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WNL Preview: Galway WFC v UCD Waves
- Extratime Team
- Sun, Nov 09 2014
GALWAY WFC will host a UCD Waves side who will bid to put last week’s FAI Continental Tyres Women's Senior Cup Final disappointment behind them when they travel to Eamonn Deacy Park.
Home boss Don O’Riordan will look for his side to bounce back from losing a 4-3 thriller against Castlebar Celtic two weeks ago. They had shown their quality the week previously drawing 2-2 with Raheny. Galway have a number of players on the doubtful list. Alanna Moran and Eleanor Stafford are close to return from injuries.
“We had a good look at UCD Waves in last week’s game. We’ve looked at their strengths and it is hard to find the weaknesses. Our first game against Waves I didn’t really know them but now we’re into second series of games I know what we’re facing,” said O’Riordan.
“We don’t have a win over the top sides so that’s an ambition. That said, the loss to Castlebar was unexpected for us. We lost two players one after the other just before the team-talk and it threw us. We had to make a late change and we were nothing like we’d been against Raheny. I am wondering if complacency is affecting us.
“There’ll be no way anybody can show any complacency against a very good side like UCD Waves. We know they have attacking strengths and we’re trying to prepare for that. Eileen doesn’t have a huge squad but every player in their squad is quality and they were very unlucky last week. They’ll come to us with all guns blazing.”
UCD boss Eileen Gleeson is a colleague of O’Riordan on the FAI’s current UEFA Pro Licence course but her focus will be on getting her side’s title aspirations back on track with this important fixture.
“Sunday was a very disappointing day – particularly in how the game was lost. That’s football. We’ve got to get on with it and focus on the Galway game now,” said Gleeson.
“I felt it was a close game without either side really looking like winning it. The Aviva is a great day but that cup is over now. The league is the most important thing for us.
“Galway had a good draw against Raheny and are well organised at home. I’ve come to know Don well on the Pro Licence. I know with all his years of experience he has them well organised.”
