WNL Report: Cork City WFC 0 - 4 Wexford Youths WFC

Cork City fell to a defeat in a windswept Bishopstown Stadium today as Wexford Youth’s counterattacking approach reaped dividends.

The visitors started the brighter of the two teams and it was no surprise when they took the lead. A good move down the right hand side saw Nicola Sinnott’s cross fall to Claire O’Riordan in the box, her shot was blocked but fell to Edel Kennedy on the edge of the box. Her looping effort outfoxed Trish Fennelly to give Youths the lead.

City fought their way back into the contest and the game became even without too many clear-cut chances happening in the next 20 minutes. Lauren Murphy saw a free kick cleared narrowly wide by Linda Douglas after Maggie Duncliffe had been fouled on the edge of the box by Emma Hansbury. Great link-up by Barbara O’Connell and Evelyn Daly set up Maggie Duncliffe in the box but her goal bound shot was tipped just wide by Tamara Furlong. Evelyn Daly then set Ciara Desmond free down the left wing but her effort sailed just over. Saorise Noonan then had a one on one effort saved by Furlong after a superb through-ball by Duncliffe.

However, it was the Youths who struck next after soaking up the City pressure as Claire O’Riordan was set free one on one with Fennelly who dived down and intercepted the first shot but O’Riordan picked up the loose ball and hammered into an empty net.

In the second half, City started with a high tempo again. Maggie Duncliffe rattled a couple of shots just wide from distance before Evelyn Daly saw her shot skew just wide after a corner. Wexford still looked dangerous on the break and O’Riordan twice broke free but was first flagged offside late with her shot dribbling just wide before a stunning through ball from Aisling Frawley saw the striker one on one with Fennelly who pulled off a huge stop to deny the striker. The Youths wouldn’t be denied for much longer as a mix-up in the City box saw Edel Kennedy react quickest to flick the ball into the back of the net via the underside of the bar. It wasn’t long before the midfielder completed her hattrick after a clever move saw her release a stinging effoert from the edge of the box that Fennelly could only parry upwards towards her net and the ball trickled in despite Ciara Desmond racing back to clear.

City’s next home game is against UCD Waves in a rescheduled fixture in the Women’s National League Cup after the original game was cancelled after a waterlogged pitch in Bishopstown. This game will take place on Wednesday the 30^th March in CIT’s main pitch at 7.30.

Cork City W.F.C. – Trish Fennelly, Lorna O’Connell, Lauren Murphy (Lauren Homan, 45), Ciara Mcnamara, Zoe Murphy, Evelyn Daly, Saorise Noonan (Danielle Burke, 84), Barbara O’Connell (Tara O’Gorman, 45), Maggie Duncliffe, Megan Kelleher, Ciara Desmond

Substitutions – Angie Carry, Nathalie O’Brien, Kate O’Donovan, Amy O’Reilly,

Wexford Youths W.F.C.  – Tamara Furlong, Edel Kennedy, Aisling Frawley, Emma Hansberry (Shauna Wall 77), Orlaith Conlon, Jess Gleeson, Kylie Murphy (Ruth Fahy, 84), Linda Douglas, Rachel Hutchinson (Becky Cassin 60), Nicola Sinnott, Claire O’Riordan

Substitutions  - Lauren Dwyer, Amy Walsh

Referee – Ricky Crean