Cork City WFC’s Women’s FAI Cup success was years in the making 

IT'S six years since Cork City WFC defeated UCD Waves 1-0 in the FAI Women’s Cup final at the Aviva Stadium.

Claire Shine got the goal that kickstarted an afternoon that would end in the team managed by John Caulfield winning the league and cup double.

That came at a time when Cork soccer was at an all-time high. 

In addition to the successes of the two senior teams, the U17s were also celebrating after beating Bohemians on penalties in their league final at Turner’s Cross. 

There was also a strong Cork presence on the national team as Roy Keane was working as Martin O’Neill’s assistant.

All of that said – City WFC’s Women’s FAI Cup success deserves to be its own thing, a day that needs to be examined in solitude as opposed to a paragraph in an essay about one of the greatest ever years for Cork soccer.

That’s partially why the FAI Women’s Cup final is now its own day, as opposed to proceeding the men’s equivalent. 

Both trophies have equal importance, and there’s no reason why one should be seen as the precursor to the other.

The FAI Women’s Cup success was the first time that City were able to translate their growth into a piece of national silverware, and they did it in such a way that there were no questions asked. 

It wasn’t a fairy-tale run by a group relying on luck to get through the competition’s early rounds. 

City were well coached by manager Frank Kelleher and his backroom team, and they swept teams aside on their way to the Aviva Stadium.

The statement win was in the semi-finals against league leaders Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park. 

They were without a doubt the best side in the country at the time and their trophy cabinet backed it up. 

Cork City travelled up at the beginning of October and won 3-0 with Meghan Bourque, Claire Shine, and Katie McCarthy hitting the back of the net.

What showed the mentality in the squad wasn’t getting a result at Ferrycarrig Park, but the way it was celebrated. 

The club were focused on making it to the final, as opposed to beating the league leaders away from home. 

Everyone connected with squad knew that this was a major sign of progress after years of building and creating the right structures for women’s soccer to thrive on Leeside. 

Kelleher went into detail about this when speaking to the FAI before the showpiece event at the media.

“Reaching the final is huge recognition for the work everyone has put in at the club, the players and the staff, it’s been a huge effort over the last few years. 

"It’s been incredibly hard to get to this stage,” he said.

DLR Waves were on the other side of the draw and they got to the final by beating Shelbourne. 

There was no favourites tag applied to City as they made the journey up the M8. 

Their Dublin rivals were more experienced in competing at the top end of the table. 

This was City’s first senior national cup final and the pre-match tension was real.

Cork City lined up as follows for the Women’s FAI Cup final: Amanda Budden, Kate O’Donovan, Danielle Burke, Ciara McNamara, Saoirse Noonan, Clare Shine, Nathalie O’Brien, Meghan Bourque, Katie McCarthy, Maggie Duncliffe, Danielle Sheehy.

Kelleher’s players did not let the occasion get to them as the first chance fell to Claire Shine, and she was denied by a low save from Brooke Dunne.

UCD responded by creating space for Karen Duggan, and she failed to find the target. 

City went up the pitch once they got the ball back and Saoirse Noonan narrowly missed a cross inside the area.

There was no shortage of chances, with the next one being a free-kick that UCD captain Claire Walsh curled wide. 

Then Claire Shine picked off a loose pass and set up Nathalie O’Brien on the left. 

Her cross floated through the area and the ball rolled out for a goal-kick.

A Katie McCarthy pass played Claire Shine through in the 34th minute and she rounded the DLR waves goalkeeper before slotting in.

The referee then waved on a penalty appeal after Claire Shine went down inside the area. 

The Rebel Army shrugged off this moment of frustration by continuing to create chances while preventing UCD Waves’ forwards from finding space in the final third.

Saoirse Noonan had a chance to wrap the game up but her shot went straight into the UCD goalkeeper’s arms.

What won the cup for City was the goalkeeping done by Amanda Budden as she produced a string of excellent saves to make sure that UCD Waves could not get an equaliser.

Another opportunity to make it 2-0 fell to Claire Shine and her shot was stopped by an outstretched Claire Walsh leg.

There was no grandstand finish – the game simply wound down with City looking more and more comfortable with each passing second.

Ciara McNamara lifted the trophy and it became real – the Rebel Army had finally broken through and won a major trophy.