Raheny United 3 - 1 Cork Women's FC

 

Raheny United continued their 100% start to the season with a victory at home to Cork Women’s FC which was set up with an early Rebecca Creagh double.

 

The game was only two minutes old when Creagh raced on a Caroline Thorpe through ball. Cork stopper Rachel Mullins tripped the Raheny midfielder giving Rhona Daly no option but to point to the spot.

 

Creagh duly stepped up to slot home and give the Northsiders a 3rd minute lead.

 

Raheny pushed on for a second and it arrived seven minutes later. The tricky wing play of Katie McCabe was causing Cork all sorts of problems and it was McCabe’s inch perfect cross which found the head of Creagh who flicked it past the on rushing Mullins to make it 2 – 0.

 

Cork immediately looked to get back into it. Raheny keeper Emma Merrigan, under pressure from Kerri Hancock, failed to deal with a cross however Katie McCarthy’s follow-up was wide of the target.



 

Cork got back into the game on 19 minutes, when impressive full debutant Vikki McMahon split the Raheny defence open for the onrushing Cork golden girl Denise O’Sullivan fire the ball home into the bottom left hand corner of the Raheny net.

 

Raheny restored their two goal advantage on 29 minutes when Katie McCabe’s corner wasn’t dealt with by the Cork defence and the attempted scrappy clearance found its way to Seanna Cooke who riffled it home for Raheny’s 9th goal of the season.

 

A half chance presented itself to Rebecca Creagh for her hat trick on 38 minutes but stout Cork defending closed any chance of Raheny’s fourth of the afternoon.



 

Raheny dominated for the majority of the second half inspired by their tough tackling midfielder Caroline Thorpe. The Northsiders however failed to carve out any clear opportunities.  The closest they came to a fourth was on 57 minutes when Cooke’s long range effort was tipped onto the bar by Mullins in the Cork net.

 

Raheny had two attempts late in the game. Mullins failed to deal with Noelle Murray’s corner in the 84th minute only for Thrope to shoot straight at the Cork defenders on the line and McCabe to blast her follow up wide. 

 

In the first minute of additional time, Creagh latched onto to a through ball only to drag her shot across goal and squander the opportunity of taking the match ball home.
 

Cork went looking to narrow the deadline late into stoppage time. Seana Cooke’s expertly timed challenge on Shauna McCarthy ended any hope of a second goal for the visitors..

 

It was Raheny who took the points from the Northside venue with what was a comfortable but disjointed 2nd half performance.

 

Raheny United: Emma Merrigan, Seana Cooke, Niamh Walsh, Megan Campbell(Shauna Newman 80’), Sinead O’Farrelly(Elaine Murray 69’), Rebecca Graham, Caroline Thorpe, Ciara Grant(Siobhan Kileen H/T), Katie McCabe, Noelle Murray, Rebecca Creagh

Subs Not Used: Laura Ryan, Catherine Cronin, Kate McKeever, Cliodhna O’Connor
 

Cork Women’s FC: Rachel Mullins, Amy McCarthy, Angie Carry, Emma Farmer, Lauren Murphy, Vicky McMahon, Katie McCarthy, Sarah O’Donovan, Claudia Hudner, Denise O’Sullivan(Shauna McCartney H/T) Vicky Hancock

Subs not Used: Shannon Bateman

 

Referee: Rhona Daly

Attendance: 30 approx

Player of the Match: Rebecca Creagh (Raheny United)

 

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