Soccer
Galway WFC get no reward for fine display against league leaders
Galway WFC 1
Raheny United 2
Morale victories count for little in sport but on Sunday afternoon at Eamonn Deacy Park there was a huge appreciation of the performance of the home side as they put the Bus Éireann Women’s National League leaders and defending champions to the pin of their collar to depart with a victory.
The concession of two soft set-piece goals at the beginning of each half was a body blow, but they recovered well on each occasion and for the duration of the second half were the better side.
The game saw the introduction to two local newcomers, with seasoned senior international Meabh De Burca and U-17 International Eleanor Stafford making their debuts, and both played a crucial role in the overall performance.
The last thing the underdog needs in any game is to go behind early and just three minutes had elapsed when Katie McCabe swung in a corner that was only half cleared and from the edge of the box, a dribbler from Ciara Grant made it to the back of the net via a post for a 1-0 lead.
While the hosts couldn’t match their teamwork and cohesion, they put together a package that made life very difficult for the visitors and for the remainder of the half made it competitive. While Stafford ploughed a lone furrow up front, her link play was excellent and Lucy Hannon should have taken advantage of a flick on 44 minutes, but knocked her effort over an open goal.
Earlier, Ruth Fahy went down under a Slattery challenge in the box, but penalty claims were waved away; while Lisa Casserly later threatened twice without hitting the target.
Galway WFC had to line out without their absent leading scorer Sinead Taylor, but her replacement Stafford proved her worth with the equaliser on 49 minutes. A De Burca free kick caused chaos in the visitors’ rearguard, and the new striker took full advantage to finish from close range and tie up matters at 1-1.
Raheny made it 2-1 on 59 minutes against the run of play. Again, a set-piece provided the assist as Sinead O’Farrelly delivered a free kick from half-way, but while the ball was headed clear, home custodian Melissa Casserly had left her line and was exposed as Siobhan Killeen cracked the rebound into an empty net.
Manager Nigel Keady freshened up his side with the introduction of Susie Cunningham and Shauna Fox. De Burca relocated from right full to central midfield, while Cunningham joined Stafford up front in a 4-4-2 formation and for the remainder of the contest they tore into Raheny.
A goal-line clearance by Shauna Newman in the 75th minute frustrated Stafford after she got the better of ‘keeper Burke at the second attempt. From the resulting Hannon corner, Cunningham struck the post, before the goalmouth scramble was eventually cleared.
The visitors also struck timber, when the home rearguard were caught sleeping as the unmarked Newman picked up a McCabe corner outside the box, but a cracking strike rebounded off the far post. While Murray fired over and Casserly saved from Killeen, the visitors were not allowed to be their usual dominant selves.
The home side continued to force the pace, as Ruth Fahy fired wide, while Stafford could not direct a Hannon corner on target. Burke raced off her line to take a De Burca through ball off the toes of Stafford, before Cunningham and Hannon had efforts blocked in a crowded box.
Friday the 13th – unlucky for some – and Galway United will be hoping it is an unlucky night for runaway leaders Shelbourne on Friday evening. Shels, who are currently 10 points clear of second place United, are still unbeaten in this year’s First Division with 12 wins and six draws to their name.
The Tribesmen go into this week’s pivotal fixture after a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Cork City last Friday at Eamonn Deacy Park. The game had a ‘hit-and-run’ feel to it as Colin Healy’s side snatched all three points with ten minutes to go which ended United’s seven-game unbeaten league run.
BY TOM BYRNE
Even so, United replaced Treaty United in second place on goal difference after the Limerick outfit were defeated 4-1 by Cabinteely at the Markets Field.
Shelbourne have been the team to beat this season as they look odds-on to win this season’s First Division with nine games to go. Ian Morris’ side were hampered by a number of Covid cases in their squad for last week’s game against UCD, where they drew 0-0 at the UCD Bowl. It is expected that they will have players returning for their crucial clash against United at Terryland.
The two clubs have faced each other on 75 occasions. Shelbourne being victorious the more often with 39 wins, United defeating the north-Dubliners 17 times and 19 games ending in stalemate. United have hit the Shels net 86 times while the 2019 First Division winners have scored on 132 occasions against United.
The two teams played out a 0-0 draw at Eamonn Deacy Park in the first game this season, while Shelbourne had the upper hand in the reverse fixture when they overcame United 4-0 at Tolka Park in May.
Goal friendly Shels have struck 36 goals in 18 games so far this campaign, with former Shamrock Rovers man Ryan Brennan bagging ten of those. United will look to Wilson Waweru and Ruairi Keating for their main source of goals, with the latter hitting the net on seven occasions this season. Waweru brought his goal tally to six last week when he scored United’s first equalising goal against Cork City.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the soccer preview, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.
Galway United 2
Athlone Town 2
GALWAY United had to twice come from behind against basement side Athlone Town on Monday night to snatch a draw that was, on balance, probably a little harsh on the visiting side.
Completely outplayed in the opening 45 minutes, United had an absolute howler from visiting goalkeeper, Aaron Myles, to thank for going into the break on level terms; and then needed an equaliser five minutes from time to claim a draw against a side that came into the game having lost all four games they had played this season.
Alan Murphy’s side already find themselves nine points behind the league leaders just four games into the season, and a major improvement is needed if they are to finish in the top half of the table and inside the play-off spots.
Their central midfield was way off the mark on Monday night – both Maurice Nugent and Sam Warde were hauled ashore before the final whistle – and having abandoned the 4-4-2 formation which delivered some decent results near the end of last season, they are struggling to get quality ball into the opposition box.
With Shane Duggan expected to return to central midfield after suspension for this Saturday’s trip to Cobh Ramblers, it might be time to go with some out-and-out wingers and get some cohesion in the side.
The first couple of half chances on Monday fell to the home side, but Mikey Place didn’t get any power behind his second minute effort; while Marc Ludden was well off target subsequently.
The visitors, who had the opening half’s best player in their ranks in the guise of Galway native, Ronan Manning, went close a couple of times themselves in the ninth minute, United surviving thanks to Cian Murphy getting a block on Adam Lennon’s shot; while Kevin Horgan pulled off a ‘worldie’ to deny Joel Coustrain from the subsequent corner.
By that stage, the visitors were starting to get on top, and they took a deserved lead in the 22nd minute when Manning’s corner from the left was met by Taner Dogan at the back post to head home as the United marking was, not for the first time this season, shambolic at a set-piece.
Tempers were starting to fray a little, with both sides having two players finding their way into the notebook of Dublin referee, Oliver Moran, before United were gifted an equaliser in the 41st minute.
Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune
Paul Corcorcan
GALWAY WFC notched a second win in a row in the Women’s National League when they defeated Limerick 6-1 at the Markets Field on Sunday afternoon.
A McKenna Doyle hat trick and goals from Sadbh Doyle, Chloe Singleton and Aoife Thompson helped the Galway women to a resounding win. Five of the six goals for Galway were assisted by Lynsey McKey during what was a stellar performance by the experienced midfielder.
Galway WFC are back in action at Eamonn Deacy Park tomorrow (Saturday, kick off 3pm) when they welcome league leaders Peamount United.
See full match report in City Tribune Sport.
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