Cork City finish bottom of Women's Premier Division after home loss to Shelbourne
Cork City keeper Hannah Walsh reaches out for the ball while being challenged by Shelbourne's Christie Grey. Picture: Howard Crowdy
CORK City ended their 2023 campaign in the Women’s Premier Division with a 5-1 defeat to Shelbourne at Bishopstown on Saturday afternoon.
Experience was the difference as Noel King’s players navigated a strong start by the home side. Christie Gray stole the show by scoring two goals for Shelbourne, who move on to next weekend’s FAI Women’s Cup final against Athlone Town at Tallaght Stadium.
City almost had the perfect start as a Shaunagh McCarthy cross went to Heidi O’Sullivan at the near post and she fired wide.
The Reds responded by winning a corner and Megan Smyth Lynch played it short to Keeva Keenan, and an inviting cross from the midfielder went out for a goal-kick.
It was a quick-fire start by two teams looking to lay down an early marker, a mirror image of the fixture at Tolka Park on the opening day of the season. The reflection involved an even start before Shelbourne asserted themselves in almost every position on the pitch.
Danny Murphy’s players have come of age during a campaign – with the run to the semi-finals of the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup during the summer proof of that. They used the lessons of a long campaign to frustrate Shelbourne by stopping any clear route to goal during the opening passages of play.
The Reds still created chances, and the majority of those were comfortably dealt with by the City defence. A Smyth Lynch shot in the seventh minute epitomised this as the ball went high into the air before falling harmlessly into the hands of Hannah Walsh.
Even during a burst of Shelbourne corners, Ciara McNamara stopped Gray from getting a touch of the ball at the back post.
Alix Mendez had the biggest individual contribution as she was in the right place to clear a squared pass that Healy attempted.
It was all going according to plan until the ball landed with Healy in the 25th minute after she pressed Heidi Mackin. The teenager – who became the youngest-ever player in the history of the Women’s Champions League earlier this year – went on to make it 1-0 to Shelbourne.
The scorer turned creator for the second goal as a cross she sent in was dropped by Walsh and Gray flicked the loose ball over the goal-line.
Shelbourne showed no signs of slowing down in the second half as Healy hit the side netting inside 20 seconds after getting around Alix Mendez on the left wing.
The Reds press led the third and fourth goals as they caught City out in possession as they tried to build from the back. Gray’s finished with the inside of her boot and Nadine Claire announced herself by making it 4-0 to the Dubliners.
City did pull one back through a set piece routine that set up McNamara for a simple close-range finish.
Morgan Rees – who replaced Murray in the 77th minute – announced herself by flicking in a Keenan cross and that completed Shelbourne’s afternoon at Bishopstown.
A raft of substitutions ended the game and condemned City to finish bottom of the Women’s Premier Division table, two points off Treaty United in tenth place.
Hannah Walsh; Ciara McNamara, Eva Mangan, Shaunagh McCarthy, Ellie O’Brien, Aoibhin Donnelly, Laura Shine, Heidi Mackin, Heidi O’Sullivan, Fiana Bradley, Alix Mendez.
Jesse Mendez for O’Sullivan (63); Kera Sena for Mackin (63), Christina Dring for O’Brien (71), Lauren Singleton for Shine (88), Erin O’Brien for Donnelly (88).
Amanda Quilligan; Keeva Keenan, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle, Alex Kavanagh, Rachel Graham, Noelle Murray, Megan Smyth-Lynch, Hannah Healy, Margaret Pierce, Christie Gray.
Nadine Clare for Graham (59); Morgan Rees for Murray (75), Rebecca Devereux for Gray (77), Nia Hannon for Pierce (77).
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