Roma McLaughlin was celebrating Continental Tyres Women’s National League Cup success last night at Greenogue following a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Shels and McLaughlin had the upper hand over Peamount United, whose side contained Milford woman Amber Barrett, Shels winning 5-4 on spot kicks after a one-all draw.
This is Greencastle woman McLaughlin’s first season at Shels, having signed from Peamount last year and the Inishowen woman and Republic of Ireland international got one over on her former colleagues.
Goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan proved the Shels hero in the shoutout.
McQuillan saved Niamh Barnes’ third spot kick for Peamount after 120 minutes of fitful football had failed to separate the sides at the windswept Newcastle venue.
Roma McLaughlin
Barrett, Claire Kinsella, Chloe Moloney and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle did score from 12 yards for Peamount who finished with 10 players after substitute Sarah McKevitt had been sent off in extra-time.
Shels proved just a little more clinical from the spot as skipper Pearl Slattery, Gloria Douglas, McLaughlin and Jamie Finn all scored before Rachel Graham slotted home the final kick to cue the celebrations.
McLaughlin had been to the fore during the game itself and was heavily involved in the move for the Shels goal.
It was her nod-down that teed up a cracking finish from Leanne Kiernan in the ninth minute.
But Heather Payne had Peamount level.
Barrett was denied a couple of times by the in-form McQuillan during the game.
The main incident in extra-time came 14 minutes in when Peamount’s McKevitt was dismissed for a bad challenge on Shels’ defender Seana Cooke who was taken off on a stretcher to hospital with an injury to her lower left leg.
Both sides had chances to win it in extra time, but it was Shelbourne who held their nerve in the shoot-out.
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