NUI Galway produced a last-minute goal to secure a victory over unbeaten Galway Hockey Club in the weekend’s Connacht Senior League action.
It is the students’ first victory over the current table-toppers in a number of years and gives them a big confidence boost ahead of their first Irish Senior Cup match in Waterford.
Bronagh McMorrow was NUIG’s hero on the day when she deflected on her reverse stick over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net from Orla Callanan’s superb ball to the back post.
It came just seconds before the end of the contest after Galway let a 2 - 0 slip in the second half.
The match began with a spell of Galway attacks, pressing on the college side’s circle for the opening quarter. NUI Galway finally found their feet and raised the intensity of their game. Both sides enjoyed a number of chances in the opening half, but neither managed to convert any onto the scoreboard, leaving the sides level going into the break.
The second half began with Galway dominant and, from a short corner, Grace Melvin converted with a shot from the top. Minutes later Galway doubled their lead with a goal from Ruth O’Sullivan.
NUI Galway’s revival began midway through the second half when Síle Johnson’s shot deflected off a Galway player’s foot and found the backboard. The confidence boost that resulted took only minutes to produce another goal when Orla Callanan scored from a seemingly impossible angle to level the sides.
This set up for a riveting last five minutes which on this occasion went the students’ way.
