By Mike Rafferty            

A Gemma McGuinnes goal gave Galway United Women a first-ever trophy on the national stage last year when they defeated Belfast based Cliftonville in the All Island Cup.

Defending a title is not an honour bestowed on any Galway United team too often, but Phil Trill’s side have that opportunity tomorrow when they bid to retain that cup when they travel to Dublin to take on Shamrock Rovers in the Tallaght Stadium (7.35pm) in this year’s decider, which will be televised live on TG4.

There is no doubt that collecting silverware last season has carried the team to a higher level of performance and confidence levels as contending for league honours and returning to this final would indicate.

Their run to the decider started in Sligo and where Rola Olusola scored twice in a 2-0 win in their opening group game. Glentoran were then comfortably dismissed by 4-0 as Kate Thompson, Emily Kavanaugh, Jenna Slattery and Eve Dossen all found the net; and in their final group game they shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Athlone Town with Aisling Meaney and Jodie Griffin taking the scoring honours.

Advancing to the knockout stages they saw off Treaty United 1-0 in the quarter-finals, before a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Wexford in their semi-final after the game had finished 2-2.

In contrast, Shamrock Rovers’ passage looks somewhat less impressive in the group stages at least as they defeated DLR Waves by 4-0, before sharing 1-1 draws with both Treaty United and Crusaders.

However, performances improved hugely from there on as goals from Lisa Kelly, Aine O’Gorman, and Lia O’Leary helped them to a 3-0 win over Peamount United in the last eight; before defeating a fancied Shelbourne side by 2-1 in the semi-final with Lia O’Leary and Joy Ralph finding the net.

The sides have met on two occasions in league action this season with United winning both ties 1-0. An Eve Dossen goal separated the sides in a May meeting in Tallaght; while Jenna Slattery got the winner on Saturday last when the sides met in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Galway United manager Phil Trill is acutely aware that while these previous games give you confidence and an idea of where you stand, but that the next encounter can be totally different.

Pictured: Galway United will look to a spark of magic from the likes of Julie-Ann Russel in tomorrow’s final. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.