WNL Report: Galway WFC 5 - 0 Kilkenny United

Paul Corcoran reports from Éamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC were convincing winners in the Women’s National League on Saturday evening. The home side ran out 5-0 winners over Kilkenny United at Eamonn Deacy Park.

A brace from Sadhbh Doyle and goals from Lynsey McKey, Aoife Thompson and Tessa Mullins saw Billy Clery’s side claim the three points.

Galway were on top for much of the game and Kilkenny United’s Amy Cahill had to be at her best to keep the ball out of the net.

The shot-stopper made three great saves in the opening 20 minutes of the game, denying Lynsey McKey, Aoife Thompson and Chloe Singleton during that period. She also pulled off an excellent diving save to deny Thompson once again in the 36th minute.

The away side could not keep The Galway Girls out forever and in the 25th minute they made the breakthrough. Cahill made another save, this time denying McKenna Doyle, but Chloe Singleton reacted first to the deflected ball.

The midfielder held on to the ball patiently until McKey came free in front of the goal to accept the simple pass and tap the ball into the net.

Just after the half hour mark the home side scored again. McKey struck an excellent high ball forward to the running Sadhbh Doyle, she took the ball into the box before pulling it back for Aoife Thompson. Thompson, under pressure from the Kilkenny defence turned in the box to find a clear shot, she found it and struck the low into the bottom right corner of the net.

In the 53rd minute Galway added to their lead through the boot of Sadhbh Doyle. McKenna Doyle collected the ball on the right flank before squaring the ball outside the box to the midfielder, Cahill got her fingertips to the long range effort but could not prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net.

Doyle secured her brace in the 68th minute after great work by Thompson to bring the ball into the box. The forward skipped past the challenge of Aoife Brophy before squaring the ball to the unmarked Doyle who tapped the ball into the net from close range.



Tessa Mullins rounded out the scoring just before full time when the substitute collected the ball on the right hand side of the box. The midfielder carried the ball forward and had to nick the ball towards goal with Cahill advancing quickly. The ball just about snuck inside the post for Galway’s fifth goal of the evening.

 

Galway WFC: Abbie Ronayne; Shauna Fox (Aoife Walsh, 59), Keara Cormican, Leah Brady, Méabh De Búrca; Chloe Singleton (Carlie Schecht, 59), Sadbh Doyle, Lynsey McKey (Tessa Mullins, 41), Sinead Donovan; Aoife Thompson, McKenna Doyle.

Subs not used: Ailbhe Clancy, Kellie Brennan, Kelsey Munroe.

Booked: Shauna Fox (33).

 



Kilkenny United: Amy Cahill; Aoife Brophy, Emma Boyle, Zara Lawless, Oleta Griffin; Jennifer Cosgrave, Abigail Brophy, Kayla Cooling (Kerri Duffy, 46), Aisling Spillane, Tara Long; Nicole Plunkett (Leah Doyle, 70).

Subs not used: Shauna Martin.

Booked: None.

 

Referee: Marc Lynch.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Sadhbh Doyle (Galway WFC).