2 v 0 
Cork CityDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 October 2021 | 7:00 pm | LOI Women's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Athlone leap-frog Cork with home win
Goals from Louise O’Aodha and Roisin Molloy saw Athlone Town leapfrog a lost Cork City tonight in the WNL 2-0 the final score at Lissywollen.
Coming off the back of an emphatic victory against DLR The Rebels were expected to continue their showcase of class but were undone by a Midlands side full of heart and attacking threat in Athlone Town Stadium.
Ever pushing but never quite locating the strike to drag them back into the game, Ronán Collins’s outfit now find themselves a spot lower in the table. Town’s three points from the match hauls their total to 14, one ahead of tonight’s opponents with a game in hand.
The tika taka-esque football between Eva Mangan, Sarah McKevitt and Shaunagh McCarthy that was so revered last time out was drowned by the high press of the youthful Athlone team that were thriving infront of their home supporters.
A turn of events took place within a quarter of an hour as a back pass from Abbiegayle Roynayne saw her collect a yellow card and a freekick on the six yard box line. Despite nothing being yielded from the occurrence but controversy amongst both teams, management and fans the injection of intensity it gave the match was well welcomed.
Although it took 35 minutes for the deadlock to be slashed, the sublime effort from O’Aodha was worth the wait as she struck from long range to chip Abby McCarthy in net.
Seconds before the half-time whistle Athlone secured their brace and the final mark on the scorecard of the fixture when Roisin Molloy supplemented in the 46th minute. The Sligo woman tore down the middle of the pitch and slotted the ball between the sticks with composure to send a killer blow to Cork’s hopes heading into the team talks.
Opportunities for Laura Shine and Christina Dring presented in the second round of action, but all failed to come off successfully as City began to grow more frustrated with time.
The loss is bound to weigh heavy on them as it will be seen as a missed chance to accumulate vital points, while for Athlone they will be optimistic they can carry the momentum into their next exhibition against Peamount United.
Timeline
Past Meetings
|
(Series 21)
3 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Turner's Cross Cork City v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 14)
2 - 2LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 12)
0 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Cork City |
|
(Series 5)
2 - 2LOI Women's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Cork City |
|
(Series 3)
0 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Turner's Cross Cork City v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 7)
2 - 0LOI Women's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City v Athlone Town |
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC v Cork City FC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City FC v Athlone Town AFC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC v Cork City FC |
Ground
| Athlone Town Stadium |
|---|
| Athlone Town Stadium, Old Rail Trail, Garrycastle, Athlone East Rural Electoral Division, The Municipal District of Athlone — Moate, County Westmeath, Leinster, N37 N1F2, Ireland |
Alanna Cunnane
Alanna is currently pursuing her studies in journalism at Dublin City University and writes regularly for her local media outlets in Sligo.
Into added time in Athlone
Yet another chance for Athlone who are thriving of the injection of crowd support tonight
Some dispute over a throw in as we are into the final 10 minutes in Athlone Town Stadium
Athlone in with a chance there but they get a corner from it
Kate O’Donovan comes on for Cork as O'Brien makes way
Nothing much to report in the last few minutes but as we head into the closing exchanges Cork are sure to try and push on for a goal
Ciara McNamara off for Cork as Riona Crowley enters the fray
Aoife Haran and Louise O'Aodha off for Athlone. They're replaced by Emily Corbett and Ava Dolan
Still no reply from Cork forthcoming, could we be witnessing Athlone's leapfrog of them tonight remains to be seen
Long range effort from Shine calls a corner for Cork
There were two changes at halftime as Sarah McKevitt and Lauran Walsh come in for Danielle Burke and Lauren Singleton
Last week's hat trick hero Shine spots Dring free in the box but no score results from the chance
Ping pong start to the second half in Lissywoolen
2nd half underway!
Half time in Athlone
Roisin Molloy adds a second! The Sligo woman is set clean through on goal and slots the ball into the back of the net with composure
Stoppage in play
Athlone loving the confidence the goal has given them and playing with a certain eagerness at the minute
Athlone take the lead! A long range strike from Louise O'Aodha chips Abby McCarthy and the home team go 1-0 up
Free kick Athlone about 50 yards from goal. Devaney takes and Jessica Hennessy gets a head to it but its out for a Cork free kick
Cork with a series of throw ins here deep in Athlone's half
City really pressing high on Athlone's defence, affording none of them the opportunity of time on the ball
Player of the Month nominated Eva Mangan doing dogged work in Cork's centre midfield
The game ever growing in intensity as the darkness descends in Lissywoolen
Singleton down injured for Cork
Given the ball had to be indirect Cork play it off but the chance goes wide for a corner. Cassin got a touch to it before it fell to McNamara although it didn't quite come off
Chance for Cork here as a back pass from Athlone results in a yellow card for Roynayle and a dead ball on the edge of the six yard box
Fiona Owens plays through Roisin Molloy there but as she swings one into the box City manage to clear it up
Abby McCarthy awarded a free kick after a tough challenge there in her own box
Athlone with the most possession thus far in the game, doing well to press in on Abby McCarthy's goal early on
Underway in Athlone Town Stadium
Both line ups are now in! 1 minute until kick off in this tie between Athlone and Cork City, be sure and tune in on LOITV now
No Athlone team sheets as of yet, we'll bring them to you as soon as they become available
Cork have their side in. Interestingly Sarah McKevitt drops to the bench
This game will be shown live on LOITV from 7pm! For now though as we await the team sheets be sure and tune into Shelbourne Vs DLR Waves on TG4, the first WNL match to be broadcast live on TV
At the back Lauren Singleton secured a Team of The Week spot for her display against DLR, but it’s O’Kane, Muireann Devaney, Roisin Molloy and Katelyn Keogh who she’ll have to contend with today if Cork are to have a good showing.
Round 14 was the last time the two came to blows, Christina Dring snatching the tie from the embers of the match. Melissa O’Kane opened the scoring in the 19thminute for The Town before Eabha O’Mahony equalised for the Leesiders and while Roisin Molloy’s 49th minute goal looked as if it was to prove decisive, Dring’s 90thminute strike will have haunted Athlone ever since.
Netting her first senior hattrick in Turner’s Cross, the 17 year old has firmly implanted herself on the key player list for the Girls in Green.
Sarah McKevitt, Shaunagh McCarthy and Player of the Month nominated Eva Mangan were all in form against Waves, but it was Laura Shine who was the real bright spark of the day.
Athlone’s 7-1 loss to Wexford Youths last week won’t have aided their confidence and with only a sole clean sheet to their name this year they will have to have a massive performance to protect their goal from the siege of Cork’s attack.
The Town trail The Rebels by just two points, meaning a victory this evening would see them overtake the Munster outfit, while a win for City would claw them within touching distance of Bohemians and sixth place.
Their last two encounters have both yielded palindrome 2-2 draws but with the back end of the season fast approaching the entirety of the spoils would be massive for the sides who lie in 7th and 8th respectively.
Cork City aspire to build on last week’s sensational outing as they head to Lissywollen tonight to battle it out against Athlone Town in Series 23 of the Women’s National League. My name is Alanna Cunnane and I'll be bringing you tonights match coverage!