- Dylan O'Connell
- Sun, Nov 07 2021
A record breaking crowd for the Women’s National League turned up at Turner’s Cross on Saturday afternoon to watch Cork City Women beat Treaty United 3-1.
1,007 people turned up to see Becky Cassin give City an early lead before Jeanna Slattery equalised for the Shannonsiders.
The Rebel hit back in the second half with an excellent free kick from Sarah McKevitt and a stunning strike from Laura Shine.
The game itself was the finale on a tense Munster rivalry which followed both teams through 2021.
Up until this point in the season, neither team was able to assert their dominance in the province this season, as Treaty United won at Turner’s Cross and Cork City Women won at the Market Fields.
But, the bragging rights are now over the border and they belong on Leeside, after the Rebel Army’s victory on Saturday afternoon.
The bumper crowd – combined with the tension of a local derby – ignited City from the starting whistle. They forced a succession of chances before McKevitt won a penalty after a breaking from a Treaty corner. After she was brought down inside the area, Cassin stepped up and knocked the ball into the bottom right of the goal, well out of Michaela Mitchell’s reach.
Treaty responded excellently, with a cross from Olivia Gibson which found the head of Slattery, and she headed in.
The creator of the goal – who came through Cork City’s academy – finished off the first half with a powerful shot which trickled wide.
City pushed up in the second half, with Ciara McNamara coming into midfield. The pressure nearly instantly paid off as Lauren Walsh won the ball from a corner shot fired towards the bottom right of goal.
As the ball look to trickle in; Shannon Parbat stood firm, collected the ball, and cleared.
Lauren Singleton nearly poked the ball in seconds later from a corner, but her looping shot hit the cross bar and was kicked out of play by the Treaty defence.
City’s pressure created space at the back and Aoife Cronin exploited this with an excellent run, which carried her onto the of the penalty box. Just as she got space and went to square the ball to Jesse Mendez, Lauren Walsh lunged across her and won possession back for City.
The forward had a second chance following this, and just as she took a touch, Danielle Burke picked the ball from her foot and dribbled away.
Treaty clearly took inspiration from these chances, as they moved further up the pitch. They nearly got lucky after making this shift, as Mendez intercepted a kick-out from Abby McCarthy and she volleyed wide.
City through this period of the game unscathed, and responded by taking the lead through a free-kick from McKevitt, which drifted over the penalty area and in.
The three points were secured at the 90th minute when Shine burst down the left flank, dribbled into the area and shot across goal.
The shot rolled into the Shed End and the stand erupted in celebration with the team.
Cork City Women: Abby McCarthy; Danielle Burke, Ciara McNamara, Christina Dring (Kate O’Donovan 80), Shaunagh McCarthy (Nathalie O’Brien 80), Laura Shine, Becky Cassin, Eva Mangan, Sarah McKevitt, Lauren Walsh (Zara Foley 54), Lauren Singleton (Niamh O’Donoghue 70)
Subs not used: Kate Irwin; Kate O’Donovan, Riona Crowley, Tiffany Taylor, Nadine Seward, Kelly Leahy.
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
Treaty United: Michaela Mitchell; Shannon Parbat, Rebecca Horgan (Esra Kengal 70), Gillian Keenan, Olivia Gibson, Clodagh Doherty, Aoife Cronin (Cara Griffin 80), Emma Costelloe (Anna Shine 82), Lauren Keane (Maura Shine 82), Jesse Mendez.
Subs not used: Meabh Ryan, Eimear Carey.
Booked: Olivia Gibson,
Sent Off: None.
Referee: Paul Mooney
Attendance: 1,007
Extratime.com Player of the Match: Becky Cassin
