WNL Season Preview - Cork Women's FC

How they did last season: Cork finished third last term four goals superior to Wexford in the standings after both teams ended the season with 20 points each from 15 outings.

Given it was the very first season in which the squad had played together under the guidance, first of Dave Bell and later Ronán Collins that was generally considered a success.

However, vast improvement will be required in the months ahead if Cork, with new manager Maurice Farrell at the helm, are to bridge the 13- and 16-point gaps that existed between themselves, second-placed Raheny and champions Peamount respectively.

How they are shaping up: Cork’s record against the aforementioned Dublin duo was poor – they failed to win any of the six matches contested against them – but the Leesiders’ statistics were much more favourable when faced with the challenges of Wexford, Castlebar and Rovers.

And that bodes well for the new term because three of Cork’s opening four fixtures are against those sides meaning that Farrell’s unit could build key early-season momentum, the other, their second match, will be a tough assignment away to Raheny.

However, unlike Peamount, for example, that had Stephanie Roche (24), the league’s top goalscorer, and Sara Lawlor (15) netting 39 goals between them, Cork’s highest goalscorer was Denise O’Sullivan with six while Lynsey McKey (4) and Valerie Mulcahy (3) were the next best to contribute to the ‘goals for’ column.

And this is something Farrell and his management team are in the process of addressing.

Key player: Emma Farmer. Obviously Republic of Ireland senior international Denise O’Sullivan is a huge player for Cork Women’s FC but central defender Emma Farmer, an underage international herself, enjoyed a fruitful first season in the Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League and, with even more experience under her belt heading into the second campaign she can be pivotal to the Leesiders’ rearguard.

Farmer has the capacity as a player to mix it up when required and also get the ball down and play it around if needs be and has the potential to be a leading performer this term.

One to watch: Aisling Harrington. Sticking to the defensive theme, another central defender, Aisling Harrington could impact in her first Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League season.

Harrington excelled in the position for local club Lakewood Rangers as they won the CWSSL Senior League Steve Quinn Cup final on a penalty shoot-out dethroning holders Wilton United last Sunday at Turner’s Cross.

The CIT student made a number of timely interventions in the first-half particularly ensuring Lakewood held a dominant Wilton scoreless in the opening period and if she can replicate that form in this competition it will benefit Cork greatly.

Prediction: Ending the season in third place having reduced the gulf that developed between themselves and the top two Dublin clubs will be what Maurice Farrell and assistant Derek O’Gorman will be hoping to achieve this season.

Also, the development of the younger players is of paramount importance to them.