2 v 2 
Athlone TownDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 July 2021 | 2:00 pm | LOI Women's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Dring denies Athlone vital win
Christina Dring’s late equaliser for Cork ensured a share of the spoils with Athlone Town at Turners Cross this afternoon in the Womens National League.
'A goal’s a goal no matter what way it goes over the line' is a rhetoric that stood steadfast in this tie, and for long periods it looked like the visitors who might come away with a vital win.
Melissa O’Kane capitalised on a breakdown of communication between Cork’s backline to open the scoring in the 19th minute.
While City equalised via Eabha O’Mahony shortly after the half hour mark, it looked like Athlone had claimed a controversial winner in the form of a Roisin Molloy goal; before Dring's effort late on.
A scramble of defensive errors saw O’Kane set the ball rolling Leeside, after a searching Chloe Flynn ball found the resolute Muireann Devaney and eventually landed at the feet of The Town’s number 22, who only had to slot the ball into the back of an empty net; and done so with ease.
The playing field was then levelled when City equalised via O’Mahony just after the half hour mark. She delivered a thunderbolt on the edge of the box, which was no match for Athlone’s keeper.
Worryingly for the home supporters, Becky Cassin took a hard blow and went to ground injured just before the interval. The half was blown up at a goal apiece while she remained on the pitch receiving treatment, but luckily for City and the Women’s National League the captain returned to the pitch after the break.
Next came a goal in which will arise much debate in the following days. An O’Kane corner fell to Roisin Molloy who struck the ball towards the goalmouth. While Abby McCarthy held onto the ball strongly with both hands and City pleaded that she was fouled in the process, the keeper was deemed to have been over the line by the referee and the goal stood for Athlone.
The WNL has become synonymous with late goals in recent weeks and another one was witnessed today when Dring put away an equaliser for Cork in the 90thminute to ensure a palindrome draw for her side.
The result means both sides remain at the basement of the league with seven points, Cork edging just ahead of goal difference.
Timeline
| 19' | 22. Melissa O'Kane | |
| 6. Eabha O'Mahony | 33' | |
| 49' | 14. Roisin Molloy | |
| 58' | Fiona Owens Emily Corbet | |
| Shaunagh McCarthy Lauren Singleton | 61' | |
| Sophie Liston Christina Dring | 71' | |
| Eva Mangan Laura Shine | 71' | |
| Becky Cassin Kate O'Donovan | 84' | |
| 9. Christina Dring | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(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
| Turner's Cross |
|---|
| Beaufort Park, Turner\'s Cross C, Cork, County Cork, Munster, T12 E3H5, 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.
All over in Turner's Cross and it ends in a 2-2 deadlock between these basement sides. A share of the spoils for both teams in this six pointer saw drama of every shade from goal line calls, last ditch defending and goals in the dying minutes!
GOAL FOR CITY! Christina Dring makes it 2-2 in the last minute!
Kate O'Donovan on for City in Becky Cassin's place
Keogh off for Athlone
Sophie Liston and Eva Mangan off for City. Replaced by Christina Dring and Laura Shine
Last ditch defending from Ciara McNamara ensures a third goal is not allowed in just yet for Athlone. Superb work from her!
McCarthy replaced by Lauren Singleton
Fiona Owens off for Emily Corbet
Goal awarded to Athlone! Melissa O'Kane's corner kick finds Roisin Molloy and although City would have wanted goal line technology and VAR enacted there the goal stands for The Town
Cassin back on the pitch after receiving treatment just before halftime and it's tip off again in Turner's Cross
Halftime in Cork and it's finished 1-1 heading into the interval between City and Athlone Town. O'Kane was first to get on the scoresheet after a defensive bumble at the back for the home side, but Cork equalised around 13 minutes later via an Eabha O'Mahony thunderbolt.
1 minute added time. Becky Cassin down injured
O' Mahony with the equaliser for Cork! Back to 1-1!
Goal Athlone! O'Kane gets the ball rolling on the scoresheet at Turner's Cross
Quarter of an hour gone in Turner's Cross and there's no score to have broken the 0-0 palindrome just yet. While their have been some minor opportunities both sides are still feeling each other out
Underway in Turner's Cross
With seventh spot undoubtedly up for grabs for the winner at Turner’s Cross as Bohemians sit out this week and lie just two ahead in the table, sixth place is also an opportunity that has come to the surface as Treaty are to face Peamount United and have nine marks to their name to date.
While we await the team sheets lets talk big game players. Katelyn Keogh and Muireann Devaney will have been tagged by The Rebels as indispensable to the Lissywollen outfit, while Cork’s top scorer Cassin as well as other fundamentals like last weekend’s team of the week keeper Abby McCarthy and midfielder Éabha O’Mahony are expected to be massive components in the match.
Although not outwardly reflected in their recent results, City’s displays have certainly portrayed an aura of improvement, putting it up to highflyers DLR Waves last week up until the 88th minute of the game where the Sky Blues secured the 1-0 triumph thanks to a Ciara Maher screamer. The Town too were unsuccessful in series 13, falling at the foot of a dominant Wexford Youths and Ellen Molloy showcase of utter class, they lost out 3-1 at their Midlands ground.
Last time out an outright winner was spared at the expense of a 2-2 draw in Athlone Town Stadium, Becky Cassin and Christina Dring on target for the Leesiders, while Emma Donohue and Melissa O'Kane netted for the home side. An evenly contested encounter at the time in series five, today’s fixture is expected to be a similar affair.
Currently situated level on points in eighth and ninth position respectively and only separated by six goals of a difference, this tie is set to be a crucial one for both teams as a win could mean they progress as high as sixth in the league.
The big news coming from the home team\'s camp this afternoon is that they have laid claim to ormer Southampton, Portsmouth and Chichester City defender Tiff Taylor. She becomes Paul Farrell’s first signing since he taking the reins in May. Mr Farrell was happy to finally get the deal done, saying: “We’ve been in contact with Tiff for a while, and we’re delighted to finally have her here and signed. She has played at a high level in the UK for a number of years and will bring a wealth of experience to the side.\"
Cellar Women’s National League sides Cork City and Athlone Town convene at Turner’s Cross this afternoon in just under an hour at 2 o’clock to evaluate who will sink and remain at the bottom of the table or swim above and rise up the rankings. Join me, Alanna Cunnane here at Final Whistle .ie to keep up to date on the match's action