Galway WFC through to League Cup semi-finals

Cork City WFC 0

Galway WFC 2

Two goals in the space of three minutes saw Galway WFC book their place in the last four of the Women’s National League Cup in Cork on Sunday.

Level at the break, Don O’Riordan’s side struck the decisive blows in the 50th and 52nd minutes through Meabh De Burca and Lynsey McKey to decide what was a fairly even game, through there could be no quarrel with the outcome.

The visitors created the first real opening of note when DeBurca floated a ball over the top of the Cork City defence, but the impressive Susie Cunningham put the ball just wide while stretching for it.

Vanessa Ogbonna then beat the offside trap at the other end from a quick release by Shannon Carson, but her final effort was weak and easily gathered by Tina Hughes.

McKey then had two chances in quick succession, the first coming after Trish Fennelly punched a ball straight to her feet. McKey controlled, turned and shot but Fennelly redeemed herself by blocking. Moments later, McKey had a sight of goal again after good work by Cunnigham, but she failed to find the target.

There was a huge let-off for Galway after the Leesiders had a goal ruled out for offside. Ogbonna dispossessed Lisa Casserly in midfield before powering through the centre. She slid the ball out wide to Amy Quinn, whose cross picked out Katie McCarthy to head home, but the goal was ruled out by an offside flag.

Kara  Mullins was twice denied by Fennelly as half-time approached, the ‘’keeper firstly saving her 25 yard effort, and then smothering at her feet after Mullins had been played in by Cunningham.

City almost had a goal gifted to them at the start of the second half as Ruth Fahy miscontrolled the bounce of the ball and Ogbonna raced through, but Hughes was out quickly to deny the striker and the ball raced away for a corner.

Then came a magical three-minute spell for the visitors, with DeBurca opening the scoring in the 50th minute after getting on the end of Ciara McNamara’s free-kick; and she turned provider two minutes later, crossing into the box and a step-over by Mullins left McKey with the simple task of tapping into the net.

The two goals took some of the bite out of City and Galway enjoyed a couple of chances with Mullins going close, while McKey really should have added a third when blazing over from close range.

The home side rallied somewhat, but Maggie Duncliffe’s shot was deflected wide for a corner; and Ciara Desmond fired over after good work from the industrious Ogbonna.

Angie Carry’s 30-yard volley was brilliantly saved by Hughes, and McCarthy sent the rebound wide.

Cork City WFC: Fennelly; Coughlan (Gilroy 83), Carson, McNamara, Smith (Carroll 61); Paul, Duncliffe, McCarthy, Desmond; Ogbonna, Quinn (Carry 61).

Galway WFC: Hughes; Fox (Cormican 90), Walsh, Fahy, Curtin, Casserly (Hughes 83), DeBurca, Kelleher, Cunningham (Jacob 77); Mullins, McKey.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.