Cork City beaten at home by Shels despite battling effort
16-year-old Holly O'Hagan making her competitive debut for Cork City against Leah Doyle, Shelbourne. Picture: Larry Cummins
A stout defensive performance from Cork City ended in nothing as they fell to defeat to Shelbourne at Turner’s Cross on Saturday in the Women’s Premier Division.
After Mackenzie Anthony opened the scoring, the Rebel Army dug in and they were undone by an 86th-minute Aoibheann Clancy penalty.
Frank Kelleher’s side included new signing Sadbh McGoldrick, a name best known locally for her experiences with Cork in ladies football.
The defender was stationed in a back-line that included 16-year-old Holly O’Hagan, Shanuagh McCarthy, and Heidi Mackin, and they were under pressure from the minute the game kicked off as Shelbourne targeted the left wing in numbers.
Leah Doyle was key to this and her afternoon started with a deep cross in the 13th minute that was scrambled onto the crossbar at the St Anne’s End.
The full-back followed that up with a low shot that whizzed across the face of goal and out for a corner that came to nothing.
This was a warning, and Anthony eventually got in to score in the 32nd minute by latching onto a poor Shaunagh McCarthy clearance and firing in from close range.
The Rebel Army pushed up on the restart and Christina Dring managed to set up Eva Mangan for a stunning strike that forced Amanda McQuillan into a stretched save. That was as good as it got as the resulting corner was easily dealt with by Shelbourne, a team that went into the break deservedly in front.
City picked up where they left off in the second half, beginning with Ellie O’Brien trying her luck from distance in the 46th minute and seeing a driven shot blocked down.
Clancy offered a response for Shelbourne by feeding the ball through to Anthony, who hit the post with just the goalkeeper to beat.
That sparked the Dubliners back to life, and forced City to take a step back in a bid to deal with the renewed advance.
The Rebel Army did get forward, mostly through runs by Aine Walsh on the left wing, their issue was turning this into something meaningful as Shelbourne were quick to close down and stop Mangan from finding space.
The Reds continued to generate chances through this, with one attempt by Clancy hitting the crossbar via a deflection in the 62nd minute.
Jemma Quinn came on shortly after and announced her arrival with a header at the near post that forced Clodagh Fitzgerald into a low save.
As Shelbourne seemed to ease into a prolonged period in possession late-on, Lucy O’Rourke slipped on the half-was line and City pounced. O’Brien linked up play by setting up Walsh for a left-legged shot that came off the post and the loose ball was knocked wide by Amy McCarthy in the 71st minute.
The Reds brushed off this minor incursion, and eased through the time that was left on the clock.
Out of their pressure came a foul on Megan Smyth-Lynch inside the area and the resulting penalty was knocked in by Clancy.
Clodagh Fitzgerald; Holly O’Hagan, Sadbh McGoldrick, Heidi Mackin, Shaunagh McCarthy, Lauren Homan, Aoife Cronin, Ellie O’Brien, Eva Mangan, Aine Walsh, Christina Dring.
Amy McCarthy for Dring (56); Sophia Redmond for Walsh (75), Jodie Griffin for O’Brien (75), Lauren Healy for O’Hagan (88).
Amanda McQuillan; Nia Hannon, Pearl Slattery, Lucy O’Rourke, Leah Doyle, Alex Kavanagh, Rachel Graham, Jessica Gargan, Aoibheann Clancy, Rebecca Devereux, MacKenzie Anthony.
Jemma Quinn for Devereux (64); Maeve Wollmer for O’Rourke (73), Megan Smith Lynch for Graham (73), Gabriella Del Pico for Devereaux (88).
Paudie Hayes
App?
