The legacy of Julie-Ann Russell has long been secure in Galway footballing circles. An Irish international, who gave to the Galway game at both ends of her career and played abroad professionally, there didn’t seem to be much left for the Moycullen native left to accomplish.
Yet, this week her story and skill have captured the imagination of the country. A beloved team has gained another star, as Russell took the Euro Qualifiers by storm with two goals in two games against England and France.
At a Galway United supporters Q&A recently, Stephen Long posed the question from the back of the room, as to whether after a long absence, Russell still had ambitions to play for the Irish team.
The attacker answered the question with trademark class. She emphasised her contentment at Galway United, but also acknowledged a determination that has fuelled her magnificence in maroon this season.
The room that evening was made up of some of her most ardent admirers, and yet none of the 50 or so diehards could have predicted the fairytale to follow.
A photo in the aftermath of Páirc Uí Chaoimh evening encapsulated the beauty and scale of Julie-Ann’s renaissance in green. Having been crowned player of the match, Russell embraced her one-year old baby Rosie whilst surrounded by a host of Galway United players of all ages and nationalities, there to cheer on their inspiration.
On the field against France, Russell oozed class, even outshining luminaries of the game like Denise O’ Sullivan and Katie McCabe. In front of a crowd of 18,399, Russell showed skill and composure to tee up O’ Sullivan for the first. She showed a deft touch to pluck a long ball out of the sky, find space and lay off for the Cork woman to drill home.
Minutes later, she scored a remarkable second. She stood her marker up at the edge of the box, before using her as a shield and curling exquisitely to the far corner, for as good a goal as one could hope to see.
The Girls in Green were pegged back to 2-1 by France, but Russell would have one final telling intervention. She forced a late corner which Anna Patten powered home to make certain of a famous victory, statistically Ireland’s biggest ever as they accounted for the world’s second-best team.
None of this is to mention that on the Friday previous, Russell had already lived the dream of any Irish footballer, when she put the ball in the English net. Her well taken volley on the half-turn proved a late consolation against the Lionesses. However, her substitute appearance showed Eileen Gleeson enough to include her from the start in Cork. The rest is now an indelible part of Galway soccer history.
The aim will now be for more history. Galway United have that very opportunity next Wednesday when they host Wexford for the Semi-Final of the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup.
The defending champions have faltered in the league after a superb start. As such, this game gathers even more importance.
Wexford showed their credentials in Eamonn Deacy Park last month with a win in a tough tackling contest. Another bruising encounter should be expected.
The merits of Phil Trill’s staff and squad are well rehearsed in these and other pages. However, in the coming weeks, months and hopefully years, the question abounding on Shop Street and beyond might simply be, ‘Are you going up to see Julie-Ann?’ A star is reborn.
