WNL Report: Galway 1 - 1 DLR Waves

Galway WFC got their first points on the board when their Women’s National League campaign finally got underway last Saturday evening against DLR Waves.

The sides played out a 1-1 draw at with the home side taking the lead midway through the first half through Aoife Thompson before DLR’s Katie Malone struck the equaliser in the 64^th minute.

The home side were on top early on and had the best passages of play, the returning Savannah McCarthy came close early in the game with a free-kick that grazed the top of the net.

Aoife Thompson opened her account for the season in the 25^th minute when a long range free-kick by Fox was struck perfectly into the striker’s path for a tap in past Turner.

Minutes later Sinead Donovan was unlucky after stripping the ball from Oleta Griffin, the midfielder’s shot streaked by the goal only avoiding the back of the net by mere inches.

Galway should really have increased their lead with another key chance in the 28^th minute when a high through ball from Lynsey McKey found Thompson in front of goal once again, but this time the shot went safely into the hands of Turner.

Debutant Amanda Budden was called into action for the first time after the half hour mark when a curling effort from Catherine Cronin bounced in the box, calling the goalkeeper down to smother the ball.

Just before half-time the away side went close after Nadine Clare set Aimee Maher up for a long range effort which required Budden to be on hand to slap the ball over the crossbar.

The second half became a bit more open with both sides having equal share of possession, it took until the 57^th minute for a clear cut chance to be created though, with Thompson providing a through ball for McKey inside the box, but Turner advanced quick enough to block the shot.

There was danger for the home side in the 61^st minute after a Niamh Prior free-kick cannoned off the cross-bar and, after a failed clearance, fell to Nadine Clare in front of goal but the midfielder shot wide.

DLR got their equaliser in the 64^th minute when an excellent long ball from Griffin deep in DLR’s half reached Katie Malone on the edge of the Galway box. Budden was caught off her line and the forward lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net.

The visitors almost snatched the three points after a dangerous cross from Prior found Malone in the box, who then dinked the ball to substitute Avril Brierley. Brierly struck a blistering shot at goal, but Budden made a great save to deny the visitors in the 86^th minute.

Galway too came inches away from taking the win from a McKey free-kick in injury time, which caused havoc in the DLR box until McCarthy got her head to the ball and nodded narrowly wide of the goal.

Galway WFC: Amanda Budden ; Therese Kinnevey , Shauna Fox , Shauna Brennan ; Jamie Turrentine (Lucia Lobato 45) , Aoife Thompson , Savannah McCarthy , Sinead Donovan (Aislinn Meaney 83) ; Tessa Mullins (Aoife Walsh 75) , Lynsey McKey .

Subs not used: Chloe Singleton, Abbiegayle Ronayne, Kelsey Munroe.

Booked: Amanda Budden (63).

Sent-Off: None.

DLR Waves: Erica Turner , Niamh Prior , Roisin McGovern , Nicole Keogh (Aoife Brophy 79) , Oleta Griffin ; Aimee Maher (Avril Brierley 69) , Rachel Doyle (Kerri Letmon 69) , Fiona Donnelly , Nadine Clare ; Katie Malone .

Subs Not Used: Eve Badana, Bobbi Downer, Sinead Gaynor, Shauna Carroll, Caroline Healy.

Booked: None.

Sent-Off: None.

Attendance: 0.

Referee: Joe Hession.

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Sinead Donovan (Galway).