Galway WFC were denied a first trophy after UCD Waves bagged a late goal to win this season's Continental Tyres WNL Shield.
Played in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday night, the passionate home supporters went home disappointed as UCD Waves' late winner produced a heartbreaking end to Galway's hopes.
Billy Clery's side started so brightly and in the second minute were in front. Elle O’Flaherty chased down a back pass to Brooke Dunne and blocked the Waves' keeper’s clearance to finish into an empty net. Four minutes later Lynsey McKey had a great chance to double the Galway lead, but she sliced her back post effort over the bar.
The remainder of the half was evenly contested until the 39th minute when UCD grabbed an equaliser. A goal mouth scramble followed an Emily Cahill long range free kick, and when the ball was eventually cleared, it only went as far as Catherine Cronin on the edge of the box and she managed to fire home
The second half was a tight affair with both sides having changes. In the 75th minute Galway were awarded a penalty after Aislinn Meaney was pulled down by Ally O’Keeffe. Aoife Brennan stepped forward to take the spot kick, but was unlucky to see her strike come back off the base of the upright having sent the keeper the wrong way.
Then with five minutes remaining, as the crowd was preparing for extra time, UCD stuck the killer blow. Player of the Match Chloe Mustaki played a through ball to find Keri Letmon. Her shot was only partially blocked by Tina Hughes, but agonisingly looped into the Galway net despite the best efforts of Shauna Fox to clear.
Galway pushed forward in an attempt to gain an equaliser, but UCD Waves managed to hold out for victory.
