Galway WFC’s Ruth Fahy believes Stephen Lally’s side, who host Shelbourne in the WNL at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday (2pm ), has a nice combination of emerging and experienced players for the remainder of the campaign.
Recent additions Becky Walsh, Meabh De Burca, and Julie Ann Russell are adding plenty of competition for places in Lally’s squad alongside several talented young footballers.
Noel King and Joey Malone’s Shelbourne will provide a stern assignment on the banks of the Corrib, but Fahy is encouraged.
“The very fundamental fact is you cannot win in this league - the league has come on too far - you cannot win without that blend,” Fahy says.
“You see it in the top teams. You see it with Shelbourne, they have brilliant young talent, they also have that steering base with the likes of Pearl Slattery, Rachel Graham, Noelle Murray - they have been around for a long time. They just have a grounded team, the same with Peamount.
“You think of Aine O'Gorman, Karen Duggan, Steph Roche. Wexford have a huge contingent of experienced players I played with a couple of years ago - Nicola Sinnott, Kylie Murphy, Edel Kennedy.
“It is a fact that you cannot compete at the top without having both sides - having that fresh young talent and the older group to ground everything.”
While it has been a demanding stint for Galway, Fahy is hopeful Lally’s charges can make an impact during the rest of 2021.
“The first half of the season was an eye opening experience,” she says. “It was pretty intense. I think what happened was the management tried to do things, really admirably, they did the right thing by trying to do things differently.
“It just didn't work out for a couple of different reasons. The season isn't gone, there is still a long way to go, of course you have the Cup coming up. The blend of youth and experience is mandatory if you want to compete at the top end of the league.”
