- Brendan Graham
- Sat, Apr 03 2021
Brendan Graham reports from Turners Cross
Shelbourne enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Cork City with goals from Emily Whelan and Saoirse Noonan giving Noel King’s side their second win of the season.
Shelbourne were dominant from the off. Emily Whelan hit a powerful effort towards goal after collecting the ball from Saoirse Noonan. Her drive was palmed out well by Abby McCarthy but into the path of Ciara Grant. Grant at full stretch couldn’t quite get her foot to the ball. A let off for the home side.
Moments later and Emily Whelan had the ball in the net giving Shelbourne the perfect start. Whelan was sharp in dispossessing McCarthy at the back to leave herself with an easy finish from close range.
Shelbourne were enjoying all of the early possession with Cork City doing their best to contain the constant pressure on their goal.
The pressure paid off and Saoirse Noonan doubled Shelbourne’s lead with just ten minutes on the clock. A cross from the right by Jess Gargan inched just past the head of Jessie Stapleton but into the path of Saoirse Noonan. The Cork native made no mistake firing past Abby McCarthy for her first Shelbourne goal.
When Cork City did get a hold of the ball they looked bright and quick with their counter attack. Lauren Egbuloniu and Eva Mangan linked up well down the right a number of times but couldn’t find that final pass to really trouble Amanda Budden in goal.
Whelan and Noonan both enjoyed further first half chances with Noonan cracking an effort off the butt of the post. A fine display from the Cork native against her former club with Vera Pauw an interested spectator in the stands.
Alex Kavanagh came close on the hour mark with a powerful effort from the edge of the box but saw her shot saved comfortably by the impressive McCarthy in the Cork City goal.
To their credit, Cork’s second half performance was much better as they managed to eke out a few chances of their own and limit Shelbourne to very little.
Saoirse Noonan put the game to bed with her second of the game on eighty nine minutes nipping in at the back post to tuck the ball home past McCarthy.
Shelbourne deserved winners after a dominant display on Leeside.
Cork City: Abby McCarthy; Nathalie O’Brien, Ciara McNamara, Eabha O’Mahony, Lauren Walsh; Lauren Egbuloniu (Leah Murphy 90), Christina Dring, Shaunagh McCarthy (Lauren Singleton 90), Becky Cassin; Eva Mangan (Laura Shine 68), Sarah McKevitt (Nadine Seward 77)
Shelbourne: Amanda Budden; Jess Gargan, Pearl Slattery, Jessie Stapleton, Jamie Finn (Rachael Graham 89); Rachel Graham, Ciara Grant (Leah Doyle 90), Jess Ziu, Alex Kavanagh (Mia Dodd 83); Saoirse Noonan, Emily Whelan
Referee: Claire Purcell
