WNL Report: Cork City WFC 1 - 3 Shelbourne Ladies

The result may have not gone their way, but despite Cork City Women's FC's 3-1 loss to Shelbourne Ladies there were plenty of reasons to believe that the future is bright for women’s football in Cork.

For large portions of the game, which was played in Midleton FC’s Knockgriffin Park ground, Frank Kelleher’s side put it up one of the top women’s sides in the country. The work rate and spirit on show proved that City can indeed mix it with the very best.

Shelbourne on the day showed that they are that little bit further down the line, and proved why they are regarded as one of Ireland’s elite women’s football sides at the present moment, but City are catching up and closing the gap between them and the top sides in Ireland.

Shels' cuteness and effective use of possession won them the game in the end, but they were made to work very hard for it by a Trojan-like work rate from City.

Cork started impressively, with the likes of Ciara McNamara at the back focused and determined for the task at hand. All over the pitch though, City looked up for it and they deservedly went ahead in the 22^ndminute, when Duncliffe ran through on goal after a McNamara pass and scored with a delicate chip over the Shelbourne net minder.

Shelbourne knew by now that the intensity would have to be upped big time if they wanted to get back into the game. Creagh went close for the away wide, but City keeper Trish Fennelly saved well, one of a number moments in an impressive display overall.

The Dublin side levelled things up from the spot, when Fennelly was adjudged to have taken down Creagh inside the box Murray stepped up and she successfully slotted the penalty down the middle with a low effort.

That goal though did not knock City though and they had an excellent chance to go back in front right before half time. Nathalie O’Brien got forward from her full back position and after linking up well with Lauren Homan, her shot from the edge of the box hit the cross bar.

In the second half, Shelbourne began to impose their authority more on the game and they went close when Kiernan’s shot went just over.

With 15 minutes left, Shels did go in front, when some great work from Siobhan Killeen created an opening for Creagh, who was on hand to fire home from a few yards out.

Shelbourne showed their ruthlessness to eventually see off the brave City challenge when, with 3 mins left, they got a third as Kiernan punished a City defensive mistake and tapped the ball into an empty net.

The result was probably not a fair reflection on the effort City put into the game, but the future for City looks bright that is for sure.

Cork City Womens’s FC: Trish Fennelly; Danielle Burke, Zoe Murphy,Ciara McNamara , Nathalie O’Brien; Angie Carey (Barbara O’Connell 58); Ciara Desmond, Evelyn Daly, Lauren Homan (Katie McCarthy 46); Maggie Duncliffe, Saoirse Noonan.

Subs Not Used: Tara O'Gorman, Megan Kelleher, Roisin O'Connell, Amy O'Reilly, Kate O'Donovan.

Shelbourne Ladies FC: Amanda McQuillan; Niamh Barnes, Pearl Slattery (Niamh Walsh 46), Keeva Keenan, Sophie Watters; Jamie Finn (Megan Lynch 74), Rachel Graham, Noelle Murray (Annie Timoney 86), Siophan Killeen; Rebecca Creagh, Leanne Kiernan.

Subs not used: Alexandra Kavanagh, Courtney Higgins, Kim Turner.

Referee: Mark O’Connell.

Attendance: 100 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Siobhan Killeen (Shelbourne).