Galway WFC 2 - 2 Wexford Youths Women

Galway Women's Football Club has got their inaugural season in the Bus Eireann Women's National League off to a positive start with a 2-2 home draw against Wexford Youths on Sunday afternoon at Eamonn Deacy Park.

In the ground formally known as Terryland Park, two first-half goals from Wexford’s Maria Delahunty and Kylie Murphy were cancelled out by GWFC midfielder Grainne Barrett midway through the opening half and, in the second, Sinead Taylor’s rasping penalty near the end of the game ensured both sides shared the spoils.

Overall the home side will be disappointed as they were in with a real shout of claiming all three points.

GWFC started on the front foot as captain Rebecca Walsh’s header was cleared off the line after only three minutes. Galway played some nice, neat football throughout and the game as a whole was a delight to watch.

Wexford were second best at this stage but a hand ball outside the box offered Delahunty a chance at first blood and the number 10’s unstoppable free-kick was drilled low into the corner from 20 yards out. The GWFC defensive wall all jumped at the same time and Delahunty anticipated this to great effect.

The home side responded superbly, pressurising the visitors and, after striker Lucy Hannon’s effort rattled the upright and bounced behind courtesy of the goalkeepers back, the resulting corner was only half-cleared to Barrett who curled her effort into the top corner from 25 yards out to the delight of the home supporters.

With the formidable home support at their backs Galway pressed on, never really allowing Wexford get into a rhythm. However, Youths continued to threaten on the break and Claire O’ Riordan’s mazy run down the right saw her eventually upended in the penalty area by goalkeeper Mellisa Casserely. Youths’ captain Murphy made no mistake from the spot kick and the visitors went in1-2 ahead at the interval.

Wexford tried to put their stamp on the game in the second-half and it took GWFC a while to find their feet. Fitness was becoming an issue and two of the three subs had already been forcibly used in the first-half through injuries.

The largely inexperienced and youthful team never gave in and this character trait could prove vital in the coming months for manager Nigel Keady.

Wexford did have their chances to put the game beyond doubt. Katie McCarthy blasted over after 52 minutes; Murphy was put through by Delahunty but GWFC ‘keeper Casserly was brave and took both woman and ball twenty minutes later.

Only three minutes later playmaker Delahunty had a chance to put Ashling Frawley away on a counter-attack but her dallying allowed Galway time to regroup.

GWFC began to sniff a point or even a win and crucially found their second wind and the home side began to pin Wexford back in their own half. Pressure was mounting from the Tribeswomen and neat piece of skill from Hannon saw her tripped as she weaved her way into the penalty area on 82 minutes. Referee Mark Lynch immediately pointed to the spot.

There was nothing Wexford goalkeeper Mary Rose Kelly could do to stop Taylor’s pile driver and even though Galway had chances to win it, a point on the board is not to be sniffed at.

With several key players to still to join up with Keady’s squad the city of the Tribes has finally found a ‘United’ football club to be proud of. Onwards and upwards from here it seems.

GWFC: Melissa Casserly; Caroline Carter, Becky Walsh Jenny Byrne, Laura Carroll (Emma Treanor 18’) (Shauna Fox 39’); Meabh Coleman, Grainne Barrett, Lisa Casserly, Saoirse Lenihan; Lucy Hannon, Sinead Taylor
Subs not used: Rachael Keys, Ashling Hughes, Ciara Lynagm, Noreen Deveney
Booked: None

Wexford Youths: Mary Rose Kelly; Lauren Dwyer, Laura Heffernan, Edel Kennedy, Ciara Rossiter (Ashling Frawley 39’); Claire O'Riordan, Kylie Murphy (Rachael Hutchinson), Maria Delahunty, Katie McCarthy; Linda Douglas, Lucy Sherwin (Amy Walsh 61’)
Subs not used: Julia Testorp, Tamara Furlong, Jenny Clifford, Aoibheann Webb
Booked: Rachael Hutchinson 82’

Referee: Mark Lynch
Attendance: 400 (estimated)
Extratime.ie player of the Match: Lucy Hannon