Cork City Women blitzed for seven goals by clinical Shelbourne
Frank Kelleher’s side were brought crashing down to earth after a derby success against Waterford
DAIRE WALSH
Mackenzie Anthony and Noelle Murray registered a brace of goals at Tolka Park on Saturday as Cork City suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
City almost enjoyed a dream start to the action when Kiera Sena’s fourth-minute corner from the right wing initially caught Shels netminder Amanda McQuillan off guard. It looked from a distance like the ball may have crossed the line before being cleared to safety, but the match officials ultimately determined the hosts had prevented the Leesiders from taking the lead.
This was an encouraging early sign for City, but Frank Kelleher’s charges fell behind on 13 minutes when Anthony headed home in fine style from a set-piece delivery by Leah Doyle.
Shels appeared primed to push on in the wake of this deadlock-breaker and – within the space of four minutes – Anthony, Aoibheann Clancy and Rebecca Cooke all went close to doubling their cushion.
However, Sena was proving to be a lively presence in the City attack and after seizing upon a loose pass out of defence by McQuillan in the 25th minute, she dragged a shot just past the right-hand post.
Yet Shels continued to pose a potent threat inside the opposition half and they eventually increased their advantage when Anthony bagged her second of the game on the half-hour mark.
City were fortunate to be just two goals adrift at the break after Anthony missed out on claiming a hat-trick on a couple of occasions, but the gap between the teams inevitably widened less than four minutes into the second half.
After brilliantly controlling the ball from a crossfield pass, Kate Mooney poked beyond the reach of helpless Cork custodian Una Foyle for a third Shels goal.
This left City with a mountain to climb in the Drumcondra venue and while Heidi Mackin had a long-distance strike tipped over the crossbar by McQuillan on 59 minutes, Foyle was forced into excellent saves of her own either side of this opportunity for the Leesiders.
The introduction of four players at once in the 64th minute helped to bring a fresh impetus to the Shels play and with substitutes Murray and Rebecca Devereux recording a combined three goals to supplement a fine finish from Doyle, City fell to a fourth league reversal for 2025 in comprehensive fashion.
Amanda McQuillan; Jessica Gargan (Nia Hannon 64), Pearl Slattery, Lucy O’Rourke; Rebecca Cooke (Rebecca Devereux 71), Aoibheann Clancy (Roma McLaughlin 64), Alex Kavanagh, Rachel Graham (Gabriella Del Pico 64), Leah Doyle; Kate Mooney; Mackenzie Anthony (Noelle Murray 64).
Una Foyle; Niamh Cotter (Lauren Homan 46), Ciara Fitzpatrick, Ciara McNamara, Zoe Finnerty (Fiana Bradley 68); Colleen Kennedy (Christina Dring 39), Heidi Mackin, Dorothea Greulich, Shaunagh McCarthy (Holly O’Hagan 81); Eva Mangan; Kiera Sena.
Kate O’Brien.