Galway Ladies enjoy a home venue for the first time since the season began when they host Tyrone in Mountbellew on Sunday (2pm ) in the third round of the Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League.
Unbeaten after two rounds, Galway are well placed in division one with points differerence separating them from Dublin, Laois, and Monaghan who have gone top.
Galway, sponsored by JFC, enter Sunday’s game boosted by their win over Cork in their opening game and a 2-6 to 1-9 draw against Dublin last weekend. Opponents Tyrone were beaten by two points by Mayo at Ballyheine and will be anxious to make amends this weekend.
However Galway, aining in confidence, will need to maintain their momentum, and with home advantage and strong support, Galway are well capable of adding to their league account.
Last weekend the confidence from their opening round victory helped them secure a valuable draw. Despite suffering two sinbinnings, Galway’s defence was in top form, and the Tribeswomen were unlucky not to have collected all three points from this game when they went three up just minutes from the end. However a last-minute Dublin goal ensured both sides shared the spoils ont
Dublin, with wind advantage, were first to score with a pointed free from Sinead Ahearne. Galway settled down, but it took a couple of chances before they opened through an Una Carroll free.
The Galway backs came under pressure from Lynsey Davey, Amy Mc Guiness and Sinead Ahearne, but the Dublin forwards failed to convert a series of frees. Instead the Galway full forward line of Una Carroll, Niamh Duggan and Julie-Ann Russell exerted their own pressure and when they earned a penalty, Una Carroll converted for a crucial goal.
For the next 10 minutes it was all Dublin as Noelle Healy and Sinead Ahearne added two points from frees, and disaster struck for Galway when Una Carroll was sinbinned.
However Galway stuck to their task with Niamh Duggan adding a free to put them two points up before the visitors suffered yet another setback when Aine Gilmore was sent to the line. Dublin once again regained the initiative, and tagging on another four points, they grabbed a two-point lead at the break.
With Dora Gorman and Cara Mullins introduced after half time for Lorna Joyce and Sarah Murphy, Galway produced some great passages of play up and down the field. They were rewarded with points from Niamh Duggan, Julie-Ann Russell and Aoibheann Daly, while Sinead Ahearne added two for Dublin.
Both sides had goal opportunities. Tina Hughes made a great save to deny Dublin, while at the other end the Dublin goalie stopped a certain goal. However Kara Mullins was on hand to put the rebound over the bar before Una Carroll netted her second goal of the day.
With minutes to go Galway were three points up, but Dublin refused to accept defeat. Orla Egan, who had just come on as a sub, put the ball in the net to force the draw, ensuring both sides are level on four points after the first two rounds.
Galway: Tina Hughes, Niamh Lohan, Aine Gilmore, Catriona Cormican, Aoibheann Daly, Emer Flaherty, Ger Conneally, Becky Walsh, Patricia Gleeson, Lorna Joyce, Edel Concannon, Sarah Murphy, Una Carroll, Niamh Duggan, Julie-Ann Russell, Johanna Connolly, Maria Connell, Noelle Connolly, Emma Curley, Aisling Donnelly, Dora Gorman, Claire Hehir, Mairead Coyne, Deirdre Lawless, Maedhbh Maloney, Kara Mullins, Sinead Burke, Gillian O'Connor, Maria Hoey, Sarah Conneally, Sarah Noone.
