Cork City fell to a 7-2 defeat on Sunday as Shelbourne ran out the winners in the Só Hotels Women’s National League at Bishopstown.
Shelbourne started much the stronger side with long periods of possession and putting the City defence under pressure forcing City goalkeeper Maria O’Sullivan to make two early saves first in the 8th minute as she made a fingertip save to force a Shelbourne effort over the bar and then two minutes later she had to be alert to make a save at her near post from an incisive Shelbourne attack.
Shelbourne took the lead in the 19th minute as City failed to clear their defence and Amanda McEvoy finished well from the edge of the box. City responded and started to put more pressure on the Shelbourne defence, Eadaoin Lyons had an effort saved after she was set up by Eabha O’Mahony while Katie McCarthy had a shot go just wide of the post with an effort from the edge of the box.
Shelbourne however doubled their lead on the half hour mark when Emily Whelan applied the finishing touch from close range from a good Shelbourne attack. They made it 3-0 in the 42nd minute when Jessica Ziu set up Rebecca Cooke who finished well. City however gave themselves hope as with the last kick of the first half Christina Dring scored with a powerful effort from the edge of the box.
The second half continued the pattern of the first half with Shelbourne having large periods of possession and putting the City defence under long periods of pressure. This pressure told in the 50th minute when Jess Ziu beat the offside trap and finished well to make it 4-1. City again came back to put pressure on the Shelbourne defence, Katie McCarthy came close when she managed to rob the ball off the Shelbourne defence but her effort was saved and put out for a corner. From the subsequent corner the ball came out to Maggie Duncliffe who fired a spectacular shot off the crossbar.
City pulled a goal back on 70 when Shaunagh McCarthy made a good run down to the left edge of the box and crossed the ball to Katie McCarthy who took a touch and finished well from a tight angle to make it 4-2. Shelbourne however finished the game in style first in the 75th minute when Rebecca Cooke got behind the City defence and finished well to make it 5-2. Niamh Prior then had a quick-fire double first in the 88th minute when she got on the end of a cross at the far post and finished from close range. Then in the 90th minute she again got free in the box and finished well to make it 7-2 at full time.
Next up for City is a visit from Galway next Sunday 12th of May at Bishopstown with a 2pm kick off.
Cork City: Maria O’Sullivan, Zara Foley, Ciara McNamara, Savannah McCarthy, Eabha O’Mahony, Maggie Duncliffe (Shaunagh McCarthy 68’), Emma Farmer, Danielle Burke (Kate O’Donovan 85’), Eadaoin Lyons (Rachel O’Regan 55’), Katie McCarthy, Christina Dring
