Galway WFC denied historic win by last minute equalizer

Raheny United 2

Galway WFC 2

Defending Continental Tyres Women’s National League champions Raheny United might have been in UEFA Champions League action in midweek, but they were brought down to earth at Morton Stadium on Sunday, when they required a last minute equaliser to grab a share of the spoils with Don O’Riordan’s charges.

It was the first time that Galway WFC had taken a point from one of the big Dublin clubs and on this occasion, they took the lead on two occasions, only to be pegged back each time. It was also the first time that Raheny dropped points this season.

The Galway side had put in a poor shift when going down badly against Wexford the previous week, but some changes allied to a much stronger attitude led to a much improved performance on Sunday.

New signing Marie Curtin slotted back into central defence alongside Ciara Cormican, while Ruth Fahy and Meadbh De Burca formed a central midfield partnership, with Kara Mullins played up top on her own.

Wind advantage allowed the visitors dominate the opening half, but they had just a Fahy header to show as a reward, as the Barna native got on the end of a Marie Curtin free-kick on 16 minutes.

Obviously, Raheny had the advantage of the elements in the second half and while not as considerable as earlier, it helped the home side level matters on 64 minutes when Noelle Murray fired past Tina Hughes to tie up matters at 1-1.

The home celebration did not last long, as just four minutes later, Kara Mullins was pushed over in the box and Curtin slotted the resulting penalty past Niamh Reid-Burke to make it 2-1.

In difficult conditions, the Dublin side pressed continuously in the closing stages and just when it looked like an outstanding Galway performance was going to inflict a first defeat in two seasons on the champions, they struck for a last minute equaliser, when a smashing long range effort by Katie McCabe flashed past Hughes to level matters at 2-2.

Maybe it was a slim reward for Galway, but such a result should do wonders for morale and they get an opportunity to play at home for the first time in almost two months when they face Castlebar Celtic at 2pm this coming Sunday in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Galway WFC: T Hughes, Fox (Cunningham 55), Cormican, Curtin, Kelleher, Casserly, Fahy, De Burca, Jacobs (Hughes 72), McKey, Mullins.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.