Fennelly praises Cork players' positive attitudes

New Cork Women’s FC goalkeeper Trish Fennelly has urged her team-mates to display the attitude they showed in victory over Shamrock Rovers in preparation for the visit of Peamount United to Turner’s Cross on Sunday in the WFAI Senior Challenge Cup.

Lynsey McKey’s goals enabled Cork to begin their second Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League season with a 2-1 win last Sunday and Fennelly, making her first appearance for the club, pointed to the positive attitude and application of the players as crucial facets of their triumph.

“We went out onto the pitch last Sunday with the attitude that we can beat any team and we should think as positively as that for the whole season.

“We applied ourselves and believed we could win and that was extremely important for us.

“We played fantastic football. Lynsey, Amy McCarthy in central midfield and central defenders Emma Farmer and Angie Carry who has joined the team from Glounthane United, were brilliant for us,” Fennelly said.

The goalkeeper was making her own debut after signing from CWSSL Senior League Premier Division outfit St Mary’s and admitted to being nervous before performing at such an exalted level.

However, she also praised former manager Fergus O’Brien and brother Anthony, currently the goalkeeping coach with Cork City and with whom she runs Urban Fitness out of St Vincent’s GAA club, for contributing to her progression to the national league side.

“It is a major step up. The ball is moved much quicker and there is more one-touch football.

“I was a bit nervous before the game because you are unsure how much of a step up it is but what I have learned from St Mary’s manager Fergus O’Brien and my own brother has been invaluable to me and has helped me make this jump.

“I played under Fergus for the past three seasons and I probably wouldn’t be able to play at this level without his guidance and my time spent at the club.

“I had taken a year out but Fergus asked me to get involved with the club a few years ago and I did so I have to thank him for that and Anthony for coaching me a lot recently in preparation for this standard,” she said.

Maurice Farrell, an All-Ireland Club SHC winner with Newtown in 2004, is presiding over Cork this term and Fennelly revealed their main aim is to bridge the gap between themselves champions Peamount and Raheny United.

“Obviously we are going to take each game as it comes and we do want to challenge at the top but we will have to work hard enough to close the gap between ourselves and the two top Dublin teams from last season which is our main goal.

“We will be training hard this week to take on Peamount and if everybody shows the same work ethic and attitude as last Sunday we have the players to get a result in the cup game,” she added.