Cork City Women have to settle for 1-1 against DLR Waves at Turner's Cross
Shaunagh McCarthy, Cork City, Leah Donnelly, DLR Waves.
Cork City fought hard, and for large spells of the game they looked like they would come away with the win. Holly O’Hagan’s opener after five minutes gave them the lead, but a thunderous strike from Abigail Brophy early in the second ensured the points were shared in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division Saturday.
The result ensures their first points since April, another 1-1 draw with DLR Waves, but Craig Robinson’s side can take plenty of encouragement from their performance.
DLR had shown early intent, Abigail Brophy slipping Siun Murdiff through for a low drive that Clodagh Fitzgerald gathered well. But City’s reply was ruthless. They needed just five minutes to find the net after a run of three games without a goal.
Eva Mangan released Amy McCarthy down the left, McCarthy cut the ball back across goal, and O’Hagan arrived to sweep it home in the fifth minute.
Aisling Meehan tried to hit back almost immediately, her shot clearing the bar, while Brophy – the visitors’ main threat – dragged wide of the far post after being set up by Michelle Doonan on 17 minutes.
Zoe Finnerty stood tallest in defence for City, steadying the hosts whenever pressure mounted. Chances flowed both ways, Brophy again went close on the half hour, and Mangan was denied at close range by Eve Badana soon after.
Meehan had another effort blocked on 41 minutes, before the Dublin side came within inches of an equaliser. Fitzgerald got her fingertips to Doonan’s headed effort and it bounced twice on the crossbar before going over.
Having put sustained pressure on their opponents in the closing stages of the first half, DLR had their equaliser in the 48th minute, Brophy striking beautifully on the edge of the box and into the top corner.
City could and should have got back in front five minutes later, Mangan cut free and shot across goal, but it skimmed the far post and went wide.
Mangan and O’Hagan remained busy around the edges of the box, but the visitors shut the door. At the other end Doonan broke free on the right and squared across the six-yard box, Amber Cullen just too far back to turn it in for Waves.
The best of the late drama came on 70 minutes. O’Hagan did brilliantly to win a corner, Mangan’s delivery was placed perfectly, and Finnerty climbed high, only to see her header rattle the crossbar.
That moment lifted City. They dominated the closing stages.
Cliodhna Malone sent O’Hagan through for a shot four minutes after, only for Shauna Peare to get across and make the block. Heidi Mackin was on target from range in the 79th minute, but Badana saved easily.
Doonan almost slipped through for the visitors in the 84th minute, but Finnerty got across to make a brilliant sliding challenge and clear the danger.
In the second minute of added time, City almost found the winner. Lauren Homan found Christina Dring, who timed the pass for the oncoming Amy McCarthy. The initial shot was saved by Badana, who had to recover quickly to deny Mackin’s follow up.
City still bottom, just two wins in 17. But an encouraging performance, nonetheless.
Fitzgerald; Finnerty, McNamara (c), O’Driscoll (Malone 43); McCarthy, Mackin, Homan, O’Hagan; Mangan; Walsh (Dring 77), McCarthy.
Badana (c); Peare, C Donnelly, McCarthy, A Donnelly; Cosgrave, Dodd (Cullen 63), Brophy; Doonan, Meehan, Murdiff (Richardson 82).
J Sconnie Walsh
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