Chelsea Cup hero Kirby ‘a national treasure'

CHELSEA WOMEN boss Emma Hayes has described Fran Kirby as “a national treasure” — and it is hard to disagree on the evidence of yesterday’s FA Cup Final.

- Simon Collings

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3 Kirby 3, Kerr 57, 77

CHELSEA WOMEN boss Emma Hayes has described Fran Kirby as “a national treasure” — and it is hard to disagree on the evidence of yesterday’s FA Cup Final.

Kirby, along with her strike partner Sam Kerr, terrorised Arsenal and it is not an exaggeration to say the pair could have scored five or six between them. Kirby hit the woodwork twice and Kerr struck the bar, while Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger pulled off a string of fine saves.

In the end, the ‘Kerrby’ partnership had to settle for just three goals, with Kirby scoring inside three minutes and Kerr finding the net twice in the second half, as Chelsea completed their firstever domestic treble.

“The front two were out of this world,” said Hayes. “I said to Fran that it was the best game I’ve ever seen her play for Chelsea and Sam’s confidence is growing.

“We’ve painted Wembley blue, it’s certainly a Chelsea day today and our performance was absolutely superb.”