Collins encouraged by improved second half in Peamount defeat
SOCCER
Daire Walsh
Despite the disappointment of falling to a 3-0 Women’s National League defeat against Peamount United on Saturday, Cork City manager Rónán Collins believes their second half performance can provide great encouragement going forward.
The second league meeting between these sides in 2020, fourth-place City and their Dublin rivals are set to do battle again in next month’s FAI Cup final at Tallaght Stadium.
First half goals from Lucy McCartan, Karen Duggan and Aine O’Gorman had left the Leesiders with an impossible task on the resumption, but they dug in to ensure the gap wasn’t widened any further.
“The way conditions were in the first half, we want to learn how to control that a bit more.
“I think we played into their hands with the speed we tried to play it at. Very windy and they’ve really used the dominance of that wind in the first half. I suppose the two goals came very quickly,” Collins remarked after the game in Greenogue.
“The third goal is a bit of a killer, it’s a bit of a mistake in there as well.
“That was the disappointing one, but we’ve changed things up.
“The girls have put in a really good adjustment.
“The bench has livened it up in the second half. There’s stuff to build on from here and, as ever, we’re on a journey and a process. This is another step on that road.
“We know each other quite well. We tried a few different things tonight. Some of them worked so we’ll add those as ammunition for games to come.
“I’ve no doubt they learnt a bit as well.”
Having resisted the urge to make changes for so long, Collins made a number of alterations to his side for their latest trip to the capital.
This included handing first starts to netminder Abby McCarthy and defender Lauren Walsh.
McCarthy deputised for suspended City captain Maria O’Sullivan and while she couldn’t halt Peamount’s opening period blitz, she thwarted a number of attacks after the break.
From Collins’ point of view, he is thrilled to have two strong goalkeeping options, with underage international Leah Hayes Coen also waiting in the wings.
“One thing about Abby, she’s a trojan worker. Ever since she’s come into the club, she has just put one foot in front of the other.
“One thing is as a player, if you want to get somewhere, if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you’re going to get there,” Collins said of the 18-year-old.
“I think with Abby, we still have more to come and see from her, but even things as simple as how dominant she has become off aerial ball.
“It’s great to see those developments in her. How loud she has become. I remember when she used to be very quiet. It’s great to see players coming on like that and really taking their opportunities and showing what they can do.”