League Preview: Cork City -v- Treaty United

CORK CITY

Cork City will be looking to claim that elusive first win of the Women’s National League campaign when they host Treaty United on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

The Rebels last time out saw them lose to WNL Champions Peamount United on a score line of 3-1 at Greenogue.

Ronán Collins will have been pleased to go into the halftime break 1-1 after Eva Mangan scored in the 42^nd minute to cancel out Eleanor Ryan-Doyle’s 15^th minute goal.

They kept it that way until the 66^th minute when Ryan-Doyle scored her second before Peas added a third through Áine O’Gorman to finish out the scoring.

With Treaty currently bottom of the table City will be hoping they can secure that first win of the season on Saturday.

If things go their way they could go ahead of Bohemians in the table.

Zara Foley and Nathalie O'Brien are still absent through injury, while Kelly Leahy has a knock but should still be fit for Saturday's game.

Sophie Liston and Katie McCarthy have both returned to fitness with both getting a run out against Peamount United last weekend.

TREATY UNITED

Treaty United last played two weeks ago when they hosted Shelbourne at Jackman Park in Limerick.

The Limerick side were beaten 5-0 to succumb to their fifth loss of the season with just one point gained so far from their 3-3 draw with Athlone Town earlier this season.

Niall Connolly’s side have been marred with injury for much of the season however, and with two of the top teams in the League behind them for the time being they could be looking at improving their record starting with Cork City on Saturday.

Treaty had shown signs of improvement when they kept Peamount quiet for a large part of their meeting three weeks ago but unfortunately Shelbourne managed to get at them and put up a large score in their last game.

With the Rebels struggling to find a win this could be an opportunity for the side to gain a point, but City’s attacking threat will have to be something Connolly prepares his young side for this Saturday.

Connolly still has a large list of injuries to contend with Clodagh Doherty, Emma Costelloe, Aoife Cronin and Esra Kangal all absent from the squad.

Alana Roddy has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, while Anna Shine and Maura Shine continue their preparations for the Leaving Certificate which begins next month.

Three players have returned to the squad however, with Gillian Keenan, Lauren Keane and Anna Shanagher all fit for this weekend’s trip to Cork.

MATCH STATS

Both sides are aiming for their first win of the season when they meet on Saturday.

Cork City and Treaty United have met just once in the WNL with the Rebels coming out on top with a 5-2 win last year.

A win for Treaty could lift them off the bottom of the table.

BETTING

Cork City 1/2; Draw 16/5; Treaty United 17/5.

PREDICTION

Cork City 2–1 Treaty United

Cork City

Injured: Zara Foley, Nathalie O'Brien.

Doubtful: Kelly Leahy.

Suspended: None.

Treaty United

Injured: Clodagh Doherty, Emma Costelloe, Aoife Cronin, Esra Kangal, Alana Roddy.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.