Taylor hat-trick sees Galway WFC rise to third in League

Shamrock Rovers 0 Galway WFC 4

A Sinead Taylor hat-trick, and a fourth goal from Grainne Barrett, saw Galway WFC run out comfortable winners against Shamrock Rovers in the Tallaght Stadium on Sunday, and in the process lift Nigel Keady’s side to third in the table.

The visitors were dominant throughout, with Rovers ‘keeper Michelle Watson called in to action as early as the second minute when she had to be at her best to keep out a goal-bound effort from new Galway WFC signing, Lynsey McKey.

The early momentum of the visitors was temporarily halted when Kiera Cormican suffered concussion after a clash of heads in the 18th minute, the youngster being replaced by Becky Walsh. Galway continued to dominate, but were struggling to find a way past Watson and the sides looked like going into the break on level terms when Galway struck twice late in the half to take complete control of the game.

Barrett opened the scoring five minutes before the break when she fired a 20-yard free-kick past Watson, after Taylor had been upended as she made her way towards goal; and Keady’s side doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Left-back Caroline Carter made a decisive run infield before laying the ball off to the industrious Lucy Hannon, and she threaded it through to Taylor who made no mistake from eight yards.