WNL Preview: Galway -v- Shelbourne

GALWAY

Galway will move within a point of third-placed Shelbourne should they overcome the Reds at Fahy’s Field on Saturday evening (kick-off 6pm).

The Galway Girls’ final game before the midseason break has been moved from their regular home of Eamonn Deacy Park to the home of Mervue United in the city.

Billy Clery’s side returned to winning ways last weekend as a brace from Lynsey McKee and one from Aoife Brennan saw off the challenge of Kilkenny United at the Watershed.

Brennan opened the scoring midway through the first half, finishing well after latching onto Ailbhe Clancy’s pass, and McKey added two after the break.

It was the ideal way for Galway to bounce back following a tough 6-2 defeat to champions Wexford at Deacy Park a week earlier.

A win over Shelbourne would be the perfect way for the Tribeswomen to close out the first half of the season and further cement their place in the top half of the table.

Defenders Shauna Fox and Sadhbh Doyle, midfielder Aisinn Meaney and striker Ellerose O’Flaherty have been picked for the Irish Universities side that travels to the FISU games in Naples next week.

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne amped up the pressure on second-placed Wexford Youths last week as they moved within two points of the champions with a game in hand.



An impressive 5-0 win at home to Cork City last week gave some indication as to why Dave Bell’s side are by some distance the highest-scoring side in the league this season.

Emily Whelan scored twice to take her tally to seven for the season, while Alex Kavanagh, Alannah McEvoy and sub Kate Mooney were also on target in the rout.

The Reds have scored an incredible 46 goals in just ten league games – an average of nearly five a game – and have the second-meanest defence with just seven conceded.

Victory over Galway could potentially see Shels go into the break in second place, should Wexford slip up later on at home to Limerick.

It won’t be long before Shelbourne and Wexford will lock horns once more as the WNL Cup final was confirmed for Ferrycarrig Park on July 21st.

Amanda McQuillan, Jess Gargan, Chloe Mustaki and Lynn Craven have also been selected for the Irish Universities side.



Referee: TBC

MATCH STATS

The sides have already met once in the league this season, playing out a 1-1 draw at Tolka Park in March, Rebecca Creagh cancelling out Aoife Brennan’s early opener.

Shels won all five meetings between the sides last season, three in the league, one in the WNL Shield quarter-finals and once in the last eight of the FAI Cup.

BETTING

Galway 10/1; Draw 4/1; Shelbourne 1/7.

PREDICTION

Galway 1 – 1 Shelbourne

Galway

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.

Shelbourne

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.