Cork City WFC record their biggest away win in years with victory over Peamount in Bawnogue

Peamount 0

Cork City 1

Cork City WFC upset the odds and defeated Women’s Premier Division champions Peamount United 1-0 at Greenogue on Saturday, with Freya De Mange scoring the only goal of the game at the start of the second half.

The unfamiliar surroundings meant absolutely nothing to Danny Murphy and his players as they navigated a roller coaster game involving a number of senior Republic of Ireland internationals in the Dubliners’ squad.

James O’Callaghan’s team on Saturday included Karen Duggan, a four time WNL champion, and Erin McLaughlin, Freya Healy, and Ellen Dolan, three current internationals.

Murphy responded to the task in hand by making four changes to the group that lost 2-0 to Wexford last weekend at Ferrycarrig Park, and debuts were handed to new signings Una Foyle and De Mange.

What it came down to was minutes, and minimising scoring opportunities for the home side.

The first opening, by either team, was a Peamount burst on the right wing, and a low Rebecca Watkins cross was swatted away by the City defence.

The Rebel Army pried the home side open in the 15th minutes with De Mange releasing Mangan and an inviting cross by the midfielder was caught by Niamh Reid Burke.

Peamount kept going and an attempt from distance by Ciara Maher drifted wide. 

This was followed by a supposed foul on Healy inside the area, and the referee waved on the home side’s penalty appeal.

Dolan went down in the 26th minute and the Dubliners won a free-kick which McLaughlin kicked into the hands of Foyle.

The Republic of Ireland international also had a shot saved just before the half-hour mark, and Peamount’s next attack ended in Dolan putting the ball out for a goal-kick.

City came through this spell relatively unscathed and won a corner which De Mange used to tee up Niamh Cotter at the back post. The midfielder missed the target, and the two teams went into the breaking drawing 0-0.

The game restarted with a renewed impetus from Peamount, and this showed when the game got back underway and Foyle was forced to deal with an attempt from Watkins.

It looked like a Healy cross was going to be it, the moment that overstretched City and Peamount took the lead, but McLaughlin hit the post while trying to turn it in with 54 minutes on the clock.

City came through the storm and a won a free-kick by the half-way line on the hour mark, and De Mange’s set-piece floated straight in.

Jetta Berrill hit back for Peamount with a cross, and this narrowly missed the head of Dolan.

The Dubliners then won a free-kick, and Duggan managed to get the ball out of a scramble and lay it off for McLaughlin.

The forward chose power over placement and the ball went over and out for a goal-kick.

Peamount pushed and probed in the final third, and City answered every question on their way to a famous win at the home of the league champions.

Peamount United: Niamh Reid Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Jetta Berrill, Chloe Moloney, Rebecca Watkins, Erin McLaughlin, Freya Healy, Ellen Dolan, Karen Duggan, Dearbhaile Beirne, Ciara Maher.

Subs: Carla McManus for McLaughlin (87); Aoife Brophy for Watkins (87).

Cork City: Una Foyle; Shaunagh McCarthy, Ciara McNamara, Kera Sena, Orlaith O’Mahony, Eva Mangan, Freya DeMange, Niamh Cotter, Barrett Edson, Colleen Kennedy O’Connell, Alix Mendez.

Subs: Lauren Walsh for Kennedy O’Connell (85); Chloe Atkinson for Sena (85).

Referee: Daniel Murphy.