On a pleasant afternoon last Saturday in Terryland, there was a rare chance to watch women who have created history in Irish women’s soccer, with Russell, O’Gorman and Zambra all showing flashes of their class.
Watching the game studiously was a familiar face. One who is always found on a Friday night or Saturday evening in the stadium named after his friend and teammate. You will see him just as often on Sunday mornings in the Swamp following the Under-13 girls of West United do battle in the Galway FA Division 2.
A giant of the game in Galway, Gerry Daly is lyrical in his passion when he talks about Galway United Women. As deep a thinker as he was a tough tackler, Gerry gets this significance of this group and explains it eloquently.
“I was honoured enough to be down in Sligo last year when they played in the final. Apart from the actual winning of the cup, which in itself was a fantastic honour, it was what they did for women’s soccer in Galway”.
“A lot of people tend to forget that most of these girls are still at work or still in college. The time and dedication that they put into the game actually lifts me. They should be very proud of themselves, and the people of Galway should be very proud of them”.
“When you go to a match, you go for entertainment. But the background stuff that goes on with these girls, it is astonishing. To be honest, sometimes I am lost for words at the way these girls are playing”.
Ethic and dedication
His kinship for the ethic and dedication of the players is apparent. But above all, Gerry loves the game and loves what he sees in this side.
“As a team, they work very well together. They have ball players and ball winners. What I like about them is when there is a mistake made, they get on with it. Their overall play is fantastic. Speaking as a defender myself, I love the way they try and play the ball out of defence”.
“I would say to them, make sure that your first pass, particularly as a defender, is either clear or make sure it goes to feet because that first pass can dictate your game”.
“No matter what you do in life, you cannot buy experience and they have been there last year in the final. At the same stage, last year’s final is gone now and you are only as good as your last game”.
“My view on sport was always this, I respected my opposition but I never feared them. For all the girls on Saturday, they’re as good if not better than the opposition. I think that Phil Trill has that confidence instilled in them”.
Galwegians are spoiled in summer for options on a Saturday but the United stalwart is adamant that there is no better way to spend the day than admiring this team.
“I deliberately make it my business to get down there every Saturday that the girls are playing. It’s a mixture of two things for me. Firstly, I’m up there tackling every tackle. I stand with Tommy Lally some nights, he’s trying to save every shot. When it’s in you, it’s in you”.
“For people that didn’t play the game but want entertainment, I strongly suggest to all Galway people that women’s soccer has taken off so much. It’s invigorating for me personally. I was up there two weeks ago. Even though the result didn’t go their way against Shelbourne, I thought that game was as good as any soccer game I saw.
“The one thing I love about women's soccer is that they’re not rolling over on the ground. They’re up and at it. They’re not looking for sympathy from the referee.”
It is a sentiment that sums up the esteem he has for the women’s game, how it is growing and inspiring. A win on Saturday would be beautiful but for Gerry and others, its real importance could best be gauged by the number of girls in the Swamp on Sunday.
