Cork Women 2 - 1 Castlebar Celtic

Denise O’Sullivan’s 84th minute strike was game-defining as Cork Women’s FC earned their fifth win of the Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League campaign at CIT on Sunday afternoon against Castlebar Celtic FC.

The Leesiders have enjoyed competing with Castlebar, Cork have taken seven from the nine points on offer between the teams following this victory.

However, O’Sullivan’s late winner was against the run of second-half play as Johnny Morris-Burke’s visitors dictated the tempo of the contest after the interval without really threatening Amanda Budden’s goal.

Yet Castlebar could have found themselves further in arrears at half-time as goalkeeper Aisling Concannon denied Cork a greater advantage than Ericka O’Sullivan had given them on 38 minutes.

Twenty minutes into the opening half left-full Mary Barrett swept an intelligent cross from the wing to the back post where Lynsey McKey had beaten the off-side trap but couldn’t beat Concannon with a side-footed effort, the goalkeeper steering outside the post for a corner.

Two minutes later O’Sullivan’s incisive pass in behind the visitors’ rearguard afforded McKey another guilt-edged opportunity from seven yards but again the striker gave Concannon a chance by not angling her shot to either corner and the net-minder saved.

Shortly afterwards, Amy McCarthy tested Concannon with a volley and Castlebar striker Emma Mullin subsequently produced a blistering shot that flew over Budden’s crossbar which was a reminder of the visitors’ potential threat on the counter-attack.

However, Ericka O’Sullivan gave Cork the lead on 38 minutes.

Mary Barrett’s in-swinging corner was turned goalwards by Denise O’Sullivan but blocked on the goal-line and half cleared. Ericka O’Sullivan pounced and smashed the rebound to the net.

Seven minutes into the second-half Emma Mullin’s tireless efforts were rewarded as her shot was inadvertently turned past Budden by central defender Marie Curtin to level the match.

Castlebar upped the ante further and looked the more likely victor, however a rare second-half Cork attack yielded the ultimate dividend with six minutes of normal time remaining.

Lauren Murphy’s intelligent pass through to Denise O’Sullivan gave the Republic of Ireland senior international the opportunity to slot beyond Concannon which she duly took to win the game.

Cork Women’s FC: Amanda Budden, Orla Barry, Mary Barrett, Marie Curtin, Emma Farmer, Sylvia Gee, Amy McCarthy, Ericka O’Sullivan, Lynsey McKey, Denise O’Sullivan (capt), Lauren Murphy.

Subs: Claudia Hudner for McCarthy (64), Susan Donovan for O’Sullivan (69), Valerie Mulcahy for McKey (88).

Castlebar Celtic FC: Aisling Concannon, Carol Hegarty, Theresa Fahey (capt), Maria Harrington, Jenny Byrne, Lauren Bowles, Rachel King, Aileen Collins, Aileen Gilroy, Susie Cunningham, Emma Mullin.

Referee: Chrissie Buckley (Cork).