Galway WFC returned to Só Hotel’s Women’s National League action on Saturday evening with a confident 4-1 win over Cork City WFC at Eamonn Deacy Park.
A second half rally by Cork to draw the sides level after Galway took the lead in the first half was not enough to stop the home side from garnering the three points.
McKenna Doyle made a dream start to life with the Galway side, the American capped off her debut with a second half brace and left the pitch unlucky not to have nabbed a hat-trick, having hit the post on more than one occasion.
The home side made the breakthrough in the 12th minute courtesy of a Chloe Singleton header. A dangerous free-kick from Lynsey McKey caused a scramble in the box before Singleton got her head to the ball to nudge Galway in front.
On the hour mark Christina Dring was deemed to have been fouled in the box by Galway shot stopper Ria McPhilbin. Substitute Saoirse Noonan stepped up for Cork City but she sent the spot kick inches wide of the right post.
She did manage to atone for her mistake three minutes later when a great attacking manoeuvre was finished off by her excellent pass across the box to set up Rachel O’Regan who smashed the ball into the net for the equaliser.
In the 70th minute Méadh De Búrca restored Galway’s lead, and stunned the visitors, after spotting Maria O’Sullivan just off her line. The midfielder confidently struck a long range effort, managing to keep it just out of reach of the goalkeeper and just under the crossbar for it to nestle in the back of the net.
Doyle’s two goals put the game beyond doubt, her first was slightly fortuitous as her blistering shot from long range in the 74th minute was saved by O’Sullivan. The goalkeeper did not manage to stop the ball dead, however, and it crept over her and rolled over the line for the goal.
Six minutes later the American broke away on a super pacey run, the Cork defenders did their very best to pile on the pressure as they tried to catch the striker, but she kept her composure, took aim, and blasted the ball into the back of the net from just inside the box to finish off an excellent debut.
Galway’s next home game is against Peamount United on Saturday 10 August at Eamonn Deacy Park (kick-off 6pm ).
