There are only two games gone in the SSE Airticity Women’s Premier Division, but already Galway United can boast the only unbeaten record with two wins from two.
Their second win was an emphatic one. A hat-trick from Julie-Ann Russell and two goals from Jenna Slattery put Cork City to the sword.
The drama was confined to the events pre-match. The inclement conditions meant that a late change of venue was needed to move the game from Eamonn Deacy Park. Moyne Villa FC, ever the gracious hosts, provided their all-weather facilities at short notice.
Slattery got the Galway girls off to the perfect start when she turned in Lynsey McKey’s cross inside three minutes. Making her full debut, Emily Kavanaugh nearly doubled the lead minutes later but just failed to steer in the rebound after a cross had come back off the post.
The Russell show began thereafter. She slalomed between two would-be defenders before tucking the ball away into the corner of the net to double the lead inside 30 minutes.
The third came courtesy of a penalty. Slattery slotted her second to the bottom corner to put the result beyond doubt.
Russell completed her hat-trick with a brace inside four minutes early in the fourth quarter. The second was a calm finish while she showed her class to round the keeper for the fifth and take the match ball home.
United begin the defence of their Avenir All-Island Cup this Saturday in Sligo. They make the same trip on the subsequent Saturday in the league. It is early days but United have shown enough to suggest they will remain a force in the national picture.
