Cork ladies footballers lose first league game to Dublin but still have final to look forward to

Dublin 2-8 Cork 1-6

Cork lost their first game in the Lidl National Ladies Football League as they were defeated by Dublin at Parnell Park on Sunday.

Bar keeping their undefeated record there was little for Cork in this tie, with their place in the league final already secured.

But on another day the Rebels could have easily with the Dublin keeper, Abby Shiels, making four top-class saves to deny Cork green flags.

However with what was at stake for them Dublin they started at pace and despite playing against the wind had the better of the earlier chances as they were trying to maintain their status in the top flight, but in the end despite the win they were still relegated.

They took the lead three minutes in when Carla Rowe pointed, with Katie Quirke replying from a free for Cork.

Dublin retook the lead after six minutes when a Cork defensive mix-up let Michelle Davoren in.

The mix-up was compounded for Cork as when Davoren took her shot Caoimhe Richmond slipped and all she could do was watch the ball fly in over her head to the back of the net, to make it 1-1 to 0-1.

Two minutes later and Dublin had another goal chance, when Niamh Crowley beat several defenders, but her effort was well stopped by Dara Kiniry.

The Dublin pressure paid off again, with 12 minutes gone as they got their second goal.

This time Annabelle Timothy cut through the Cork defence to fire an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the net, to make it 2-1 to 0-1.

Aine O’Sullivan set up Sadbh McGoldrick for Cork’s second point, and the former hit the post to deny the visitors a third score.

Timothy increased Dublin’s lead, with Jodi Egan also scoring as the home side led by 2-3 to 0-2 with 20 minutes played.

Cork had a goal chance a minute later when Leah Hallihan beat several defenders and her pass found Quirke, but her fisted effort for a goal went just wide.

Dublin kept driving forward as they knew a loss would see them relegated and to their credit it showed in their play what was at stake for them.

Davoren increased their lead further, with Rowe adding another, to make it 2-5 to 0-2 with four minutes to half-time.

Quirke pulled a point back for Cork before Hannah McGinnis missed another goal opportunity for Dublin.

Just before the break, Quirke scored from a free for Cork to see them trail by 2-5 to 0-4.

Dublin had two early chances to increase their lead but the swirling wind saw both go just wide.

With 35 minutes played they had a chance of another goal, with Richmond saving superbly to deny Crowley her second of the afternoon.

Cork worked the ball down the pitch and created a goal chance of their own, with Aimee Corcoran, on as a half-time sub, shooting just wide.

With 41 minutes gone we had yet to see a score in the second half, with Cork going close again for another goal.

Maire O’Callaghan and O’Sullivan combined to play Abbie O’Mahony in, but Abby Shiels saved superbly to see it remain 2-5 to 0-4.

A minute later and Shiels came to Dublin’s rescue again, this time denying Emma Cleary a green flag.

The first score of the half came after 50 minutes when Cork scored from a penalty. O’Callaghan was fouled by Sophie McIntyre and Quirke made no mistake, to make it 1-4 to 2-5.

Dublin responded with points from Rowe and Egan to stay well in front.

Abigail Ring replied for Cork with Richmond pulling off another great save for the Rebels to deny Rowe.

With a minute left Shiels made another superb save, this time denying Melissa Duggan to see her side run out winners by 2-8 to 1-6.

Scorers for Dublin: M Davoren 1-1, A Timothy 1-2, C Rowe 0-3, J Egan 0-2.

Cork: K Quirke 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3 f), S McGoldrick, A Ring 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; N Crowley, H Leahy, K Donaghy; A Timothy, H McGinnis, N Donlon; R Hartnett, O Nolan; E Gribbin, L Grendon, C Rowe; J Egan, N Hetherton, M Davoren.

Subs: S McIntyre for E Gribben (35), C Coffey for K Donaghy (45), R McDonnell for M Davoren (60).

CORK: C Richmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; C Hughes, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; A Healy, A O'Mahony; R Leahy, K Redmond, E Cleary; A O'Sullivan, K Quirke, L Hallihan.

Subs: A Corcoran for C Hughes, M O’Callaghan for K Redmond (both ht), S Callanan for S Kelly, G Murphy for R Leahy (both 45), A Ring for L Hallihan (48),

Referee: Margaret Farrelly, Cavan.