Cork City could qualify for All-Island Cup quarter-finals by beating Galway United
Cork City's Eva Mangan shoots from Wexford's Rebekah Cassin at Turner's Cross. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Cork City could qualify for the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup quarter-finals this Saturday if they beat Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park, 5pm.
The Rebel Army have one point collected following their dramatic 3-3 draw with Cliftonville, and a result with goals this weekend could be enough to clinch a top-two spot in the group.
The other game is being played at the same time, with the Women’s Premiership representatives hosting Peamount United at Solitude.
For the moment, City have to focus on themselves and that means going out and trying to score goals against Galway United.
The draw with Cliftonville put the club into this position, and that was achieved with a frantic late comeback at the home of one of the best teams in the Women’s Premiership.
City actually started well on the day by creating a number of chances for Eva Mangan and Aoibhín Donnelly, while Fiana Bradley caused problems in wide positions. Even when Cliftonville scored through Teegan Lynch in the 28th minute, Frank Kelleher’s players remained composed and with that came Christina Dring’s equaliser before the break.
The Reds hit back after the restart with Lynch and Caitlin McGuinness making it 3-1 before the hour mark. The Rebel Army kept going and Bradley pulled a goal back with a stunning strike from distance that went beyond the reach of Erin McAllister in the 63rd minute. City dug-in to stop the home side getting one more and in the dying seconds of injury time, Ciara McNamara made it 3-3 by nodding in a free-kick.
That was the first time all season that the Rebel Army have gotten something from successive games. The downside is that the two results were draws.
This is still a foundation to build from after a start to the year that has seen just two victories in all competitions.
Galway could be the best possible team for City at this moment in time, as Phill Trill’s side are going through a rough patch between the league and the All-Island Cup in recent weeks.
The Tribeswomen actually started the campaign with a furious intensity and an unbeaten first six games in all competitions, with the only draw being with Wexford at Eamonn Deacy Park.
A 3-0 defeat to Athlone Town on home soil ended the early season innocence, and with it came a winless run that has yet to be broken on the west coast.
Galway were also beaten by Shelbourne and Treaty United during that sequence, and there was no reprieve in the All-Island Cup as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Peamount United.
It seems like things have slowed down at Eamonn Deacy Park, and there may be a small opportunity for Kelleher and his players to get in and keep their cup dream alive.
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