WNL Shield Report: UCD Waves 4 - 0 Cork City Women

You can see a selection of pictures from the game as taken by Peter Fitzpatrick by clicking here.

A brace from Aine O’Gorman, along with goals from Karen Duggan and Julie-Ann Russell ensured UCD Waves cruised to a 4-0 victory, despite playing more than forty minutes with ten players.

In a cagey opening at Jackson Park on Sunday afternoon, UCD was handed a dream start when Trish Fennelly was disposed inside her box in the opening minutes allowing O’Gorman to tap home from close range.

Moments after taking the lead, Caoimhe O’Reilly in the UCD goal was forced to race off her line to deny the Cork attacker. As the visitors looked to find a way back into the game, Saoirse Noonan will feel she should have equalised after the forward failed to keep her close range volley down from an Angie Carry free-kick.

Noonan was again involved in the games next opportunity when she latched onto a rebound from a Stacey Paul corner, but she ultimately failed to trouble O’Reilly who gathered easily.

The sides then traded opportunities, first Ciara Grant fired wide for Waves before Zoe Murphy failed to reach Carry’s free-kick while completely unmarked at the back post.

O’Reilly and Fennelly were then both forced to be at their best when, Noonan latched onto a Ciara Desmond knockdown before striking, while Fennelly was forced to save a Russell effort after the winger cut in from the right before striking.

UCD’s second goal arrived after, when Fennelly failed to gather a cross by Russell and Duggan was on target to tap home to an empty net.

With the Leesiders looking to respond to falling two goals behind, Desmond was unlucky not to grab a goal back, when she broke the offside trap and raced through on goal - However, an Alison Brien last ditch tackle combined with a save by O’Reilly ensured Waves retained their lead.

As half-time approached Duggan had an opportunity to extend her side’s lead, but her header from close range was deflected behind.

With less than two minutes played in the second half, UCD were dealt a huge blow when Susan Hackett was shown a straight red card by referee Paula Brady for her last ditch tackle on Noonan.

Despite being reduced to ten, UCD extended their lead moments later - after Russell broke down the left and her low cross found O’Gorman, who first time fired past the advancing Fennelly.

As O’Gorman looked to complete her hat trick, she found an inspired Fennelly in her way, with the goalkeeper denied the Irish international on three occasions in quick concession.

On the hour mark, Russell added a fourth goal for Waves after her curling effort from the edge of the box sailed past the keeper. With the game beyond the visitors, Fennelly was again forced into two quick saves - O’Gorman with a low effort before Russell recycled possession and her curling effort was picked out of the top corner by Fennelly.

With the game petering out, Russell again was involved in Waves last opportunity when her strike from 35 yards cannoned off the Cork crossbar.

UCD Waves: Caoimhe O’Reilly, Susan Hackett, Alison Brien, Ciara Grant, Niamh Prior (Emily Cahill 83), Julie-Ann Russell, Karen Duggan, Chloe Mustaki, Catherine Cronin (Rebekah Carroll 50), Orlagh Nolan (Jetta Berrill 63), Aine O’Gorman.

Subs Not Used: Sarah Clune.

Booked: Duggan (67).

Red Card: Hackett (48).

Cork City Women: Trish Fennelly, Nathalie O’Brien (Katie McCarty 52), Zoe Murphy, Angie Carry, Ciara McNamara, Rebecca Walsh, Stacey Paul (Shannon Carson 69), Barbara O’Connell (Tara O’Gorman 63), Catherine Cooke, Ciara Desmond, Saoirse Noonan.

Subs Not Used: Chelsea Noonan (GK), Megan Carroll, Megan O’Keeffe, Maggie Duncliffe.

Booked: Paul (68), Walsh (77), Carry (82).

Referee: Paula Brady.

Attendance: 100 (estimate).

Extratime Player of the Match: Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves).