League Report: Galway 1 - 1 Bohemians

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway moved into fifth place with a 1-1 draw against Bohemians in the Women’s National League on Saturday – they are now on a five game unbeaten run.

The Tribeswomen overtake DLR Waves with Alan Murphy’s charges now one point ahead of the Dublin side.

Neither side made any changes to their starting line-ups from last week’s fixtures. Galway secured a comprehensive 3-0 win over Treaty United while Bohemians suffered a 3-0 loss to current WNL champions Shelbourne.

The opening five minutes were lively with Sinead Taylor going close, the experienced striker dragging the ball just wide of Abbiegayle Ronayne’s goal in the opening minutes.

Galway too attempted to probe with Julie Ann Russell spotting a chance from distance but her shot sailed over the bar.

The Gypsies held Galway to long distance efforts early on and in the tenth minute Chloe Singleton struck the ball from long range with Rachael Kelly able to clutch the ball into her chest.

The home side found Jenna Slattery inside the box minutes later, the striker was forced to fire off a shot at a difficult angle with Kelly having to dive across goal to keep the ball out of the net.

Taylor went close once again in the 18^th minute; Lisa Murphy struck an excellent ball into the box with a free-kick from the Bohemians’ half. It fell into the path of Taylor who shot quickly at close range, but Ronayne was in a great position to deny the striker.

The forward wouldn’t be denied a third time however and just minutes later high through ball from Bronagh Kane beat the defence, allowing Taylor to skip inside the box and rifle a shot into the net.

A moment of individual brilliance in the 33^rd minute almost saw the Tribeswomen draw level when Singleton picked the ball up in the centre of the field before going on a solo run up the field to the edge of the box – her shot sailed just over the bar, however.

A Shauna Brennan corner-kick in the 39^th minute caused trouble for the away side when Russell allowed the ball slip through her legs to Lynsey McKey as it came across the box, she struck a powerful shot on goal, but Kelly once again denied the Tribeswomen.

The home side found that equaliser just before halftime, Brennan crossed the ball in again from the right-wing finding Singleton at the back post – her header just about managed to squeeze past a defender and Kelly on the goal line to bring the side level.

The second half saw little in the way of clear-cut chances, although the home side were on top for long periods Rachael Kelly commanded her area extremely well and kept Bohemians out of danger each time she was called to action.

Galway went extremely close in the 75^th minute when Another Brennan cross found Emma Starr at the back post, the American managed to send the ball back across goal but a Bohs defender managed to take the ball off the line.

Second half substitute Aoibheann Costello set up Singleton for another long range effort in the 82^nd minute, the midfielder was on her weaker foot however and Kelly was able to react quick enough to make the save.

The visitors still fancied their chances as the game progressed and Lisa Murphy used a free-kick from long distance to try and test Ronayne but the ‘keeper calmly claimed the ball in the box to deny the Gypsies in the 85^th minute.

Singleton fancied her chances from close to the halfway line in the 90th minute of the game with a long-lofted effort from the right flank, the ball looked like it was sailing into the goal but it whizzed just over the crossbar.

Galway WFC: Abbiegayle Ronayne; Kate Thompson, Therese Kinnevey, Jamie Erickson, Shauna Brennan, Becky Walsh (Nicole McNamara 46); Emma Starr, Chloe Singleton, Julie-Ann Russell; Jenna Slattery (Lauryn Gamache 70), Lynsey McKey (Aoife Thompson 81).

Subs not used: Peggy Ford, Eve Dossen, Roisin Jacob, Abbie Callanan, Bryce Reynolds.

Booked: None.

Bohemians WFC: Rachael Kelly; Danielle Murray (Lara Phibbs 62), Lisa Murphy, Katie Lovely; Ciara Maher, Ann Marie Byrne, Kira Bates-Crosbie; Sinead Taylor (c), Bronagh Kane (Aoife Robinson 53), Erica Burke, Abbie Brophy.

Subs not used: Isabella Chambers, Abbie O'Hara, Sadhbh Moran, Eimear Quinn, Hannah Tobin-Jones.

Booked: Bronagh Kane (29) .

extratime.com Player of the Match: Chloe Singleton (Galway)