League Report: Galway 1-1 Athlone Town

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway played their final home game of this year’s Women’s National League on Friday night under the lights of Eamonn Deacy Park where they were held to a 1-1 draw against Athlone Town.

Kellie Brennan put the visitors in front in the first half with her third goal of the season and despite all their chances it took an own goal by Athlone to give the home side a share of the points on Friday night.

Julie Ann Russell created the first chance of the game with a great run through the middle of the park before laying the ball off to Abbie Callanan.

The forward took the ball deep into the box before unleashing a shot on goal with former Tribeswoman Abbiegayle Ronayne making a good save to deny the home side.

Emma Starr fancied her chances from long range in the 11^th minute, but Ronayne was able to deny the American on that occasion.

Athlone took the lead with just over 20 minutes gone when Brennan was taken down in the box by Galway goalkeeper Leah Hayes Cohen and the referee made no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

The former Galway Girl did the honours herself and smashed the ball down the middle of the goal for the lead in the 21^st minute.

It took Galway time to recover from that setback having been the better side for the first 20 minutes but shots by Russell and Abbie Callanan in the 30^th and 36^th minutes meant the home side were firmly back on track once again.

Galway’s dominance continued early in the second half with Lynsey McKey having a good chance to equalise, the forward took hold of the ball inside the box but her shot was far too tame to trouble Ronayne with the goalkeeper making an easy save.

A Shauna Brennan corner in the 50^th minute found a Galway body in a crowded box but an Athlone defender was well placed to clear the ball off the line and hold on to that narrow lead earned in the first half.

Despite that dominance, Athlone nearly doubled their lead in the 55^th minute with Kelsey Munroe striking an excellent free-kick from the box, Hayes Coen was able to get across her goal and tip the ball over the bar to deny the visitors however.

There was a moment of controversy with 70 minutes gone in the game when an Athlone player appeared to handle the ball in the box, the referee waved for play to continue however despite the shouts from the home side.

McKey had another effort saved from close range with Ronayne tipping the ball behind a minute later however – the midfielder took the resulting corner and drilled it across goal with the ball striking Athlone’s Chloe Flynn who turned the ball into her own net for Galway’s equaliser.

The Tribeswomen came close to stealing the victory with two minutes to go with some lovely play by Russell who threaded the ball through the Athlone defence to McKey.

McKey attempted to lob the goalkeeper and she almost succeeded only for the ball to deftly strike the crossbar, on a frustrating night for the home side.

It could have all ended in disaster for Galway deep into injury time however, Hayes Cohen was called into action with her save of the night denying a blistering shot from Jessica Hennessy that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Galway WFC: Leah Hayes Cohen; Shauna Brennan, Therese Kinnevey, Savannah McCarthy; Aoibheann Costello, Meabh de Burca, Elle O'Flaherty (Kate Slevin 65), Julie-Ann Russell (Aoife Lynagh, 90), Emma Starr; Abbie Callanan (Sinead Donovan 84), Lynsey McKey.

Subs not used: Hannah Walsh, Karen Connolly, Chloe Singleton, Aoife Thompson.

Booked: None.

Athlone Town WFC: Abbiegayle Roynane; Chloe Flynn, Kelsey Munroe (Aisling Mahony 80), Fiona Owens; Kellie Brennan, Muireann Devaney, Jessica Hennessy, Roisin Molloy, Louise O’hAodha (Emily Corbet 59), Melissa O'Kane, Laurie Ryan;

Subs not used: Niamh Coombes, Ava Dolan, Lucy Jane Grant.

Booked: None.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Savannah McCarthy (Galway)

In Pictures: Bray Wanderers 0-0 Galway United https://t.co/BkfujTAvsrpic.twitter.com/UgOneIrGPz

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) November 5, 2021