League Report: Galway 1 - 1 DLR Waves

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway came from behind to secure a point on Saturday night when they played out a 1-1 draw with DLR Waves at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Sarah McKevitt opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half but Aoife Thompson equalised on the stroke of half-time to give Alan Murphy’s side a share of the points.

There were three changes to the Galway team that lost 4-0 to Peamount United last weekend with Abbiegayle Ronayne, Emma Starr and Aoife Thompson starting while Leah Hayes Coen, Jenna Slattery and Taylor Rutland were named on the bench.

Graham Kelly made two changes to his starting line-up from Waves’ 3-0 victory over Sligo Rovers Rachel Doyle got the nod after she came off the bench and scored twice last weekend with Kerri Letmon also returning to the starting eleven, Katie Malone and Shauna Carroll were the players to make way.

It was Abbiegayle Ronayne’s first start for the Tribeswomen since she returned to the club from Athlone Town, and she had to be alert early on with a Rachel Doyle free-kick finding it’s way all the way to her in the first minute.

A dangerous delivery from Keri Letmon caused the goalkeeper more trouble in the tenth minute but Ronayne dealt with it well and cleared the ball behind when it looked like the visitors might score.

Galway were close to taking the lead in the 32^nd minute when Savannah McCarthy headed the ball back across goal from a Julie-Ann Russell corner – Aoife Thompson had her back to goal and attempted a bicycle kick, but she failed to make a clean connection and the ball was cleared to safety.

The visitors were in front five minutes later when they took advantage of some sloppy Galway play with Avril Brierley winning possession in the Tribeswomen’s half before threading a ball through to Sarah McKevitt. The midfielder took aim and fired the ball beyond the clutches of Ronayne to take the lead.

Galway suffered a huge blow outside of just conceding, a collision in the box had Republic of Ireland international and Galway captain Savannah McCarthy on the ground, visibly in distress – the defender was ultimately stretchered off the field with Kate Thompson coming off the bench.

The home side refocussed and on the stroke of half-time they were back on level terms when Russell played the ball to the right flank to Lynsey McKee after some great work in the centre of the field. McKee took the ball forward before floating a cross to the far post with Aoife Thompson nodding the ball past Eve Badana for her first goal of the season.

Thompson was nearly in for a second in the 56^th minute when she blocked down an Eve Badana clearance. The Ireland international goalkeeper recovered quickly and managed to hold off the striker and keep the home side from scoring.

The striker was in again two minutes later when she beat the offside trap and ran on to a ball over the top of the Waves defence – Thompson should have spotted Badana off her line and lobbed the ball, but she opted to drive it at goal, allowing the goalkeeper to take the ball into her chest.

Second half substitute Chloe Singleton played a dangerous low ball into the box in the 85^th minute and Jamie Erickson nearly turned the ball over the line, but Badana again came to the rescue and denied Galway from close range.

Russell went close with minutes to go from a long range free-kick, her effort had Badana scrambling across the goal but the ball whistled just wide of the post.

Galway WFC: Abbiegayle Ronayne; Shauna Brennan, Jamie Erickson, Therese Kinnevey, Savannah McCarthy (c) (Kate Thompson 42); Aoibheann Costello (Chloe Singleton 72), Lindsay Guerrero (Taylor Rutland 46), Julie-Ann Russell, Emma Starr; Lynsey McKey (Jenna Slattery 72), Aoife Thompson (Maya Rutland 88).

Subs not used: Leah Hayes Cohen, Becky Walsh, Abbie Callanan, Saoirse Healy.

Booked: None.

DLR Waves: Eve Badana; Aoife Brophy, Lynn Craven, Jessica Gleeson (c), Nicole Keogh (Orlagh Fitzpatrick 75); Avril Brierley (Joy Ralph 75), Fiona Donnelly, Rachel Doyle (Mia Dodd 62), Sarah McKevitt, Sophie Watters; Kerri Letmon (Kate Mooney 75).

Subs not used: Rugile Auskalnyte, Oleta Griffin, Lovisa Lindquist, Katie Malone, Jane Anne McKevitt.

Booked: Rachel Doyle (32) Jessica Gleeson (88).

Referee: Declan Toland.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Julie-Ann Russell (Galway)