League Report: Galway United 1 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Shamrock Rovers have extended their unbeaten start to the Women’s Premier Division season with a 1-1 draw against Galway United on Saturday evening.

United opened the scoring with Gemma McGuinness scoring in the first half, it looked like they might hold out for their first ever home win only for Jaime Thompson to net for the visitors five minutes from time.

Gemma McGuinness returned to the Tribeswomen’s starting line-up after serving a one match suspension, Rola Olusola made her first start for United with the pair replacing Nicole McNamara and Aoife Thompson.

For Rovers, Shauna Fox returned to the starting team along with Aoife Kelly in place of Alannah Prizeman and Abby Tuthill. Aine O’Gorman, Abbie Larkin and Alannah McEvoy all started fresh off the back of their trip to the USA with the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team.

There was a spot of great news regardless of team allegiance as Savannah McCarthy came off the bench to make her first Women’s Premier Division appearance since the 19^th of March 2022 when she suffered a serious injury while playing for Galway WFC.

It was a slow start to the game for much of the opening 15 minutes but United made the breakthrough in the 13^th minute with the first shot of the game.

Lynsey McKey sent the ball across the box from the corner with Isabella Beletic heading the ball down to McGuinness at the back post, Amanda Budden got a hand to the Northern Ireland international’s shot but the ball struck the post and found the back of the net.

Shamrock Rovers had their first shot on target in the 18^th minute when Beletic failed to trap the ball in the box, it spilled to Aine O’Gorman who got a shot off but it was directly at Jessica Berlin who made the save.

The visitors were in on goal in the 35^th minute with Thompson bearing down on goal one on one with Jessica Berlin – the striker had the bottom corner picked out, but the goalkeeper pulled off a first class save to preserve Galway’s lead.

McGuinness found McKey by herself on the right wing in the 39^th minute and the Galway captain floated a great ball into the box, Abbie Callanan very nearly got on the end of it to double the lead, but the ball slipped just off her boot and wide.

A great spell of play by the Tribeswomen just before halftime ended when Jenna Slattery found McKey at the edge of the box, the midfielder turned on her heel and fired a shot on goal, but Budden was well positioned to deny the home side.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half had less of the clear cut chances although Rovers managed to drag Berlin into action with two shots on target from Lia O’Leary and Orlaith O’Mahony.

Berlin pulled off another stunning save in the 61^st minute when O’Gorman had the ball in a dangerous position, she floated her shot in from the edge of the box, but the shot stopper managed to get fingertips to the ball to keep it out of the net.

The goalkeeper had to be alert once again with twenty minutes to go during a spell of pressure by the visitors as United struggled to clear the ball – it eventually fell to Shauna Fox who rattled a shot on goal only to be denied.

Jessica Gargan found Thompson in the box just a minute later with a great ball, the striker showed great technique to volley the ball at close range with Berlin denying the visitors once again.

Fox very nearly snuck the ball into the net with O’Leary finding the defender in the box with a great free-kick, Berlin was stranded off her line but the header kept rising and went over the bar.

Rovers found their equaliser five minutes from time when O’Gorman floated another cross into the box – Eve Dossen got a head to it but only managed to clear the ball as far as Thompson, she struck the ball hard and low from the edge of the box to find the bottom corner.

Galway United Women: Jessica Berlin; Aoibheann Costello, Eve Dossen, Jamie Erickson, Therese Kinnevey; Isabella Beletic, Gemma McGuinness, Lynsey McKey (Nicole McNamara 88), Jenna Slattery; Abbie Callanan (Kate Thompson 64), Rola Olusola (Aoife Thompson 71).

Subs not used: Abbiegayle Ronayne, Amy Madden, Siobhan Doolan, Roisin Jacob, Anna Fahey, Jodie Griffin.

Booked: None.

Shamrock Rovers WFC: Amanda Budden; Shauna Fox, Jessica Gargan, Jessica Hennessy, Lia O'Leary; Aoife Kelly, Abbie Larkin (Savannah McCarthy 62), Alannah McEvoy (Lauren Kelly 87), Aine O'Gorman, Orlaith O'Mahony; Jaime Thompson.

Subs not used: Summer Lawless, Abby Tuthill, Chloe McCarthy, Aoibhe Fleming, Melissa O'Kane, Jayne Merron.

Booked: None.

Referee: Oliver Moran.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Jessica Berlin (Galway United)

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