League Report: Galway 0 - 0 Bohemians

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway and Bohemians played out a 0-0 draw when they faced each other at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday in the Women’s National League.

It was a frustrating day for the Galwegians as they struggled in front of goal, with the home side creating chance after chance but failing to find the net. This comes just a week after the side scored freely in their 6-1 win over Cork City.

Stephen Lally made two changes to the side that secured that impressive win over Cork City last weekend with goalkeeper Leah Hayes Cohen taking the place of Hannah Walsh between the sticks and Kate Slevin, who came off the bench to score against the Rebels starting ahead of Nicole McNamara.

The Gypsies ran out 5-1 winners over Treaty United last week and manager Sean Byrne opted to stick with the same starting 11 from that game for the visit to Galway.

The home side started the strongest in this game with Kate Slevin having opportunities in the opening 20 minutes to open the scoring.

Slevin went closest in the eighth minute when she ran on to a perfectly timed through ball by Meabh de Burca into the box, but her shot wasn’t strong enough to sneak into the net with Bohs managing to make the clearance off the line.

Emma Starr provided a great opportunity in the 21^st minute when the midfielder claimed the ball in the centre of the park before playing a through ball into the path of Chloe Singleton.

Bohemians’ goalkeeper Courtney Maguire was quick off her line to force the quick shot with Singleton’s strong effort deflected behind for a corner.

Just before the half hour mark, it was the Gypsies that almost opened the scoring with Bronagh Kane having a great chance from close range, but her shot was directed straight at Leah Hayes Cohen in the Galway goal, with the ‘keeper able to take the ball into her hands.

Starr was dominant in midfield throughout the game and in the 38^th minute she played another neat through ball to Lynsey McKey who was able to set up Slevin, just outside the box, but her effort didn’t have enough power on it to trouble the Gypsies’ shot stopper.

The Tribeswomen went close again just before half-time after a clever one-two between Shauna Brennnan and Slevin took the side through the defence before they played a cross to the far side of the box where Singleton was waiting. The midfielder lined up her shot, but her connection wasn’t great and the ball tamely rolled into Maguire’s arms.

McKey went on a solo run through the visitor’s defence on the hour mark with the forward taking on and beating Yvonne Hedigan in the box with an exceptional display of skill, she got well inside the box before firing off a shot but Maguire was able to bravely save from close range.

Galway’s struggles in front of goal continued in the 67^th minute with Starr having an effort saved by Maguire after a perfect ball into the box by Brennan.

The chances just about dried up for Galway for the remainder of the game as they failed to break the deadlock, attention for the Tribeswomen now turns to the Women’s FAI Cup as they host DLR Waves at home next Saturday with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs.

Galway WFC: Leah Hayes Cohen; Shauna Brennan, Therese Kinnevey, Savannah McCarthy, Becky Walsh (Nicole McNamara 60); Meabh de Burca, Lynsey McKey (Elle O'Flaherty 87), Chloe Singleton (Anna Fahey 80), Kate Slevin, Emma Starr; Aoife Thompson (Julie-Ann Russell 60).

Subs not used: Hannah Walsh, Ruth Fahy, Rachel Baynes, Aoibheann Costello, Abbie Callanan.

Booked: Meabh de Burca (35), Chloe Singleton (80), Elle O'Flaherty (90).

Bohemians WFC: Courtney Maguire; Bronagh Kane (Lara Phibbs 85), Yvonne Hedigan, Isobel Finnegan; Lisa Murphy (Ally Cahill 55), Niamh Kenna (Sophie Watters 67), Chloe Darby, Ann Marie Byrne, Hannah Tobin-Jones; Erica Burke, Abbie Brophy.

Subs not used: Trish Fennelly, Jade Reddy, Katie Lovely, Ciara Mulligan, Emma McGrath, Georgia Monks.

Referee: Joe Hession

extratime.com Player of the Match: Emma Starr (Galway)

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