All-Island Cup Report: Galway United 2 - 2 Wexford (4-2 on penalties)

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United will contest the All-Island Cup Final for the second year in a row with a semi-final win over Wexford 2-2 (4-2 on penalties).

United took a two goal lead through Kate Thompson and Jamie Erickson but the visitors battled back to take the game to penalties thanks to goals from Kylie Murphy and Rianna Jarrett.

Jessica Berlin was the hero of the night however with a couple of saves to help United to a 4-2 win on penalties.

Three members of the Ireland under 19 squad that travelled to Lithuania for the European Championships returned and started for Galway United with Eve Dossen, Kate Thompson and Rola Olusola back in maroon for this fixture. So too did Julie Ann Russell – fresh off the back of two caps for the senior women’s international team and two goals to boot.

Wexford also had a number of internationals returning with Meabh Russell and Ceola Bergin in the starting line-up and Jayne Merrin named on the bench having also travelled to Lithuania with the Ireland under 19 team.

Both sides appeared to cancel each other out in the opening 15 minutes but Wexford did manage to show their quality with a good move in the 14^th minute with nice play by Russell and Della Doherty on the right with Ceola Bergin getting on the end of the eventual cross but flashing wide.

The home side registered their first shot on goal in the 20^th minute when a Kate Thompson free-kick was headed down for Olusola who took the ball out wide but her shot was easily saved by Nicole Nix.

Nix was tested in the 23^rd minute when Isabella Beletic, on her return from injury, fancied her chances from long range but the Wexford shot stopper did well to palm her effort away to keep the sides scoreless. The American midfielder would control the midfield all evening with numerous crunching tackles and great passing play.

Wexford’s goalkeeper came to their rescue again in the 27^th minute when Russell broke through from an Emma Duffy through ball – her shot looked like it would nestle in the bottom corner only for Nix to get her fingertips to the ball.

The Tribeswomen made the breakthrough in the 39^th minute when Nix initially palmed away a Julie Ann Russell cross, the ball fell fortuitously to Thompson’s feet who stroked the ball into the net with the goalkeeper out of position.

Just minutes later a long ball fell into the path of Russell to send the Ireland international one on one with Nicole Nix, the goalkeeper stood strong to prevent the home side from doubling their lead.

United doubled their lead just five minutes into the second half when Jamie Erickson lost her marker to meet a Lucy Jayne Grant corner at the front post and nod the ball into the back of the net.

Wexford brought themselves back into this fixture in the 65^th minute when substitute Alyssa White played a low cross to Kylie Murphy, who had only entered the fray at half-time, she sent her shot underneath the clutches of Jessica Berlin for the goal.

The visitors started to pile on the pressure with Aoibheann Clancy and Alyssa White sending the ball whistling just past the post on separate occasions as they pinned the home side in their own half.

United could have recovered their two goal lead in the 74^th minute when Russell showed some stunning skill on the right flank to take the ball into the box and towards the endline before squaring it to Olusola but the striker dinked the ball over the bar.

Wexford drew level in the 87^th minute when McGrath fired on goal from a tight angle – substitute Rianna Jarrett took advantage when Berlin failed to control the ball struck the ball into the goal.

The game went straight to penalties and the home side must have thought disaster was on the cards as Nicole Nix saved Amanda Smith’s penalty.

Jarrett and Murphy put Wexford’s next two away, with Kate Thompson also scoring to put Wexford ahead 1-2.

But Jessica Berlin stood up to become the hero of the hour with two saves, Aislinn Meaney, Lucy Jayne Grant and Jamie Erickson fired their penalties away to send Galway United through.

The Tribeswomen will face Shamrock Rovers in the final.

Galway United Women: Jessica Berlin; Eve Dossen, Emma Duffy, Jamie Erickson, Amy Madden (Amanda Smith 62); Isabella Beletic, Lucy-Jayne Grant, Lynsey McKey (Aislinn Meaney 84), Julie-Ann Russell, Kate Thompson; Rola Olusola.

Subs not used: Maria O'Sullivan, Ava Mullins, Roisin Jacob, Jodie Griffin, Abbie Callanan.

Booked: None.

Wexford FC Women: Nicole Nix; Orlaith Conlon, Della Doherty, Nicola Sinnott (Leah McGrath 57), Abby Tuthill; Aoibheann Clancy (Teegan Lynch 84), Grace Fitzpatrick Ryan (Kylie Murphy 46), Ellen Molloy, Meabh Russell, Aine Walsh (Alyssa White 57); Ceola Bergin (Rianna Jarrett 74).

Subs not used: Maeve Williams, Jayne Merren, Millie Daly, Ciara Rossiter.

Booked: Ceola Bergin (4), Alyssa White (88).

Referee: Robert Dowling.

Attendance: 600 (estimate)

extratime.com Player of the Match: Isabella Beletic (Galway United)

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