Cork City WFC Shine in Aviva

Cork City were the all-around winners coming out of the Finals Day in the Aviva Stadium last Sunday. John Caulfield’s men claimed the first League & Cup double win for a Cork team since 1951, when Cork Athletic brought both trophies to Leeside. Not content with winning just the one trophy on the day, Frank Kelleher’s Cork City Women’s FC defeated UCD Waves to win the WFAI Cup in a thrilling encounter.The first game on the day was contested for the Women’s FAI Cup trophy. City would hope that rested star striker Clare Shine would be the difference maker in the tie with UCD, who finished the season just ahead of the Cork women in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League. UCD maintained most of the possession for the opening minutes, but it was Cork who had all the chances. UCD’s Claire Walsh had a chance with a direct free kick after ten minutes, but the shot could only harmlessly hit the side netting of the City goal. Chloe Mustaki looked to put UCD Waves ahead, putting some wonderful through balls through for Catherine Cronin and Orlagh Nolan respectively, but the former was just offside, and City were able to scramble the ball away from the latter. Shine had two good chances go begging in the 23rd and 27th minutes, but on the stroke of the 33rd minute a beautiful through ball from Katie McCarthy cut through two lines of the UCD defence to find Clare Shine, who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home expertly from a tight angle. 1-0 to City heading into halftime.The second half continued much of the same as the first, with UCD plying the pressure, hoping that City might crack and give them an opportunity to score. Karen Duggan was provided with an excellent opportunity to score off a Mustaki corner, but her chance went wide (and she was found to be offside regardless). A clearance by Cork keeper Amanda Budden was interrupted by Waves substitute Niamh Chemaou, but Cronin was unable to chip the City woman.A back-and-forth affair for the rest of the game saw for a scrappy affair, with the only yellow card of the game going to City’s Maggie Duncliffe in the 88th minute. Three minutes added time wasn’t enough for UCD to equalise, and Cork City bring the WFAI Cup home to Bishopstown. Final score: Cork City 1 - 0 UCD Waves. Teams:Cork City WFC: Amanda Budden (GK), Danielle Burke, Ciara McNamara (C), Nathalie O’Brien, Meghan Bourque, Maggie Duncliffe, Katie McCarthy, Kate O’Donovan (sub, 64th), Danielle Sheehy, Saoirse Noonan (sub, 82nd), Clare Shine (goal, 33rd).Subs: Eve Badana (GK), Mary Barrett, Angie Carry, Ciara Desmond, Christina Dring (sub, 64th), Tara O’Gorman (sub, 82nd), Courtney O’Keeffe.UCD Waves: Brooke Dunne (GK), Emily Cahill, Ashling Dunbar (sub, 90th), Kerri Letmon (sub, 64th), Rebekah Carroll, Karen Duggan, Chloe Mustaki, Claire Walsh (C), Dearbhaile Beirne (sub, 82nd), Catherine Cronin, Orlagh Nolan.Subs: Niamh Chemaou (sub, 64th), Sinead Gaynor (sub, 90th), Orla Haran, Lauren Kelly (sub, 82nd), Ally O’Keeffe, Chelsee Snell, Erica Turner.