- Paul Corcoran
- Sun, Sep 05 2021
Paul Corcoran reports from Dangan
Galway secured their second win in the League phase of the season when they ran out 3-0 winners over DLR Waves at Dangan on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Abbie Callanan, Saoirse Healey and Anna Fahey helped secure the three points for the Tribeswomen.
The home side netted an early goal when Aoibheann Costello threaded a lovely ball through to Callanan who took the ball deep into the box before firing off into the bottom left corner to put Galway ahead in the eighth minute.
Galway’s forward line threatened regularly throughout the first period with Healey and Callanan drawing saves from Waves’ goalkeeper Rugile Auskalnyte after the side took the lead.
Healey linked up with her teammates a number of times to create good chances with Anna Fahey and Aoibhin Donnelly both firing inches wide of the goal in the opening half an hour.
The visitors came into the game more as the half progressed with Galway’s Hannah Walsh called on to deny Ella Maree in the 35th minute.
Walsh pulled off a fingertip save just a minute later when Zoe Leonard set up Maree from close range only to be denied once again by the Galway ‘keeper.
Galway had another effort saved late in the first half when Donnelly played a good cross to Fahey in the box, the striker’s volleyed shot was hacked off the line by aa diving save from Auskalnyte.
The Tribeswomen doubled their lead five minutes after the re-start when Fahey sprayed a pass across the box to Healey who took a touch before firing the ball into the bottom right corner.
Callanan went close just four minutes later with a great individual effort as the midfielder cut inside the box to beat her defender before shooting a low shot on goal which the Waves’ goalkeeper was able to block.
It was Callanan who was heavily involved again when Galway scored their third goal with the midfielder blazing down the right wing before squaring the ball to Anna Fahey who scored from close range.
Leonard nearly grabbed a goal back for the visitors with twenty minutes left in the game, but Walsh showed great reactions again when she tipped the shot from the edge of the box over the crossbar to maintain her clean sheet.
Auskalnyte was kept busy in goals later in the game with Healey, Donnelly and Sorcha McCarney all having efforts saved by the goalkeeper before the end of the game in an impressive performance by the shot stopper despite the score-line.
Galway WU19: Hannah Walsh; Emer O’Neill, Sorcha McCarney, Ella Gilmore, Bryna Milton; Abbie Callanan, Aoibheann Costello, Ailbhe Whyte, Aoibhin Donnelly, Saoirse Healey; Anna Fahey.
Subs: Jane Trehy, Aoife Staunton, Shauna Butler, Peggy Ford
DLR Waves WU19: Rugile Auskalnyte; Jodie McQuillan, Mia Chambers, Chloe McCarthy, Naoise Rutherford; Emily Flynn, Ella Maree, Aoife Waldron, Ellen Cubsen, Zoe Leonard; Robyn Bolger.
Subs: Nikki Brown, Holly Rutherford, Shannon Guildea, Finola Doyle, Leah Hartigan, Lucy Edwards, Aja Chambers, Lauren Strong.
Booked: Mia Chambers.
Referee: Bartley Folan.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Saoirse Healey (Galway)
