Cork City came out 5-1 winners in the Só Hotels FAI Women’s Senior Cup first round match at Pat Bowdren Park on Sunday thanks to goals from Nathalie O’Brien, Christina Dring, Katie McCarthy and two goals from Eabha O’Mahony.
City started the brighter of the two sides with early chances from Maggie Duncliffe and Eabha O’Mahony testing the Wilton goalkeeper. City took the lead in the 20th minute as a short corner from Katie McCarthy found Eabha O’Mahony free on the right edge of the box and she fired a powerful left footed shot into the net to give City a 1-0 lead.
Nathalie O’Brien doubled City’s lead in the 29th minute when she fired a curling shot from 25 yards which beat the goalkeeper to give City a 2-0 lead. City however were pegged back in the 39th minute when a Zoe Murphy free kick from distance for Wilton went straight into the net to make it 1-2. Wilton could consider themselves unlucky not to level the game going into half time as in the 43rd minute Zoe Murphy stepped up to take another free kick from outside the area and her effort crashed off the crossbar and City managed to clear their lines and the first half ended 2-1 to City.
City started the second half quickly as they restored their two goal advantage in the 46th minute as a Maggie Duncliffe free kick from just left of the penalty area took a deflection and Eabha O’Mahony fired it home to make it 3-1 to City. Christina Dring made it 4-1 when she made a good run down the right wing into the penalty area and fired home from a very narrow angle in the 57th minute.
Wilton were given a chance to bring themselves back into the game when they were awarded a penalty but the resulting penalty kick was fired over the bar. City continued to dominate much of the game with chances from second half substitute Sophie Liston, and Christina Dring but Katie McCarthy finished the scoring in the 89th minute when she was found with an excellent pass from second half substitute Kate O’Donovan, McCarthy raced away from the Wilton defence and fired home to make it 5-1 to City at full time with City into the next round of the FAI Cup.
Cork City: Maria O’Sullivan, Nathalie O’Brien, Ciara McNamara, Sarah Jones, Eabha O’Mahony, Maggie Duncliffe (Kate O’Donovan 80’), Zara Foley, Katie McCarthy, Rachel O’Regan (Eadaoin Lyons 68’) Danielle Burke (Sophie Liston 76’) Christina Dring
