WNL: Athlone 1-0 City

Cork City fell to a 1-0 defeat at the Athlone Town Stadium against Athlone Town in their latest SSE Airtricity Women’s National League game.

The game started quiet with neither side creating much in the way of clear cut chances in the opening exchanges. City came close in the 20^th minute with Lauren Singleton cutting in from the right wing and firing a shot just wide. In the 35^th minute Orlaith Deasy cut past several players before having her effort blocked. Deasy again came close with an effort from the edge of the box just wide and the first half finished scoreless.

The hosts came out strong at the start of the second half and Athlone Town took the lead on the hour mark as Jess Hennesy sent in a cross from the right wing into the box where a bullet finish from Emily Corbett put it away to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. City came close to an equaliser in the 65^th minute with a Lauren Singleton free kick cleared off the line. Singleton came close again in the 71^st minute with an effort going just wide.

City continued to press for an equaliser but a stubborn Athlone defence kept clear cut chances to a minimum. Ellie O’Brien nearly found Singleton clear but a last minute interception denied the opportunity while Christina Dring found herself free in the box with an effort but her shot was saved and the game finished 1-0 to Athlone Town.

Cork City enter the Evoke.ie FAI Women’s Cup next Sunday 10^th of July as they host Bonagee United at Turner’s Cross with a 2pm kick off.

Cork City: Maria O’Sullivan, Nathalie O’Brien, Ciara McNamara, Lauren Walsh, Orlaith Deasy (Chloe Atkinson 89’), Zara Foley, Kate O’Donovan, Riona Crowley, Lauren Singleton, Aoibhinn Donnelly (Ellie O’Brien 66’), Christina Dring.