Second-half goals spell Cork WFC loss
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
UCD WAVES………………………………. 2
CORK CITY WFC…………………………. 0
Daire Walsh
SECOND-HALF goals from Eleanor Ryan Doyle and Julie-Ann Russell proved to be the difference at Jackson Park yesterday, when Cork City WFC suffered a two-goal defeat against UCD Waves in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League.
Cork’s netminder Amanda Budden was forced to turn behind an early curling effort from UCD midfielder Karen Duggan.
The visitors found themselves on the back-foot for much of the early exchanges, and even though former Cork ladies star Valerie Mulcahy was doing her best to open up the play from the left-wing, attacking opportunities were few and far between for Frank Kelleher’s charges.
Marauding UCD full-back Niamh Prior was subsequently denied by Budden, and she also produced a fantastic double save from Doyle and Orlagh Nolan in the 28th minute.
A Sylvia Gee corner from the right-hand side was deflected onto the upright with six minutes remaining, and after the same player was off-target from close-range, the sides entered the mid-way point on level terms.
This left Cork in contention upon the resumption, and international star Saoirse Noonan and Danielle Sheehy were unfortunate to see their goal-bound strikes blocked on 52 minutes.
This turned out to be a pivotal moment in the game as, just two minutes later, excellent approach work by Russell provided the platform for Doyle to break deadlock with a clinical left-footed finish.
Russell was an effective attacking outlet for UCD, and after she broke at pace just past the hour mark, she coolly fired beyond the reach of Budden to double the south Dublin outfit’s advantage.
Cork were now left with a mountain to climb, but with Noonan’s influence beginning to grow, they started to find more space in the final third.
Mulcahy and Ciara Desmond both tested UCD shotstopper Claire Walsh, and another fine save by Budden from Dora Gorman prevented the hosts from emerging with a 3-0 success. It was an encouraging display overall from an injury-affected Cork City side.
UCD WAVES: Claire Walsh; Jetta Berrill, Susan Hackett, Rebecca Carroll, Niamh Prior; Karen Duggan, Sylvia Gee; Eleanor Ryan Doyle (Dora Gorman 57), Aine O’Gorman, Julie Ann Russell; Orlagh Nolan (Dearbla Beirne 88).
CORK CITY WFC: Amanda Budden; Kate O’Donovan, Maggie Duncliffe, Ciara McNamara, Danielle Burke; Evelyn Daly, Saoirse Noonan; Ciara Desmond (Nathalie O’Brien 88), Katie McCarthy (Angie Carry 88), Valerie Mulcahy (Lauren Homan 78); Danielle Sheehy.
Referee: Gavin Colfer.