- Dave Donnelly
- Wed, Sep 25 2019
Dave Donnelly reports from Jackson Park
Aoife Thompson’s ninth goal of the season earned Galway all three points amid torrential downpours at Jackson Park in the rescheduled midweek game.
Sophie O’Donoghue had deservedly pulled DLR Waves level early in the second half after Méabh De Búrca had converted a penalty inside the first five minutes.
Waves dominated the second half in spite of the challenging conditions but Galway secured a vital three points late on to maintain the pressure on third-placed Wexford Youths.
The visitors got off to a dream start as they were awarded a penalty with virtually the first attack of the game and De Búrca made no mistake from 12 yards.
Galway controlled the majority of the first half, with winger Sinéad Donovan particularly lively as she cut inside on her left foot.
Róisín McGovern was forced into a diving block to deny Donovan from close range before the same player flashed a shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Waves’ threatened from set-pieces but couldn’t find a way to work Galway keeper Abbie Ronayne as Niamh Prior saw her shot come back off the wall.
Kerri Letmon called Ronayne into action twice in a minute as, first, she saw her deflected shot easily saved before a more clear-cut chance was well handled by the keeper.
Thompson went close with a close-range header but she couldn’t direct the ball under the crossbar, and Galway were desperately unlucky not to double their lead moments later.
A corner into the box wasn’t fully cleared and the ball dropped to Donovan, who controlled the ball and volleyed on goal only for the crossbar to come to Waves’ rescue.
The home side introduced O’Donoghue for wing-back Nicole Keogh at the break and the move had the desired effect as the midfielder brought the sides level inside five minutes.
Orla Casey and Fiona Donnelly had already gone close when a spell of sustained pressure ended with O’Donoghue curling the ball expertly past Ronayne.
Waves introduced Leanne Payne for the final 25 minutes and there looked to be only one winner from there, but neither O’Donoghue nor Donnelly could find a way through with efforts from range.
And Galway snatched all three points six minutes from time when Chloe Singleton’s shot was parried by Eve Badana into the path of Thompson, who bravely headed home.
DLR Waves: Eve Badana; Jenny O’Keeffe, Róisín McGovern, Niamh Prior; Nicole Keogh, Sinead Gaynor, Fiona Donnelly, Orla Casey, Katie Burdis 74; Catherine Cronin, Kerri Letmon.
Galway: Abbie Ronayne; Leah Brady, Shauna Fox (Carlie Schecht 35), Keara Cormican, Aoife Clancy; Chloe Singleton, Sinead Donovan (Kayla Brady 60), Sadhbh Doyle, Aoife Walsh; Meabh De Burca, Aoife Thompson.
Attendance: 40 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Fiona Donnelly (DLR Waves).
