Cork Women 3 - 3 Castlebar Celtic

Cork Women’s F.C. fought back from 3-1 down to claim a point against a committed Castlebar Celtic side on Sunday in Turner's Cross. The Leesider’s were without the injured Claire Shine and Denise O’Sullivan, while star striker Amy O’Connor was on international duty for Ireland’s U-17’s.

The game started evenly before Castlebar took the lead after 13 minutes through Shaunagh Jackson, who had time to control the ball on the edge of the box before firing home a low drive beneath Linda McNamara’s dive. Cork almost responded immediately when Lynsey McKey forced Amy Hopkins into a smart save.

However, the home side weren’t to be denied for long and equalised in spectacular fashion, when a Lauren Murphy free kick rebounded off the wall to Sarah O’Donovan – who struck a sweetly hit volley into the top corner.

The parity did not last long however as Emma Mullin restored Castlebar’s lead, beating McNamara to the ball from Sarah Rowe’s cross. Laura Lynch and Eimear Knightly both went close for Cork Women’s before Jackson put the visitors further ahead. Emma Hansberry effort was saved, before Jackson’s scrambled effort was prodded home. Jackson was unlucky not to have a hat-trick at the break after she crashed an effort off the post after good work by Rowe and Mullin.

Cork Women’s emerged after the break playing with a much higher tempo and purpose, and after McKey twice went close, O’Donovan halved the deficit, hitting a perfect drive over the Castlebar keeper with a 45-yard effort from distance.

A rejuvenated home side then began to dominate proceedings, with Castlebar unable to get out of their half. This pressure paid off for Cork Women’s when Lauren Murphy cut in from the left wing and her superb curling effort beat the outstretched hand of Hopkins and nestled in the far corner of the net. The Leesiders pushed on in search of a winner with Lauren Murphy hitting the crossbar and Lynsey McKey hitting the post in the remainder of the match. Castlebar were always dangerous on the break, drawing a couple of goal saving challenges from the imperious Nat O’Brien in the Cork defence.

Honours even at the end of a thrilling game with Cork Women’s F.C. unlucky not to claim all three points.

Cork Women’s FC: Linda McNamara; Nathalie O’Brien, Ciara O’Connell, Angie Carry, Lauren Murphy, Claudia Hudner, Megan Kelleher, Sarah O’Donovan, Lynsey McKey; Laura Lynch, Eimear Knightly
Subs: Trish Fennelly, Amanda Budden, Kiara Hannon, Emma Farmer, Alba Garcia, Denise O’Sullivan.

Castlebar Celtic: Amy Hopkins, Shauna Fox, Teresa Fahy, Katie Walsh, Trish Moran, Emma Hansberry, Sarah Rowe, Jenny Byrne, Emma Mullin, Shaunagh Jackson, Sara McGeough.
Subs: Aisling Hughes, Laura Carroll, Maria Harrington, Lucy Hannon.

Referee: Chrissie Buckley