Women's FAI Cup: Shelbourne 1-0 CCFC

Cork City are out of the Evoke.ie Women’s FAI Cup after a 1-0 defeat against Shelbourne in their quarter final match at Tolka Park on Saturday.

Shelbourne started the first half the stronger side with Jessica Ziu hitting the post in the seventh minute after which Becky Cassin cleared the danger. Abby McCarthy was forced into a good double save in the 14^th minute to deny Noelle Murray. At the other end Becky Cassin fired over the bar from the edge of the box.

The hosts continued to press the City defence with Noelle Murray again being denied by Abby McCarthy in the 28^th minute. City however grew into the game and as the first half closed posed more threat to the Shelbourne defence with Shaunagh McCarthy forcing Shelbourne goalkeeper into a save in the 38^th minute and the first half ended scoreless.

The second half started a quiet affair with both sides attempting to get the opening goal but rarely testing either goalkeeper, Eva Mangan came close to opening the scoring but Amanda Budden did well to stop the long range effort. As the half went on the hosts began to again take control of the game and putting pressure on the City defence with Abby McCarthy again called on to make another excellent save to deny Murray and Jessica Ziu once again hitting the post in the 74^th minute.

Shelbourne got the decisive goal in the 79^th minute Sarah Rowe had an initial effort from the edge of the box which Nathalie O’Brien blocked but the rebound fell to Saoirse Noonan who decisively put it away to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. City tried to get back into the game and stay in the FAI Cup but Shelbourne saw out the remainder of the game and it finished 1-0 to Shelbourne.

Cork City return to SSE Airtricity Women’s National League action next Saturday 11^th of September as they visit the Oscar Traynor Centre to play Bohemians with a 2pm kick off

Cork City: Abby McCarthy, Leah Murphy (Lauren Walsh 77’), Ciara McNamara, Danielle Burke, Nathalie O’Brien (Lauren Singleton 88’), Becky Cassin (Kelly Leahy 88’), Eva Mangan, Sarah McKevitt, Shaunagh McCarthy, Christina Dring, Laura Shine