At half-time at Sunday’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division game between Galway United and St. Patrick’s Athletic, MC Stephen Naughton introduced members of the Galway United’s women team to the large crowd in advance of next Saturday’s final.
It must have been quite a surreal experience for the girls saluted so appreciatively by the home support. Because less than 24 hours previously a very small attendance found great reasons to be optimistic about the final when United comfortably disposed of Rovers in their league encounter.
Perhaps the cup final will be decided by the different lessons learned on Saturday by respective managers Phil Trill and Colie O’Neill. However, there was no doubting the home side were comfortable winners over the Hoops.
Indeed, there was a qualitative transformation in their game from the previous Saturday’s Cup loss to Shelbourne. It remains one of the great Galway sporting mysteries as to how such a wonderful group of footballers can ply their trade so competitively and yet be so unheralded in the city.
These are special footballers who have embellished the history of Galway senior soccer. Underpinning that mystery is the presence of international star Julie Anne Russell in the side. It would be an understatement to say that she has transformed the fortunes of our national team.
Not since Tommy Keane (RIP ) lit up evenings on the Dyke Road has this commentator witnessed such grace, imagination and elan in a United jersey. Last Saturday it was the turn of Kate Thompson to draw attention with a display of brio and authority that belied her tender years.
The Jes girl (Ireland U-19 captain with teammates Rola Olusola and Eve Dossen ) ran the midfield show despite the presence of more storied names in the Hoops ranks. Alongside her, Isabella Beletic is a fine footballer. Skipper Lynsey McKey knew leaner times in the Galway jersey and is one of our great servants.
Aislinn Meaney transformed the game against Shelbourne and supplies energy and experience. United have a resolute defence in the outstanding Jamie Erickson and the formidable Therese Kinnevey. Goalie Jessica Berlin is the best keeper in the league and her derring-do in the nets against Wexford is the principal reason that buses will be bowling up the M6 next Saturday.
There is no doubting the quality of Eve Dossen’s play. In midfield, Jenna Slattery epitomises the spirit and resolve of the side. Emma Doherty had a fine match against the Hoops faced by old Galway favourite Savannah McCarthy but is unfortunately cup-tied on Sunday.
Phil Trill has assembled a good backroom staff to assist him on his journey. It’s terrific to see people of the calibre of Paul Sinnott, Theresa Keane, Adrian Cronin, Evan O’ Connor and Richard Grier as part of that staff. Is maith freisin fear Árainn Marc Ó Goill a fheiceáil i lár an aonaigh.
There will be much talk in election times about inclusion and the importance of women's sport. Indeed, the splendid participation rates in the women's ranks in the GDL speak well of the vibrancy of the sector. Credit to the United board for their own embrace of the women's game and their imaginative undertakings throughout the season.
The second successive Avenir Sports All-Island Cup Final is a tribute to those who so valiantly served the Galway women’s game previously. Such stalwarts as Stephen and Ann Moran, Pádraig de Búrca, Eamonn Naughton and Kieran O’ Mahony gave service when it was extremely challenging.
Wandering up the Dyke Road in the 70s, we wondered would we ever see League of Ireland football in Galway. Two generations of supporters have relished and embraced that reality. Now we have a Galway women’s side defending a national trophy.
They carry our very best wishes and we trust, irrespective of Saturday’s result, that they start to get the respect and attention they so richly have earned. Tá sé rí-thuillte acu. Gaillimh Abú!
