Five-star Shels too good as Cork bow out with defeat
LADIES SOCCER
SHELBOURNE LFC………………………………… 5
CORK CITY WFC……………………………………. 1
Daire Walsh
TARA O’GORMAN was on target at the Morton Stadium on Saturday evening, but Cork City ultimately suffered a comprehensive defeat against Shelbourne in their final Women’s National League fixture of 2015/16.
Frank Kelleher’s side were defeated 3-1 by Shels at home a fortnight earlier, and they were aiming to claim their first victory since March 19 – when they recorded a magnificent 4-3 away triumph over Peamount United.
The hosts opened the scoring with just nine minutes gone as Siobhan Killeen raced down the left-flank, and after taking the ball past Trish Fennelly, she calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
This was a hammer blow for the Leesiders, but thanks to a precise through-ball from Irish underage international Saoirse Noonan, Cork centre-forward Katie McCarthy was presented with a glorious opportunity on 16 minutes. However, much to the relief of the home team, her strike went just wide.
A second goal subsequently arrived for the impressive league challengers after 32 minutes as Fennelly was unable to prevent Megan Lynch from finding the net with a powerful 35-yard free-kick.
This meant that Cork were faced with a two-goal deficit moving into the second-half, and following her mazy run from deep three minutes after the restart, Killeen increased her side’s advantage with an unstoppable shot from a tight angle.
Cork were now left with a mountain to climb, and when Dearbhaile Beirne got to a long-ball ahead of Ciara McNamara, her delicate chip over the head of Fennelly meant that four goals separated the sides.
Cork did receive a much-needed boost 11 minutes into the half when industrious winger O’Gorman’s swerving right-footed strike ended up in the roof of the Shels net.
Shels restored their four-goal cushion eight minutes from time as Leanne Kiernan’s speculative shot was too much for Fennelly with the north Dublin club full value for their win.
SHELBOURNE LFC: Amanda McQuillan; Keeva Keenan, Niamh Walsh, Pearl Slattery, Dearbhaile Beirne; Annie Timoney, Rachel Graham (Niamh Barnes 70), Sophie Watters, Siobhan Killeen; Leanne Kiernan, Megan Lynch (Kim Turner 85).
CORK CITY WFC: Trish Fennelly; Danielle Burke (Sophie Hurley 85), Ciara McNamara, Angie Carry, Nathalie O’Brien (Barbara O’Connell 64); Roisin O’Connell (Kate O’Donovan half-time), Evelyn Daly, Saoirse Noonan, Tara O’Gorman; Maggie Duncliffe, Katie McCarthy.
Referee: Olivia Sneyd (Dublin).