League Preview: Galway -v- DLR Waves

GALWAY

Galway will look to get back to winning ways when they host DLR Waves at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday evening (kick-off 6pm).

Alan Murphy’s side suffered a huge blow last weekend when they faced Peamount United, having defeated Cork City 3-0 on the opening day of the season.

Peas were a whole different challenge to Cork City and four goals saw Galway suffer their heaviest defeat in almost a year.

Peamount were the last team to inflict such a defeat on Galway when they visited Greenogue in May of last year.

Last Saturday Stephanie Roche continued her great start to the season with her third and fourth goals of the season, former Tribeswomen Chloe Moloney and Sadhby Doyle also netted for Peas.

That was the first time Galway have faced one of the top teams in the WNL this season and it will presumably provide a great deal of lessons for Alan Murphy and his side who had four new players in their starting lineup for that fixture.

Galway haven’t beaten Waves in the last two seasons in the league (four games), and given the Dublin side’s impressive start, Graham Kelly’s side could prove another stern challenge for the Tribeswomen this weekend.

DLR WAVES

Waves travel to Galway looking for their third straight win, and to keep their winning start to the season intact.

In their first game of the season, DLR Waves beat Treaty United 5-0 and then last weekend they became the first side to play league newcomers Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds in the WNL.

They ran out 3-0 winners eventually, but the Dublin side definitely had a more challenging time overall against Sligo than Treaty.

Avril Brierley scored in the third minute, but it took Waves until the 68^th minute to double their lead. Rachel Doyle scored that goal and followed up with a second in the 75^th minute.

They still haven’t conceded a goal this season and no doubt goalkeeper Eve Badana and her defence will be looking to keep that record going this weekend.

Referee: Declan Toland

MATCH STATS

Galway haven’t beaten Waves in league action since October 2019 when they overcame the Dublin side 2-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park.

The Tribeswomen did beat DLR Waves in the FAI Cup last season, the side met in the quarter-finals and a goal from Chloe Singleton sent Graham Kelly’s side out of the competition.

Waves have won both of their WNL games this season and they have yet to concede a goal.

This is DLR Waves’ best start to a WNL campaign since the 2017 season when the opened their account with wins over Galway and Kilkenny United.

PREDICTION

Galway 0–2 DLR Waves