WNL: City 1-4 Athlone

Cork City fell to a 4-1 defeat in their latest SSE Airtricity Women’s National League game against Athlone Town at Turner’s Cross on Saturday.

The visitors started the game the stronger side having a lot of possession and putting pressure on the City defence, they came close in the fifth minute as Emily Corbett attempted to lob Hannah Walsh in the City goal but missed the target. Walsh had to be alert to make a great double save in the 25^th minute to deny Melissa O’Kane to keep the game scoreless.

Athlone took the lead in the 40^th minute as a pass from deep allowed Muireann Dennehy to beat the offside trap and finish well to give the visitors a half time lead of 1-0. Athlone started the second half where they finished the first pushing the City defence and were awarded a penalty in the 53^rd minute, Emily Corbett stepped up to take the spot kick and finished powerfully to give Athlone a 2-0 lead.

Muireann Dennehy increased Athlone’s lead a few minutes later in the 56^th minute as good interplay between the Athlone forwards set up Dennehy at the edge of the box who finished powerfully to make it 3-0. City got a goal back in the 63^rd minute as a City corner was headed home powerfully by Aoife Cronin.

City’s hope for a comeback were swiftly ended however as Athlone restored their three goal lead as an Athlone free kick from deep found Gillian Keenan who won the ball turned and finished powerfully to make it 4-1. City had chances late from Eva Mangan to try and get back into the game but it finished 4-1 to the visitors

City are back in action at Turners Cross next Saturday 14^th of May as they host Wexford Youths in the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League with a 7pm kick off.

Cork City: Hannah Walsh, Nathalie O’Brien (Leah Murphy 81) Lauren Murphy (Aisling Murphy 81) Zara Foley, Lauren Singleton (Orlaith Deasy 72), Becky Cassin, Riona Crowley (Aoibhin Donnelly 62’) Eva Mangan, Nadine Seward (Shaunagh McCarthy 62’), Christina Dring, Aoife Cronin.