women's team in 2023 had caused quite a stir - what was on offer in Dublin 24 resulting in the departure of key players from a number of clubs.

Rovers Women were representing the badge of the most successful domestic club in Ireland. They had access to resources and facilities that others were fighting for. Their club were recruiting some of the league’s best players.

It was a natural case of ‘green with envy’ 

A target on their backs came with the territory.

Again, as the heat of criticism rose to fever pitch I took no heed.

I didn’t feel a connection to the team on the pitch.

At that point, it was just about football and journalism.

And as for the results? 

I was surprised yet unaffected.

Then slowly… something shifted.

Through reporting on the games, I began to get to know the players' names, their positions, numbers, their temperaments and their individual styles of play.

Aoife Kelly. Light on her feet in the centre as she weaves a merry dance beyond the opposition. Amanda Budden - vociferous 15yards from her goal line. The spine of the team. Aine O'Gorman. The captain. Knows not the meaning of the word Quit. Lia O'Leary. A blur of green and white as she glides on the left lane.

Maria Reynolds and Jessica Hennessy, Rovers towers of strength at the back. Calm and industrious under pressure. Melissa O'Kane, a master at the turn and switch. Stephanie Zambra, the playmaker. Ella Kelly, the young marauding forward...

Whilst watching the girls play I began to feel restricted - like someone sitting down as their favourite band lit up Electric Picnic.

It felt unnatural.

Keeping quiet as Joy Ralph weaved inside from the right lane or as Scarlett Herron dived blindly and bravely into another crushing header became too difficult.

“Go on Maria!” I shouted, forgetting my match report as Reynolds casually tidied up another attack and I anxiously looked towards the glowing green digits that signalled three minutes of normal time left to play.

It was then that I realised that I was starting to become invested.

Quiet once before, I now spoke up whenever the ribbings started.

Like any football fan, I began to feel protective.

I briefly, alongside Macdara Ferris  spoke to foreman Collie O’Neill and the goalscorer Ralph for Extra Time at Tallaght post their 2-2 draw against Treaty United.

The disappointment on O’Neills face was evident and struck a chord.

"I think we need a bit of luck at the moment to be honest," Ralph opined, shrugging her shoulders.

On the journey home, I shook my head as I replayed the game in my minds eye.

How did we not win? How had we not scored?

And there it was.

‘We.’

While the club (who I’ll always be thankful to for giving me the opportunity to write their match reports and interview the coaching staff at The Roadstone Academy for a feature piece on the Under 17s) decided to go down a different route with their website content, I continued to follow the games in the West Stand, closer to the action - reporting for The Tallaght Echo and Extra Time.

Very quickly I realised that following the games so close to the pitch was a better vantage point from which to base my reports

From the West Stand you’re not only seeing the match, you're witnessing the players' reactions, efforts off the ball and interactions and this also increased the affinity I felt with the team.

The frustration on the players' faces (yet never with one another) and effort expended was clear as ball after ball hit the crossbar, skied over the woodwork or whizzed inches past the post.

Rovers Women, seen as the enviable giants of the game, were proving themselves to be human.

And in the same breath, became very relatable.

It was in their struggle that they became my team.

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That first win was magical- the relief palpable.

In the press box at Dalymount I couldn't help but let out a roar and risk future media accreditation as Jessica Hennessy jumped as if in slow motion to nod the ball into the back of the net in the 49th.

Soon it was 4-0.

We were winning - and comfortably. 

I smiled as I walked past St Peter’s Church.

At Last!

As I followed the Rovers Twitter content on the journey home it dawned that this was the first time in perhaps ten games I had ever seen the players smile.

Deadly buzz. 

Following their 4-0 win against Bohs, The Hoops have marched on and shown resilience, perseverance and class. 

Perhaps the sweetest moment of their revival was their 3-0 victory over The Peas in the All-Island Cup quarter-final.

In my match report for Extra Time I wrote: Out of sight of the LOITV camera angle, Amanda Budden, Melissa O’Kane, Maria Reynolds, Shauna Fox, and Jessica Hennessy came together in a huddle and slapped hands as the two Kellys smiled at the other end.

The pride that I, along with many others felt in Tallaght that afternoon was palpable.

The mental strength and fortitude shown by the players is a credit to not only the calibre of individuals that they are but the support that they must surely receive from their families, friends and the coaching staff at Rovers. 

Throughout this campaign they have had to tune out all external noise and shrug off social media taunts.

They have trusted the process, believed in themselves and worked relentlessly together to reach a cup final - beating teams like Shelbourne at Tolka and Peamount to place themselves in contention for the island’s ultimate prize and are also still very much in the mix for FAI Cup glory.

These girls, both the young players and the veterans, can hold their heads high regardless of tomorrows result.

Rovers Women, as recent (re) entrants into this league, have commanded respect with both their third place finish last season and their comeback this campaign.

They have no doubt too inspired a litany of new fans.

I’m one of them (if that wasn’t obvious by now, this article needs a rewrite)

If I could say anything to the team it’s this -

You’ve got nothing to prove, go out there and do it for yourselves.

And each other.

Lets go Rovers Lets go.