Cork Women 0 - 3 Raheny United

THREE first-half goals for visitors Raheny United ensured the Dubliners left CIT with maximum points yesterday afternoon as Cork Women’s FC slumped to a fifth defeat in the Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League.

Left-winger Siobhan Killeen, as she had done in the previous meeting between the teams at Morton Stadium last November, a game which Raheny won 1-0, caused Cork no end of problems throughout, particularly in the first-half.

Killeen scored Raheny’s first on 10 minutes, directly assisted the visitors’ captain Rebecca Creagh in scoring their second on 27 minutes and crossed the testing ball into Cork’s six-yard box that the hosts’ left-full Lauren Murphy inadvertently steered beyond the despairing Rachel Mullins moments before half-time which gave Gerard McDermott’s unit a three-goal buffer.

Cork’s attempts at reducing the deficit in the second-half were laudable to a degree however overall they got what they deserved from the game which unfortunately was nothing on this occasion.

And the result now leaves them in somewhat of a quandary.

In the lead-up to this, their eighth outing victory was considered essential as finishing the campaign in second spot at least had become the realistic goal following a 3-2 reverse to leaders Peamount United the previous weekend.

Now however Cork trail Raheny, in second, by 12 points and have another meeting with them at Morton Stadium later in the season.

The harsher reality is that Cork are currently second from bottom with only Shamrock Rovers beneath them in the six-team section and aims of finishing second may now have to be revised too.

Raheny, on the other hand, have no such issues clouding their path for the remainder of the season as they continue their assault on the league title, although even Raheny’s most ardent of supporters will appreciate that finishing the term as champions will not be easy given the imperious form of Peamount.

And the visitors took the game to Cork from the get-go indicative of a team with lofty ambitions.

Raheny dominated the early exchanges, particularly in central areas and went in front after just 10 minutes through the illusive and frighteningly effective Killeen.

Rebecca Creagh’s slide-rule pass in behind the Cork defence set Killeen through on goal and with only Mullins to beat she slotted past the net-minder with precision.

Five minutes later Raheny had the ball in the net for a second time however Mary Waldron’s side-volley was scratched off as the striker was deemed to be offside after Rachel Graham’s initial attempt at goal was parried onto the crossbar by Mullins.

Raheny didn’t have to wait long though for a second, just 12 minutes in fact. Killeen, collecting possession in central midfield, expertly picked out the run of Creagh who drifted in from the right and rifled into the net from 14 yards one-on-one with Mullins.

Lauren Murphy was denied from a 25-yard free-kick by the assured Lyn Bradley on 39 minutes for Cork, a rare attempt the visitors’ goalkeeper had to deal with.

Subsequently, Raheny inflicted the killer-blow right on the stroke of half-time.

Killeen, finding space again on the left, crossed the ball deep into the Cork area and coming across to clear, Lauren Murphy hooked the ball past Mullins to leave Cork in disarray.

The second-half, dissimilar to the first, was largely uneventful, Raheny content with containing Cork and attempting to catch them on the break rather than risking giving away a goal by trying to increase their own tally at the opposite end.

The introductions of Ericka O’Sullivan, Valerie Mulcahy and Lynsey McKey did liven up Cork’s challenge somewhat but Raheny were still more than competent in their defensive endeavours.

And it was Raheny that engineered the best of the very few second-half opportunities as opposed to game-chasers Cork.

Creagh’s inch-perfect cross was headed goalwards by Killeen but Mullins’ reflexes ensured she kept the ball out with her first attempt to save and smother with her second.

After that point the match more or less fizzled out. Raheny had done enough at that stage to secure a sixth league victory to keep them within two points of Peamount.

Cork will have to up the ante however for a trip to Castlebar next Sunday.

Cork Women’s Fc: Rachel Mullins, Amy McCarthy, Lauren Murphy, Marie Curtin, Emma Farmer, Sylvia Gee, Clare Shine, Laura Lynch, Katie McCarthy, Denise O’Sullivan (capt), Claudia Hudner.

Subs: Ericka O’Sullivan for Lynch (59), Valerie Mulcahy for Hudner (59), Lynsey McKey for McCarthy (68).

Raheny United: Lynn Bradley, Elaine Murray, Megan Campbell, Seana Cooke, Rachel Graham, Sandra Mulhall, Ciara Grant, Siobhan Killeen, Rebecca Creagh (capt), Mary Waldron.

Subs: Kate Flood for Mulhall (24), Rebecca Walsh for Graham (76), Joan Daly for Campbell (91).

Referee: Chrissie Buckley (Cork).