LAST UPDATE | 18 Oct 2020
OH MY WORD ๐คฉโ๏ธ
โ Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 18, 2020
What a start to the North London derby! Katie McCabe's terrific free kick puts Arsenal ahead! pic.twitter.com/kVm2PX1u0V
IRELAND CAPTAIN KATIE McCabe got Arsenal off to a roaring start in todayโs Womenโs Super League [WSL] derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur, which the Gunners won 6-1.
The Dubliner stood over an early free-kick from a tight angle right of the penalty area and whipped a vicious inswinger that cracked the top of the post before hitting the net.
Prolific Dutchwoman Vivianne Miedema struck her 50th WSL goal to open a stunning hat-trick before Caitlin Foord brought the advantage to 3-0 by 15 minutes.
Miedemaโs other goals came before half time and Joe Montemurroโs side led 5-0 at the break, before Foord added another in the 64th minute and Lucia Leonโs goal shortly after came as nothing but a consolation for Spurs.
There were several other Irish internationals in WSL action today ahead of the Girls In Greenโs all-important Euro qualifier against Ukraine on Friday.
Goalkeeper Grace Moloney and her Reading side will be pleased with a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, while Brightonโs Irish contingent of Denise OโSullivan, Rianna Jarrett and Megan Connolly were all involved โ and impressed โ as the Seagulls drew 2-2 with Everton.
Cavan star Leanne Kiernan and US-born goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan were on the bench as West Ham fell to a 4-2 defeat to Manchester United. US World Cup-winning duo Tobin Heath and Christen Press scored their first goals for Casey Stoneyโs Red Devils in that one, while Alessia Russo bagged the other two for the winners.
And defender Harriet Scott played the full 90 minutes for Birmingham City as they beat Bristol City 4-0.
Elsewhere, Niamh Faheyโs Liverpool side were beaten 2-1 by Ruesha Littlejohnโs Leicester City in the Championship. Galway woman Fahey saw yellow, while Littlejohn came off the bench as the clock ran down.
In Scotland, there was plenty of Irish interest in the Glasgow City-Celtic league opener. Clare Shine made a welcome return to action with Glasgow, sprung on as a substitute in the 80th minute to help her side see out a 2-0 win.
Donegal teenager Tyler Toland also appeared off the bench, making her Premiership debut after a recent loan move from Man City, while Keeva Keenan played almost 90 minutes for the Hoops.
In Germany, Donegal striker Amber Barrett scored her third goal in three outings to power FC Koln to the top of the Frauen-Bundesliga after a 2-1 win over TSG Hoffenheim yesterday.
Diane Caldwell shook off an ankle niggle to appear as a substitute in SC Sandโs 1-0 defeat at Werder Bremen, while there was disappointment for Claire OโRiordan as the Limerick native saw yellow and her Duisburg side were beaten 5-2 by Wolfsburg.
Louise Quinn was absent as Fiorentina lost 1-0 to Verona in Italy, and goalkeeper Marie Hourihan โ although ruled out of Irelandโs qualifier with Ukraine through injury, as explained further by Pauw this morning โ was between the posts as her SC Braga team enjoyed a massive 8-0 victory in Portugal yesterday.
- Additional reporting by Emma Duffy
Catch up on yesterdayโs domestic action here.
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COYBIB
Such a joy to watch ulster this week compared to Munster. So much variety in their play. Mathewson sniping, passing, kicking. Forwards carrying with impact but also offloading when appropriate. Much more effective. Hume and McCloskey look great in the centre.
Letโs go Leinster!! Big day out for Ringrose
@gabs90: ya, biggest day of his career
Leinster lineouts are keeping Ulster in the game
Looking forward to a good game and hopefully no injuries for both sides for next week. . Super selection from Leinster and what a bench. Leinster by 10+ for me.
Leinster will win
I see Van Der Flier is Liam Tolands man crush this week
Heโs a gas man. Giving Stockdale grief for crawling with the ball. But sure it was perfectly fine when a Leinster player did it to score against Munster.
Half time and the leinster lineout is easily the worst in professional rugby.
@Chris Mc: I think we need to end the hype thatโs been surrounding Kelleher right now. Cronin is a better lineout thrower and thatโs saying something!
@David Finn: his throwing is pants but heโs a massive present arround the pitch
@Chris Mc: yeah good around the pitch but on that performance about Irish no 4. He needs time.
@Trevor Johnston: the leinster lineout has been too complicated for a good few seasons now. Far too many moving parts. Most of the balls lost yesterday came without any real presure from Ulster, lifters missed the jumper, some times the jumper didnโt even jump. A lineout should be very simple, your jumper gets into the air before theirs or get higher than theirs. Your hooker throws the ball to the big guy been lifted by 2 other big guys. All the dummies, moving arround and decoys just allows the line to close and the lifters to be obstructed or miss their position or timing.
Game on great try
Itโs good to see Ulster taking a leaf out of the Leinster playbook. Holding opposition players in nearly every ruck and starting to milk some penalties.
Another trophy the invincibles
Leinster Congratulations
People effuse about this morphing Leinster game plan, kicking on their terms and their love for defending but Ulster have been playing the better rugby for the majority of the game. I know Leinster are still winning but as a Leinster fan I expected a good bit more from Leinster tonight in preparation for Saracens. Doris has been quiet, Conan was petulant in the first half and it is not a day for Kelleher at line-out time. There have been moments when Leinster have shown good running rugby but the last phase fizzles out with an attacking penalty or picking the wrong option. Weโll need a better performance against Saracens, even without Farrell and Mako.
@Dan Finlay: and moments after posting Doris goes and scores.
@Dan Finlay: Conan coughed up three penalties. Can not afford that against saracens.
Atrocious lineout from Leinster.
Great response.
Brilliant try.
Great try! Very well worked. Come on ulster!
Would be grand if Brace actually reffed Leinster. Letโs them away with murder at the breakdown
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: fussy but fair
Here he comes. The Boss.
Great try โฆ..game over ..joking
Anyone know if tg4 are showing this live or is it just discussions about the game starting at that time and the kick off being shown later on?
@Rudiger McMonihan: Iโm pretty sure itโs live
Ulster happy to be in final, same as Heineken cup a few years back they failed to throw a punchโฆ embarrassing
@Nathan Fulham: you can only play as well as you are allowed. Leinster in total control.
SUFTUM
Terrible commentators