Galway United 0

Wexford Youths 1

Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park

A new era began for Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday and while this National Women’s League game did not supply any reward, it was a contest that provided promise rather than points in a competitive outing.

Though Amy Madden and Gemma McGuinness were the only newcomers to start, there was a youthful look about the home side who started slowly, before matching the more highly rated visitors as the contest developed.

The likes of Therese Kinnevey, Lynsey McKee, Jamie Erickson and McGuinness brought the experience and helped carry them through their sluggish start. Certainly there is no doubt about the footballing ability of the Tribes women, although the visitors were unable to take advantage of their early dominance.

Indeed, the only goal of the game arrived on 81 minutes when Ciara Rossiter drilled a low effort from outside the area past Abbigayle Ronayne. Thereafter, just a Jenna Slattery shot that drifted wide threatened an equaliser. However, it could have been so different if a Jamie Erickson looping header was allowed to stand on 44 minutes, as a marginal off side call ruled out her effort after she got on the end of a Slattery free kick.

If Galway United we struggling to make an impression in attack, Wexford despite including Emily Corbet and international Rianna Jarrett were not overly productive either. Sure, they threatened a bit more but the defensive cover of Kinnevey, Erickson and Eva Dossen ensured clear chances were kept to a minimum as just a Jarrett effort saved by Ronayne on three minutes offered a threat.

The second half saw a more confident home side emerge as they enjoyed greater possession and pushed on a bit more. Efforts by McGuinness, McKee and the excellent Kate Thompson didn’t test Maeve Williams as a goal continued to prove elusive. This weekend, Galway United travel to face a Cork City side well beaten by Shelbourne last Saturday.  For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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