Galway United Women travel to the Showgrounds this Saturday keen to go into the mid-season break on a high after a difficult run.
This game against a struggling Sligo Rovers side offers a real chance of a positive result after three consecutive losses.
In the past three weeks United have faced the top three sides in the country and have come up just short each time. Their latest setback came at home to Shelbourne on Saturday in Eamonn Deacy Park.
After a decent start, a couple of concessions inside three minutes sealed their fate. The Shels' opener had frustrating similarities to Shamrock Rovers’ first goal the week previous. Kate Thompson was caught in possession in front of her own box, Shels broke quickly, and after two slick passes Jemma Quinn had the ball in the net.
The critical second came in the 24th minute. Therese Kinnevey battled well, but lost out in the tackle and Shels again pounced. A quick cross from the left evaded the United defenders and Christie Gray had time to settle herself and strike over Jessica Berlin at the near post.
United improved in the second half, and substitute Rola Olusola came closest to pulling one back for United. Ultimately however, United failed to mount a comeback against their experienced opponents and fell to a 2-0 loss.
United manager Phil Trill had no complaints about the result. "We didn’t deserve to win. What we do off the ball is deciding the games. How aggressive we were in our defensive ability was really poor in the first half.
"The one positive was that we didn’t fold in the second half. We were a bit better. In the second half we communicated better. We need to communicate better and improve our decision-making."
Despite the disappointment, Trill remained characteristically upbeat as he reflected on the first half of a season that has exceeded early expectations.
"To do it with so many players who are learning and developing is a positive, and we will be better for it next season and the season after."
Although on a three-game losing streak, United had won five of six games prior to their current predicament. A win in Sligo would do wonders for their morale before they embark on another adventure in the inaugural cross-border mid-season tournament, The Avenir Sports All-Island Cup.
