WNL: Galway WFC 9 - 0 Cork Women's FC

Galway WFC triumphed 9-0 over Cork Women on Sunday afternoon in Eamonn Deacy Park moving them into fourth place in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League in what turned out to be a goal-fest for the home side.

The match got off to a flying start for the Galwegians, scoring before the second minute was up. Lyndsey McKey’s high cross by the corner flag filtered through to Meabh De Burca and then on to Jennifer Byrne who headed it into the back of the net giving the Galway team a 1-0 lead.

Cork were slow to get into the game as Galway applied the pressure, firing shots from all angles in the opening minutes, really testing Cork’s Trish Fennelly. The Rebels only noteworthy attempt came from Alba Garcia, whose weak volley was easily taken by Mellissa Casserly in the 15^th minute.

Galway’s second came on 25^th minutes as Ruth Fahy found Sinead Taylor whose powerful strike soared past Fennelly. Taylor doubled her tally minutes later finishing well from a cross by Becky Walsh in the 31^st minute.

It looked promising for the visitors when Rebecca Morgan powered up the field in what appeared to be a potentially dangerous run but she was unable to produce an end product.

Aoife Walsh had a couple chances but failed to connect while Taylor forced Fennelly to make an impressive save in a one on one with the Cork keeper.

McKey managed to get her first goal of the day in the 40^th minute from a seemingly impossible angle putting the Tribes into a four goal lead.

Galway showed no remorse in the second half as, within a minute of the restart, McKey hammered the ball into the back of the net from outside the box making it 5-0. Three minutes later, McKey earned her hat-trick by bending the ball around Fennelly into the bottom left hand corner.

Susie Cunningham came on for McKey giving the forward a well-deserved rest in the 58th. The Galway side still showed no signs of letting up.

Cork did manufacture a chance when Morgan found a break in the Galway defense but she ran out of time and space with the Galway defenders closing in around her.

Byrne got her second goal of the game in the 64^th minute while Cork continued to struggle to get up near the Galway goal. De Burca almost got a cracker when her ambitious strike was sent curling over the bar in the 77^th minute.

Cork really began to play towards the end of the second half as the rain swept through the grounds but it was 80 minutes too late.

Fennelly was forced to make the best save of the game in the 84^th minute swiping a dangerous attack away from goal.

Galway got yet another goal via Meabh Coleman with a minute left to play of normal time and moments later Sinead Taylor completed her hat-trick in the 90^th min ending the game 9-0.

The result pushes Galway into fourth place with 23 points, while Cork remain pointless at the bottom.

Galway WFC: Melissa Casserly; Meabh De Burca, Caroline Carter, Rebecca Walsh, Jennifer Byrne; Grainne Barrett (Meabh Coleman 45), Aoife Walsh (Aisling Hughes 45), Ruth Fahy, Sinead Taylor; Lisa Casserly, Lynsey McKey (Susie Cunningham 58).

Subs not used: Keara Cormican, Alana Moran, Shauna Fox, Eleanor Stafford.

Bookings: None.

Sent Off: None.

Cork Women: Trish Fennelly; Jess Lanton, Angie Carry, Rachel Whelan, Natalie O’Brien; Amy Quinn, Megan Kellher, Emer Gilroy, Rebecca Morgan; Alba Garcia, Natalie Coughlan.

Subs not used: Amy Lee Quinn

Bookings: None.

Sent Off: None.

Referee: Mark Lynch