- Dave Donnelly
- Sun, Sep 02 2018
Dave Donnelly reports from Jackson Park
Galway will rue their wastefulness in front of goal as they failed to break down an understrength UCD Waves, but a point was enough to lift them up to fourth in the Women's National League.
Billy Clery's upwardly-mobile Galway side came into the game with ten points from the last 15 available but lacked the final ball to really trouble the home side.
UCD, whose already small squad was further depleted by the departure of Deirbhaile Beirne to Peamount in the window, lacked their usual precision in possession and rarely threatened.
It was all Galway in the first half but, for all their approach play, they lacked the creative spark to capitalise on the movement of Lynsey McKey and Aislinn Meaney coming in off the wings.
They threatened first as a short corner to the edge of the box found McKee in a rare pocket of space in front of the UCD defence, but she hooked her shot past the far post.
The visitors suffered an early blow as defender Carlie Schecht was forced off early on, necessitating a shuffle in the backline, but they continued to enjoy the bulk of possession.
A nice through-ball from Naima Chemaou was turned wide by a stretching Caroline Healy, but UCD's only other effort of note was Sinéad Gaynor's free kick, easily saved by Tina Hughes.
Emma Starr played in McKey but she couldn't control, and the number 10 played in Aislinn Meaney shortly after only for the winger to shoot straight at Erica Turner.
UCD were dealt a further blow as centre-half Erica Byrne was forced off, and the introduction of Aisling Dunbar meant Orla Haran moved into the middle.
It was the otherwise excellent Haran's misplaced pass that presented Galway the first chance of the second period, but this time she failed to find the target.
Ireland under-19 keeper Turner, nearly gifted Galway the opener as she allowed McKey's cross to squirm under her legs, but she was able to recover before a Galway player pounced.
However, it was UCD who had the chance of the game in injury-time as Kerri Letmon's cross found Leanne Payne but with just Hughes to beat, the substitute shot straight at the keeper.
UCD Waves: Erica Turner; Orla Haran, Róisín McGovern, Erica Byrne (Aisling Dunbar 39), Keelin McEntee; Sinéad Gaynor, Aishling Spillane (Leanne Payne 76), Jessica Morrissey; Kerri Letmon, Naima Chemaou (Rachel Doyle 73), Caroline Healy.
Subs not used: Katie Burdis (gk), Sophie O'Donoghue, Lauren Kelly, Paula Doran.
Booked: None.
Galway: Tina Hughes; Rachel Baynes, Chloe Singleton, Lucia Lobato, Carlie Schecht (Sarah Baynes 18); Tessa Mullins, Emma Starr, Sadbh Doyle; Aislinn Meaney (Elle Rose O'Flaherty 65), Lynsey McKey (Sinead Donovan 85), Aoife Thompson.
Subs not used: Louise Creaven (gk), Keara Cormican.
Booked: Emma Starr (88).
Referee: TBC
Attendance: 30 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Orla Haran (UCD Waves).
