Home tie for Galway women’s soccer team in League debut

GALWAY Women’s FC make their bow in the Bus Éireann National Women’s League in Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday when they welcome Wexford Youths to the Dyke Road venue (2pm).

The side’s preparations for its national debut have been less than smooth, with more than half a dozen players unable to register with the new club due to their involvement in national cup competitions with two local clubs; while there has been some resentment at a local level over the fact the Galway FA pulled the plug on the local Ladies Premier Division before the season ended.

In fairness to both the Galway FA and Galway WFC, that decision was taken by the football authority to try and assist Galway WFC to put a squad together for its debut season, as dual registration is not allowed by the FAI.

Without the decision to wrap-up the local league, Nigel Keady and his management team would have found it extremely difficult to put together a squad for Sunday’s opening national league encounter, but whatever the intentions behind that decision, it has possibly diluted at least some of the goodwill towards the Galway WFC.

That said, Keady and his squad will put all that behind them when they take to the pitch on Sunday against a side that is showing how serious it is taking the challenge by travelling up to Galway 24 hours in advance of the game.

“Obviously we are looking to make a positive start to the campaign, but at the same time we know that patience will be required as it is a new squad with a lot of young players,” said Galway WFC official Padraic de Burca.

“We have seven or eight players who won’t be involved on Sunday as they are still involved with Colga in the Intermediate Cup, and Corrib Rangers in the Junior Cup, but we are happy that we have a strong squad, there is a nice blend of youth and experience there, and hopefully a big crowd will turn up and that will inspire the players,” de Burca said.

While the majority of the squad are from Galway, Keady has managed to attract four players from the recently-crowned Galway Premier Division champions, Bealnamulla from Athlone, including Sinead Taylor, a nippy striker in her 20s who ran away with the top-scorer award in the Premier Division this season.

The squad will be captained by Ruth Fahy, who has returned from Australia, where she played with South Melbourne, while the likes of Grainne Barrett and Susie Cunningham will also bring some experience to the squad.

“The players have shown great commitment, some of them travelling long distances for training – we have players from Athlone, Tullamore and Ennis in the squad.

“Obviously, when we have a full-strength squad to choose from, we’ll be in an even stronger position, but we have to remember this is the club’s first season the national league, and it will take time to adjust to playing at that higher level,” de Burca said.

Gates open at 1pm, and admission is €5 for adults, with accompanied children admitted free of charge. Season tickets, which cost €50, will also be available on the day.