Viewers were not impressed by what happened.
Despite the fact that the game ended in controversial fashion thanks to what Twitter users deemed to be ‘disrespectful’ actions by the men’s teams at the Aviva, Sunday, November 8th, will be etched on the minds of Wexford Youths players for some time to come, after they scooped their first ever Continental Tyres FAI Cup title with a thrilling win over Shelbourne.
The talented side won out 4-2 on penalties after the game finished all square (2-2) after extra-time.
Wexford’s Aisling Frawley with Siobhan Killeen of Shelbourne
In a game that was packed with action, there was nothing to separate the sides at the halfway mark, despite some good chances at both ends.
It was Shelbourne’s Siobhan Killeen who finally broke the deadlock on 55 minutes with a fantastic finish to send her side into the lead.
Youths were under pressure to equalize, with Carol Breen and Kylie Murphy both having chances as the game ticked towards the 80 minute mark.
As they kept the pressure up, the drama truly unfolded in the final minute of stoppage time when despite a good save from Reid-Burke in the Shelbourne goal, Ciara Rossiter hit home for Youths.
Ciara Rossiter scores a goal in the last minute to force extra time
With extra time calling, it looked like the cup was on its way to Wexford when a brilliant volley from Maria Delahunty rattled the back of the Shelbourne net.
However, the excitement was far from over, as Shelbourne equalised in the final minute of extra time through Dearbhaile Beirne to leave the score at 2-2 and the game headed for penalties.
It was to be Wexford’s day as the side lined up for the pressure kick, with Ruth Fahy, Rianna Jarrett, Claire O’Riordan and Kylie Murphy converting all four penalties, and two misses for Shels sent the cup home with the Youths for the first time.
Emma Hansberry, Claire O’Riordan and Rianna Jarrett celebrate
Unfortunately, the drama was not just at one end of the field as, when the penalties got underway, fans took to Twitter to express their outrage as the men’s teams came out of the dressing room to warm up for their game, despite the fact that the women’s final still hung in the balance at the other end.
@FAIreland @YouthsWomen @CorkCityFC Disgraceful show of arrogance by the “men” today. Why not warm up on back pitch. No respect.
— Jim Smith (@Mozzer2015) November 8, 2015
@itchybollix Dreadful. #Respect towards the women’s game ! The #FAI should be ashamed of themselves. — Tom Baldwin (@LegalEagleStar) November 8, 2015
FAI Ladies final goes to penalties , men’s teams come onto pitch doing their warm up while shoot out takes place . Totally wrong
— Tommy Naughton (@Tknocka_) November 8, 2015
Very classless to see the men warming up while penalty shootout going on to decide women’s #FAICupFinal — Chris Horan (@chrishoran90) November 8, 2015
Total lack of respect from senior men to be warming up while women are in a shootout. Shameful #FAICupFinal
— Declan Burke (@BurkeDec) November 8, 2015
Cork warming up before the penalties are taken… pic.twitter.com/06dhtXe5cg — Dodge (@seidodge) November 8, 2015
The women’s finalists going to do their warm down during the men’s peno’s to balance out the rampant sexism & disrespect #FAICupFinal
— Michael Hopkins (@Hoppo1982) November 8, 2015
My favourite thing from #FAICupFinal day. The amount of support for the women’s game with regards to disrespect shown during pen-shootout — Rachael Stack (@RachaelStackIE) November 8, 2015
Very disappointed in the mens teams doing warmup during the penalty shootout of the WFAI final total disrespect. #FAICupFinal #WFAICupFinal
— Flea Keane (@FleaKeane) November 8, 2015
Well said @GerCanning_RTE for calling up the lads on their disrespect for the women’s #FAICupFinal. Nail on the head. — LaobhaoiseNiEanachan (@LaobhaoiseNihE) November 8, 2015
