WNL Shield Preview: Cork City Women -v- Kilkenny United

Cork City Women clash with Kilkenny United at Bishopstown on Sunday afternoon in Group A of the Women’s National League, kick-off 14:00.

CORK CITY WOMEN

Cork City Women continue their rebuilding process on Sunday afternoon when they welcome Kilkenny United to Bishopstown in Group A of the Shield and Niall O’Regans side will be looking for a positive reacted after their cup defeat last weekend against Shelbourne U18.

“While it was disappointing to lose the first game of the season, the fact that we are a new team and starting to get to know one another, it will take a little bit of time.” Nathalie O’Brien told Extratime.ie.

“We must remember that going on last year’s results of losing badly to losing 3- 2 last week is a good start. We are heading in the right direction as a team which is the main point.”

Despite suffering defeat in the capital last weekend, O’Brien revealed spirits are still very good within the camp for the visit of Kilkenny and they have discusses last weekend’s game, while ensuring they have a game plan in place for Sunday’s encounter.

”Everybody at CCWFC is looking forward to welcoming newcomers Kilkenny United to Bishopstown, the mood is great in the team. After talking about last week’s performance and things that we could have done a bit differently. We will take it game by game, to get better with each game - we have a plan in place to correct what we may have missed last week and we hope to get a positive result.”

Last season, O’Brien was forced to watch on from the sidelines after the talented full-back suffered a leg break and she is hoping that the work she has put in off the pitch during the summer break will help her to continue to develop into one of the country’s top young players.

“Yes, that's all I'm hoping for,” she said when asked if she hoping to stay injury free this season.

“It was hard sitting on the sidelines watching the girls playing matches last season, it's all I've wanted to do so I'm looking forward to staying injury free this season and helping the team out in some way. I've been working hard at getting my fitness levels back up again and improving myself as a player. It's been great being back in training with the team.”

KILKENNY UNITED

After joining the Women’s National League during the off-season, Sunday afternoon sees Kilkenny make their first adventures into Senior football when they travel to Cork for their WNL Shield Group A clash, and United’s Kate McGrath is excited to get started after a good pre-season.

“Immediately you feel coming from junior football, that a lot more is required to compete at this level, and things are approached in a much more professional manner,” she told Extratime.ie.

“Personally, I've enjoyed training with girls who have had spells at other WNL clubs and young players who see this as their first opportunity to go and prove themselves against the best players in the country, but I guess as it's the first season for Kilkenny United we will have to do a little bit of ‘learning on the job’ and quickly, but that's something we look forward too, we are all here to challenge ourselves.

“Pre-season has been great, we have had some tough sessions, but always worthwhile and enjoyable regarding attracting players, who doesn't want to play at the highest level possible, from some of our very early open session’s interest was huge and personally I just found it surprising , that players of such quality had not already been snapped up! The catchment area for Kilkenny goes well beyond the county bounds and is great to see people wanting to help push a brand new club.”

With the introduction of the Women’s National league Shield, which commences before the league phase begins in October, McGrath feels that some clubs may approach it differently depending on their season’s goals, but Kilkenny will be aiming to win every game they play starting with tomorrow’s fixture.

“I think it's a great way to start things off and for us, as we play Cork City in our first shield game, it may be looked at by some as a dress rehearsal for our opening league fixture against them. For us, however we like to approach all games the same, be it pre-season, league, cup, shield, you want to win, and as the new kids on the block we want to make our presence felt from the very start.”

Despite Cork City being a team in transition, the Kilkenny star is no stranger to many of the Cork ladies having played with and against some of them and she feels that previous seasons form will be irrelevant for Sunday’s opponents and like Kilkenny they will have a point to prove to many doubters.

“Cork City have had a change in personnel from the management side and with players that I feel form from previous seasons can be disregarded to a point. They have held on to some quality players from the previous season and seem to be building well around that. I myself would have crossed paths with some of their more senior players, playing both with and against people like Stacey Paul, Barbara O’Connell and Trish Fennelly, to name a few.

“They are individuals and Cork seem to be building a proper unit this year and have signed some great young talent too. They, like us - will be out to prove a point this year I feel, and I think as an opening fixture this is going to be very interesting for onlookers.”

MATCH STATS

Cork City will be hoping that Kate McCarty can improve on her five goals from the previous season, as the Leesiders failed to collect a league victory all season.

Sunday’s clash will be the first of two in five weeks for the two sides as they also meet on the opening weekend of the Women’s National League at Buckley Park.