- Paul Corcoran
- Sat, Apr 03 2021
Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park
Galway claimed their first win of the Women’s National League on Saturday afternoon as they defeated Bohemians 3-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Rachel Kearns and Kate Slevin got on the scoresheet for the home side in the first half with Lynsey McKey adding their third just before the hour mark.
The visitors put Billy Clery’s side under plenty of pressure in the second half and they managed to pull one back through a great set-piece from Chloe Darby.
Galway were the more dangerous side in the opening minutes and the home team should have taken the lead in the first minute after Rachel Kearns brought Lynsey McKey into the play with a smart pass.
McKey took off down the side-line before cutting into the box and drilling a low cross towards Kate Slevin. The midfielder should have turned the ball into the net but her shot was off balance and the ball sailed over the bar.
It took nearly a half an hour for another clear cut chance and, despite its scrappy nature, it still led to the opening goal of the game.
McKey booted the ball up the field with Kearns heading in hot pursuit but it was goalkeeper Niamh Coombes that looked to be getting there first.
A misunderstanding between Coombes and defender Jade Reddy saw the pair collide in the box as both went to claim the ball letting it come free for Kearns to roll into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.
Galway doubled their lead five minutes later after another piece of defensive misfortune for the Gypsies.
Chloe Flynn took the ball down from a long Galway clearance, but the defender lost her footing as she turned to pass back to Coombes in the Bohemians goal.
Kearns eyed the loose ball and got a foot to it forcing Coombes further off her line to clear the ball under pressure.
Her clearance only reached Slevin who made no mistake from long range as the midfielder lofted the ball into the net for her first goal of the season.
The Tribeswomen added their third goal just before the hour mark after some great work by Chloe Singleton way out on the right flank to win the ball, just one of the key moments from a great game by the midfielder.
Singleton floated a long ball across the box, and despite a Bohemians head meeting the ball it still found its way to McKey’s feet and the midfielder held her composure to put the ball into the bottom corner.
Bohemians had made significant changes at half-time with Erica Byrne, Erica Burke, Aoife Robinson and Ann Marie Byrne all entering the fray for the second half.
It seemed to be working with the Gypsies putting Galway under a lot more pressure throughout the second half, despite the clear cut chances being hard to come by.
The visitors got their reward from a corner-kick routine in the 70th minute with a high curled ball from Chloe Darby escaping the clutches of Maja Zajc and finding its way into the back of the net.
Erica Byrne saved a certain goal in the 80th minute after a great through ball from McKey into the path of Kearns.
Kearns was a dead cert to double her tally for the day but Erica Byrne was in a great position to win the ball from the striker with a strong challenge right in front of goal.
Darby went close again for the visitors in injury time after they won a free-kick midway into the Galway half, an incident which was Chloe Singleton dismissed with a second booking.
The midfielder’s free-kick sailed high into the box and Zajc just managed to get high enough to punch the ball off the line to prevent a nervy finish for Galway.
Galway WFC: Maja Zajc; Shauna Fox (c), Therese Kinnevey, Savannah McCarthy, Chloe Moloney; Shauna Brennan (Elle O'Flaherty 68), Lynsey McKey, Chloe Singleton, Kate Slevin, Aoife Thompson (Tessa Mullins 53); Rachel Kearns (Abbie Callanan 88).
Subs not used: Keara Cormican, Sinead Donovan, Anna Fahey , Ruth Fahy, Trish Fennelly, Saoirse Healy.
Booked: Tessa Mullins (80), Chloe Singleton (90).
Sent off: Chloe Singleton (90).
Bohemians WFC: Niamh Coombes; Jade Reddy (Ann Marie Byrne 46), Chloe Flynn (c), Isobel Finnegan, Paula Doran; Sophie Watters, Chloe Darby, Ally Cahill (Erica Byrne 46); Bronagh Kane (Erica Burke 46), Naima Chemaou (Aoife Robinson 46), Abbie Brophy.
Subs not used: Ciara Mulligan, Courtney Maguire, Katie Lovely, Niamh Kenna, Clare Conlon.
Booked: Naima Chemaou (17) .
Referee: Declan Toland
Attendance: 0
ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Chloe Singleton (Galway)
