McCarthy looking to continue winning ways

Dissimilar to the lamentable start they made to the inaugural season of the Bus Éireann FAI WNL, Cork Women’s FC began their second term in confidence-boosting fashion and Amy McCarthy has urged her team-mates to engineer another victory this Sunday away to Raheny United.

Cork’s opening two fixtures resulted in losses to eventual champions Peamount United and second-placed Raheny in the previous term.

However, now under the guidance of Maurice Farrell, Cork will make the trip to Morton Stadium, Santry this weekend on the back of an opening day 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers and McCarthy appreciates the magnitude of beginning this season on the front-foot.

“Losing our opening games at the start of last season was a major downer for the players,” she said. “But once team spirit grew, the players bonded and we got a fair number of wins under our belts.

“Now that we have actually started this season really well everybody in the squad is upbeat and with a few more top class players to come into the squad when the local leagues finish very soon we can surely add to the win over Rovers with the extra strength those players will bring.

“Our starting 11 will be very strong at all times this season and equally, the players on our bench will be just as strong so those starting will be kept on their toes.

“I believe that if we play this season as a team rather than a collection of individuals that we will genuinely be a force to be reckoned with, continuing this Sunday against Raheny.”

For a club in only its second year the group dynamic between the individuals coming together, along with the speed at which the players gel, is all-important.

And, crucially, the presence of natural leaders within the group will determine how productive the squad is in terms of earning positive results.

With that in mind, McCarthy points to current captain and Republic of Ireland U19 international Emma Farmer and last season’s captain and senior international Denise O’Sullivan as two players that will act as the driving forces behind Cork’s campaign.

“Our team, as a whole, was very strong at the end of last season so if we can carry that forward I think we can compete with any team in the division.

“And we have players that lead by example to guide us. In my 12 years playing soccer Emma Farmer is the strongest player physically and mentally I have played with and also against at local level growing up. She is a brilliant choice as team captain.

“And having Denise in our team means so much because when she is on top of her game she is a really exciting player and has international experience at the highest level to call on during the season for us,” she explained.

It is highly likely though that McCarthy will also be one of those precious leaders in the squad this season having taken her preparations extremely seriously. She even opted to take the summer off local club action to concentrate solely on being fully fit for the Bus Éireann FAI WNL season.

And her presence in central midfield alongside Sarah O’Donovan, a player whose winning mentality will be invaluable in a generally inexperienced squad at this level, against Rovers was important in the context of orchestrating the victory.

However, featuring in such a prominent position represents a turnaround in fortunes for McCarthy.

At the start of last season she was naively considered surplus to requirements but she is pleased to have forced her way into the spine of Farrell’s team, especially as she is more noted for operating in wider positions.

“I played in central midfield at underage and senior levels with Lakewood so it isn’t new to me to play there.

“I have also slotted into positions like right-full for Lakewood and was comfortable there too.

“People have referred to me as a utility player in the past but I want to be known as a central midfielder that can spread the ball around and score goals.

“And hopefully if I hold my place I can keep improving as a player this season,” she added.