O’Riordan’s side show character to stay top of league

Galway WFC 3

Kilkenny United WFC 0

Galway WFC maintained their top spot in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League on Saturday with a win over Kilkenny United edition at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Opportunities were few and far between in the opening quarter, before the home side took the lead with a terrific strike on 21 minutes. Little looked on as Sorcha Ni Bhraonain gathered a Jessica Nolan pass out wide on the left, but after a little movement and a look up, she curled a smashing effort beyond the reach of Nadine Ryan for a 1-0 advantage.

That breakthrough woke the home side up and before the break had a few chances to increase their advantage. On 26 minutes, a Shauna Fox free-kick dropped to Elle O’Flaherty, but the winger crashed her close range effort off the crossbar. The woodwork also denied Ciara Cormican, after the central defender got her head to a Lynsey McKey corner.

Kilkenny goalkeeper Ryan was extended twice before the break, when holding shots by Jessica Nolan and Lisa Casserly; while they also threatened at the other end when Sylvia Gee beat Tina Hughes to a long ball at the edge of the box, but her header just went the wrong side of the post.

While Galway had a ‘goal’ ruled out on the resumption for a marginal offside call, there appeared to be a bit of apathy in the home display as they struggled to make any sort of impact either in general play or in the opposition half. In contrast, it was the visitors who looked the more likely to score.

However, somewhat against the run of play, Don O’Riordan’s charges doubled their advantage on 59 minutes, when Meadbh De Burca threaded a ball through to McKey and the striker easily got the better of Ryan with an angled shot for a 2-0 lead.

That score changed the course of the game, as the home side generally controlled matters thereafter, with Fox, Cormican, Casserly and De Burca sealing the middle and Aoife Walsh and Chloe Maloney offering great support down the flanks.

De Burca and Nolan were just off the mark with efforts, before Galway WFC made it 3-0 on 87 minutes, when O’Flaherty finished at the far post, after Nolan had an initial shot taken off the line by Ali O’Keeffe.

With Shelbourne and Wexford Youths drawing 3-3, it strengthened Don O’Riordan’s charges hold at the top of the table, but with the chasing pack enjoying games in hand. Galway WFC have some difficult games ahead, with Shelbourne next up this weekend.

Galway WFC: Hughes; Walsh, Fox, Cormican, Maloney (Carter 88); O’Flaherty, De Burca (Moran 88), Casserly, Nolan; Ni Bhraonain (Dowd 70), McKey.

Kilkenny United WFC: Ryan (inj, Mourhead 83); Cantwell (Power 70), Leavy, A O’Keeffe, Nolan; Gee, Swarres, Gaynor, Murphy, J O’Keefee; Hallissey (Delaney 79).

Referee: C Campbell.

CONNACHT JUNIOR CUP

The last thing you want to hear at a sporting event is the manager shouting “will someone ring an ambulance”, but such was the scenario in Fahy’s Field on Sunday morning as a Mervue United player suffered a broken leg in an accidental clash.

As a result of the incident just eight minutes from time, the game with St Bernard’s was abandoned with the contest very much in the balance at 1-1. The home side enjoyed an interval advantage, as Barry Moran and Alex Lee provided the assists for Stephen Larkin to fire past Kevin Ruane, but the visitors got a merited equaliser on 68 minutes when a Matty Finn shot diverted into the net off Shane King to level matters. The game will be rescheduled for the Mervue venue.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.