x

Sheehan: Incredible! I’m Still Coming to Terms With Whatever We’ve Just Watched - Ipswich Town News

Manager Joe Sheehan and penalty shoot-out hero Sarah Quantrill were on cloud nine after Ipswich Town Women beat Southampton 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time to see the Tractor Girls through to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

"I can’t believe it! Incredible! I’m still coming to terms with whatever we’ve just watched for however long,” Sheehan said.

"A competitive game, a right cup scrap. It goes to extra-time and just when we thought we’d scored a really good goal [through Anna Grey], the goalie scores a worldy of a header! The whistle goes, we go into a shoot-out and we win the game. Incredible.”

Reflecting on the match, Sheehan continued: "We knew chances would be few and far between, it would be tight and we’d planned for a shoot-out all week.

"Although the manner of the equalising goal with the last kick of the game taking it to the shoot-out [wasn’t ideal], we’d prepared all week. We knew the order, we knew who was going to take them, so it was almost, ‘reset, we’re happy with this’.

"The way it happened wasn’t ideal but we were confident going into a shoot-out that as long as we were composed, we knew we could win the game.”

He added: "It’s all just a bit of a blur, to be honest, just so caught up in the moment and emotions and, like I say, it’s just an incredible day for us and I’m so pleased.”

Keeper Quantrill, who saved Southampton’s first and fourth penalties in the shoot-out, said: "It’s amazing, what a day! All the girls have dug in so deep, to get this club into the quarter-finals, we couldn’t have asked for much more.

"It was a nervy game, both teams showed their nerves but when we scored that worldy, what we hoped would be the winner and for them to go up and get a corner and then their keeper to go and put her header in the top corner deflated us a bit.

"But credit to the girls, we regrouped and we knew that penalties are 50/50 so anyone can win it.”

Quantrill says the record 1,167 fans played their part in the shoot-out: "For all the penalties, just being down there. As soon as that end was picked, we thought ‘We’ve got this’.

"They were banging on the walls, I don’t think I even heard the whistle for the last penalty. The fans have been amazing, they’ve been with us all season, so just keep coming back and keep supporting us.”

What to read next:

Grant Talks With Huddersfield Ongoing
Talks between Blues first-team coach Lee Grant and Huddersfield Town regarding their management vacancy are ongoing, TWTD understands.
Norwich Target Long-Serving Town Academy Coach Klug
Long-serving Blues academy coach, former assistant boss and three-time caretaker-manager Bryan Klug is being targeted by Norwich City, TWTD understands.
Town XI to Face Lowestoft in Pre-Season
A Town XI will play a pre-season friendly against Lowestoft Town at Crown Meadow on Saturday 5th July (KO 3pm).
Chelsea Strong Favourites to Sign Delap
Chelsea are now the strong favourites to sign Blues striker Liam Delap, TWTD understands.
Chaplin: The Club is in a Much Better Place Than it Was a Year Ago
Town will return to the Championship in a much better place than they left it a year ago, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Phillips: McKenna Made Me Believe in Myself Again
On-loan Blues midfielder Kalvin Phillips, whose spell at Portman Road is up now the season is at an end, has said his goodbyes and says Town manager Kieran McKenna made him believe in himself again.
Luongo: Together We Have Created Incredible Memories
Exiting Town midfielder Massimo Luongo has thanked everyone at Portman Road having created “incredible” memories together during his time at the club.
Town Bookies' Early Favourites For Championship Title
Town are the bookies’ early favourites to win the 2025/26 Championship title.
Town Coach Grant Linked With Terriers Job
Blues first-team coach Lee Grant is reportedly among the options to take over as manager at League One Huddersfield Town.
Enciso: Thanks For Supporting Me and For the Love
Departing loanee Julio Enciso has said his farewells and thanked everyone at Portman Road following his half-season spell at the club.