League Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Cork City

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

A late Joy Ralph goal earned a point for Shamrock Rovers on an afternoon when they Hoops would have felt all three points should have been theirs.

Colleen Kennedy, who scored the winner for City in the match in Turner’s Cross earlier in the campaign, forced Jessica Hennessy into an own goal that had given the Leesiders a 49^th minute lead that they held till just two mintues from time before substitute Ralph popped up to equalise.

The eyes of the sporting world this weekend have been on a wet Paris but those who came to Tallaght Stadium on Saturday afternoon rather than watch the Irish in action at the Olympics on TV enjoyed the sunshine and the football on offer in Dublin 24.

Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill didn’t buy into the marketing plan that had Rovers offering free entry into the game for those in an Ireland top as he rested his three Ireland under-19 internationals – Lia O’Leary, Joy Ralph and Aoife Kelly – after their recent exploits at the European Championship.

He deployed his defenders in a back three and handed a debut to recent signing Emily Corbet – as did Danny Murphy for his new recruit on Leeside Becca Cassin on her return to the club.

City goalkeeper Una Foyle had a busy first half called into action as early as inside two minutes as she had to hold onto a driven effort from distance from Melissa O’Kane with Corbet lurking to exploit any error.

The Hoops best attacking outlet came from Ella Kelly on the left who made her debut earlier in the season as a 15-year-old. She forced Foyle into a save with her foot when she came in from the left in the 16^th minute. 

Mid-way through the half Foyle was called on again, this time to dive forward to save a whipped free kick from the left from Áine O’Gorman after Scarlett Herron was barged over by Niamh Cotter in the corner.

Shots from O’Gorman, O’Kane and Alannah Prizemann all failed to beat Foyle and when she was beaten Fiona Owens’ cross clipped the crossbar.

The only outlet for the visitors was the pace of the diminutive Colleen Kennedy who on a couple of occasions in the first half looked to take on and beat the tall trio at the back for the Hoops.

In first half injury time from one of those surging runs of Kennedy there was danger for Rovers but Hoops skipper O’Gorman did well to cover back and then clear. 

O’Neill did introduce Ralph and O’Leary at half time but it was City through Kennedy who got the opener with really their first clear cut chance of the game.

She exploited a poor back pass from Maria Reynolds, rounded goalkeeper Amanda Budden and with Hennessy challenging her the ball came off the Rovers defenders boot into the back of the net with Hennessy looking for a free out that never came. 

On the hour mark O’Gorman’s header off a Reynolds centre just drifted wide of the City back post.

With just under 20 minutes to go, O’Neill introduced Aoife Kelly and Stephanie Zambra off the bench to bolster their attacking options as they chased the game and the former Ireland striker drove a shot just over the bar soon after her introduction.

Reynolds was fouled wide on half way late on and when O’Leary whipped the free in Ralph's touch as she raced on to the bouncing ball took it by the keeper.

Foyle saved her team deep in injury time when Ralph shot from close range just before the final whistle, enabling City to leave the capital with a point.

The result leaves City in sixth place three points ahead of the Hoops who drop to eighth after Bohemians’ win earlier in the day.

Shamrock Rovers WFC: Amanda Budden; Maria Reynolds, Jessica Hennessy, Shauna Fox (Savannah McCarthy 90+4); Fiona Owens (Lia O'Leary 46), Scarlett Herron (Aoife Kelly 72), Melissa O'Kane, Alannah Prizeman (Stephanie Zambra 72); Áine O'Gorman, Emily Corbet (Joy Ralph 46), Ella Kelly.
Subs not used: Summer Lawless, Jaime Thompson, Lauren Kelly.
Booked: Ella Kelly (34), Maria Reynolds (56).

Cork City FC Women: Una Foyle; Alix Mendez, Niamh Cotter, Ciara McNamara, Shaunagh McCarthy; Freya DeMange, Orlaith O'Mahony; Barrett Eidson, Eva Mangan, Becky Cassin (Dorothea Greulich 62);  Colleen Kennedy (Chloe Atkinson 78).
Subs not used: Clodagh Fitzgerald, Lauren Walsh, Heidi Mackin, Jesse Mendez, Erin O'Brien, Kiera Sena, Laura Shine.
Booked: Dorothea Greulich (69).

Referee: Claire Purcell
Attendance: 309
extratime.com Player of the Match: Ella Kelly (Shamrock Rovers)

Doonan is a Pea Again https://t.co/jyWUxmcq02pic.twitter.com/SwHhNtQDEq

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