GEMMA MCGUINNESS came on as a late substitute as Team Ireland’s Women’s Football Team reached the semi-finals of the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade after a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over China.
Greencastle woman McGuinness, who plays for Derry City, came off the bench as Ireland recorded their latest win in Naples.
After the game finished 0-0, goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan was the hero as she scored the first penalty and saved the third Chinese penalty from Ruonun Yin.
Eleanor Ryan-Doyle stepped up and netted the subsequent spot kick to send Ireland to their first semi-final of the Universiade since 2007 and only the second time the team has reached that stage.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology students Zoe Green (Illies Celtic) and Zoe McGlynn (Sion Swifts) are also a part of an Irish squad that is now guaranteed to play a match for a medal.
They face North Korea in Wednesday’s semi-final.
