Four-star Cork City hammer Sligo Rovers in Women's Premier Division

Cork City 4 

Sligo Rovers 0 

A dominant display on home soil saw Frank Kelleher’s Cork City get a first league win under their belt with a 4-0 victory over Sligo Rovers.

A quickfire double in each half, the first a brace from Christina Dring – before Aoibhin Donnelly and Ciara Fitzpatrick each goaled in the second period ensured victory on Saturday evening.

The hosts were far more clinical throughout, and they showed no let up after a promising first half.

After a costly error for City’s second goal, Alana Doherty’s evening almost got much worse when Shaunagh McCarthy nutmegged her and skipped past, before firing a low cross into the box.

Unfortunately for Dring she couldn’t connect with the ball for the hat-trick. It wouldn’t matter though, as City would quickly put the game to bed regardless.

Niamh Cotter, who was excellent defensively, got a shot away that was blocked – but only as far as Donnelly. She knocked home the third with ease.

Two minutes later Fitzpatrick headed home the fourth goal from Mangan’s corner.

Sligo would hit the crossbar from Katie Melly’s free kick and Doherty would produce another glaring miss in the 89th minute. They came even closer in added time, winning a penalty and a chance for consolation.

Muireann Devaney stepped up to take it but Foley guessed right, touching it onto the post. The ball came back across the area but City got it clear. It summed up the visitors’ day. Nothing would go right for them.

Sligo had started well and had a couple of decent chances inside the first 10 minutes, as captain Emma Hansberry saw an outside of the boot strike sway wide, while a few minutes later Cara King tested Una Foyle with an effort that looked like it might creep in under the crossbar.

But City exploded into life, moving it quickly as Christina Dring landed the finish in the 20th minute.

Two minutes later City had the ball in the back of the net again, though it would be disallowed for a foul on Sligo’s Bonnie McKiernan. 

But the first goal gave the hosts the confidence to take control of the game.

Aoibhin Donnelly and Eva Mangan threatened any time they were in possession. They were at the source of everything City did right. But the star of the show was undoubtedly Dring.

Five minutes after opening getting the first, she scoored again. This one from sheer willpower.

She pressed Sligo to pass it backwards, twice. Eventually Doherty went to clear it long, but Dring emerged again – blocking the clearance, snatching possession and breaking the defensive line.

Through on goal, but with work to do.

McKiernan surged out, Dring took it around her. All it needed was a poke. Never in doubt, 2-0 City.

The visitors did little to challenge their opponents for the remainder of the half, though Paula McGrory did have a close range effort that was way off target.

Lauren Homan made her first appearance since departing the Cork Camogie setup as a sub late in the second half, but by then City were already four ahead and cruising to victory.

Their 0-0 draw last time out against Bohs and late penalty miss ensure Sligo remain goalless after the opening two games, while City produced the perfect response to the away defeat to Peamount on the opening day.

CORK CITY: U Foyle; S McCarthy, C McNamara (c), H Mackin, N Cotter (Z Finnerty 80), K Sena, C Dring (C Fitzgerald 75), E Mangan, A Donnelly (L Homan 82), H O’Sullivan (E O’Brien HT), C Fitzpatrick.

SLIGO ROVERS: B McKiernan; K Flynn, E Hansberry (c) (M Burnap 83), M Devaney, P McGrory (A McDaniel 70), K Melly (A Lillie 83), E Lafferty, A Doherty, K Nugent (J Casey 84), R McGoldrick (M McIntyre 60), C King (K McKenna 70).

Referee: Sean Grant