League Preview: Cork City -v- Shelbourne

CORK CITY

The Rebels will be in positive order coming into the weekend as they host Shelbourne at Turner’s Cross on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

Ronán Collins will have been pleased with the character his side showed as they came from behind twice to secure a 3-3 draw with Galway away from home last weekend.

After going 2-0 down, goals from Lauren Egbuloniu and Eabha O’Mahony dragged the sides level only to go a goal down once again with Galway’s Rachel Kearns completing a first half hat-trick.

City’s captain Becky Cassin had a crack on goal in the dying minutes of the game from distance which sailed over the head of Maja Zajc in the Galway goal to send the side back to Cork with a share of the points.

The manager will also have been impressed with goalkeeper Abby McCarthy’s form throughout the game as, despite the score line, the shot stopper made the difference several times throughout the game to keep them with in range of a strong Galway side.

Shelbourne will be a tougher ask on Saturday and with history not behind the Rebels, having never won a game against the Dublin side, they will have to be at their very best to get anything from this game.

Cork City’s chances won’t be helped by the absence of Katie McCarthy, Sophie Liston and Zara Foley who are all injured for this weekend’s game.

Riona Crowley, Kelly Leahy, Danielle Burke and Ciara McNamara are all doubts to feature for the Rebels too.

SHELBOURNE

The Reds got the job done last Saturday as they ran out 2-0 winners away to Athlone Town last Saturday afternoon.

Noel King’s side may have been expected to put up less of a fight but as usual the Midlanders come to each game highly organized and they managed to neutralize Shelbourne until the 68^th minute.

Pearl Slattery broke the deadlock for last year’s WNL runners up with a stunning goal which was followed minutes later by an Alex Kavanagh penalty to seal the three points.

Shelbourne will be looking to add a second win at this stage of the season as they go in search of the WNL Title this season having finished second for three years running.

Referee: Claire Purcell

MATCH STATS

The sides met twice during the 2020 season with the Reds emerging victorious on both occasions winning 4-0 and 3-1.

Saoirse Noonan was the only Cork player to score in the games against Shelbourne last season. Noonan has switched sides and is now part of the Shelbourne squad for the 2021 season.

Since Shelbourne entered the League in 2015 Cork City have gotten just one result against the Dublin side. That was a 1-1 draw in March 2017 with, current Red, Noonan on the scoresheet for Cork again on that occasion.

BETTING

Cork City 5/1; Draw 16/5; Shelbourne 4/11.

PREDICTION

Cork City 0–3 Shelbourne

Cork City

Injured: Katie McCarthy, Sophie Liston, Zara Foley.

Doubtful: Riona Crowley, Kelly Leahy, Ciara McNamara, Danielle Burke.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.