Kearns’ hat-trick but Galway WFC regret string of misses

Galway WFC  3

Cork City FC  3

Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park

IF Ireland can lose at home to lowly Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier, then the loss of two points by Galway WFC at the end of this Women’s National League tie is hardly a shock.

However, it feels like it. For the duration of this contest at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday, Galway WFC dominated proceedings, threatened to hit double figures with the amount of opportunities that came their way and yet everytime they opened a gap, they allowed the visitors back into it with the concession of some soft goals.

No doubt, the highlight from a home point of view was the performance of Rachel Kearns, who displayed a predatory instinct so lacking in recent years as her hat trick indicated a quality that will serve the Tribeswomen well in the season ahead.

The home side certainly started off in positive fashion and Kearins could have given them an early advantage as she got on the end of a Lynsey McKey knock down, but miscued in front of goal.

However, the Mayo native quickly atoned for her miss with brace of goals. On 14 minutes, she got her head to a Shauna Brennan corner to put Galway WFC in front, before Chloe Singleton and Kate Slevin combined to set up McKey, but a poor touch ended a great opportunity.

The young trio of Kate Slevin, Therese Kinnevey and Shauna Brennan were outstanding in midfield as the home side continued to do the majority of the pressing. With her energetic workrate, Brennan was also the provider for the second. After dispossessing Lauren Singleton on the edge of the box, she laid the ball on a plate for Kearns to make it 2-0 with a tap in after 21 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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