Comeback not enough for City at UCD
SOCCER
UCD WAVES…………………………………………….. 4
CORK CITY WFC…………………………………………. 1
THEY produced a much-improved second-half performance at Jackson Park yesterday afternoon, but Cork City WFC ultimately fell short against UCD Waves in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League, writes DAIRE WALSH.
Following Niall O’Regan’s departure from the club, Frank Kelleher was taking charge of the visitors for the very first time. For the trip to the home of Wayside Celtic, he included Evelyn Daly alongside Megan Kelleher and Barbara O’Connell in a five-strong midfield.
It was hoped that this would stifle the UCD attack during the early exchanges, but with just five minutes gone on the clock, Eileen Gleeson’s hosts broke the deadlock. Midfielder Orlagh Nolan had drifted into the Cork area, and after superbly controlling a cross from the left-wing, she coolly slotted beyond the reach of City netminder Trish Fennelly.
This was an early set-back for the Leesiders, who breathed a sigh of relief when Caroline Thorpe pulled a shot past the left-hand post on 14 minutes. The excellent Fennelly subsequently produced outstanding saves from Aine O’Gorman and international star Julie-Ann Russell, before UCD doubled their advantage mid-way through the half.
It was beginning to look quite ominous for Cork, and just shy of the half-hour mark, UCD effectively placed the outcome beyond any doubt with their third goal of the game.
A corner on the left-hand side by Catherine Cronin broke to the industrious Nolan at a tight-angle, and she unleashed an unstoppable shot into the Cork net.
With a 3-0 interval cushion at their disposal, UCD were on course for all three points – and Fennelly brilliantly turned over another O’Gorman effort five minutes after the restart.
However, to Cork’s credit, they did curb the influence of the UCD attack for much of the third-quarter. The introduction of Angie Carry provided them with fresh legs around the middle-third, and although the second-half play was initially quite scrappy, Cork did receive a potential lifeline after 64 minutes.
The tireless Ciara Desmond was put through on the right-flank, and even though opposition netminder Monica McGuirk got a hand to her strike at goal, the ball eventually trickled into the left-hand corner.
This was just reward for the way that Cork had responded to their three-goal deficit, and they did force UCD on the back-foot for an extended period of play. The Dubliners ultimately regained their focus, though, as the raiding Berrill grabbed a fourth goal for her side on 70 minutes.
The exceptional Fennelly proceeded to showcase her impeccable shot-stopping ability with a brace of saves from O’Gorman in the 77th and 90th minutes respectively, but following a difficult first-half, Kelleher can certainly be pleased with the way his charges performed in the second period.
CORK CITY WFC: Trish Fennelly; Kate O’Donovan, Nathalie O’Brien, Maggie Duncliffe, Lauren Murphy; Roisin O’Connell, Megan Kelleher, Evelyn Daly, Barbara O’Connell (Angie Carry 58), Megan Carroll (Sophie Hurley 69); Ciara Desmond.
Referee: Ciaran Redmond (Dublin).