WNL Preview: Cork City -v- Peamount United

Cork City

Cork will have the tough task of looking for their first win of the season against Peamount United when the current WNL Champions visit Bishopstown Stadium on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

The Rebels lost 3-1 to Shelbourne in their season opener last weekend with Saoirse Noonan getting on the scoresheet for Cork.

Manager Ronan Collins is looking forward to the clash after the good preparation his side obtained last weekend.

"Peamount are a really, really good team but we've put it up to them in the past so we are looking forward to playing them again,” Collins said, speaking to the Women’s National League website.

“Whenever we play Peamount it has always been a really good game of football.

"One of the good thing about our game against Shelbourne last week is that it is really good preparation for Peamount as they would be on a similar level. “

We've put in a lot of work in training so we will be ready for the challenge.

"We finished strongly against Shelbourne last week but we would like to bring that into a larger part of the game so that we match the opposition for longer periods and play more football ourselves."

Collins will be without Shaunagh McCarthy, Nadine Lyons and Katie McCarthy, while Lauren Walsh and Nadine Seward are doubts.



Peamount United

United got off to a perfect start against newcomers Treaty Untied last weekend with a 5-0 win at home.

An own goal by the away side was followed by goals from Aine O’Gorman, Eleanor Ryan Doyle, Alannah McEvony and the returning Stephanie Roche.

The Champions will be looking to claim another three points when they meet Cork but manager James O’Callaghan is taking it one game at a time this season.

"It's always tough going down to Bishopstown. Cork are a good, young side. Ronan (Collins) has had them a couple of seasons now so we are expecting a really tough match,” O’Callaghan said, speaking to the Women’s National League website.

"We know that people will have expectations because we are the League champions but we just take one game at a time, we analyse the opposition and try to give the best performance that we can give.



"We will try to play our game. If we can play out from the back, we will. If we can play through the thirds, we will. But we know that we have to match the opposition physically and earn the right to play our game."

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

MATCH STATS

Stephanie Roche scored last weekend against Treaty Untied on her return to the WNL. That was her first goal since April 2014 when she scored in a WNL Cup semi-final loss to Castlebar Celtic.

Cork City haven’t beaten Peamount United since September 2017 when they won 3-2 in a WFAI Cup quarter-final.

The last time Cork beat Peamount in the WNL was in March 2016 when they ran out 4-3 winners away from home.

PREDICTION

Cork City 0-4 Peamount United

Cork City

Injured: Shaunagh McCarthy, Nadine Lyons, Katie McCarthy.

Doubtful: Lauren Walsh, Nadine Seward.

Suspended: None.

Peamount

Injured: Louise Corrigan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.