fter a disappointing opening to the new Continental Tyres WNL season, Galway WFC make the long trip to Ferrycarrig Park to take on Wexford Youths on Saturday evening.
New manager John Clery welcomes the return of Sadhbh Doyle from U17 international duty, and hopes several players involved in NUI Galway's intervarsity semi-final action in Cork tomorrow will come through with a clean bill of health.
Wexford, who were not in action last weekend, came out on top in last season's jousts, but Clery will hope his side can benefit from their opening day experience when only a single goal separated the sides, with UCD Waves winning 1-0.
UCD Waves is the only side in the WNL that Galway Women’s FC has never beaten, but on Saturday evening in Eamonn Deacy Park Clery's charges came close, despite going into the game without the injured Keara Cormican and Sinead Taylor.
The game was just seven minutes old when an over hit cross was pulled back by Dearbhaile Beirne for Aine O’Gorman to poke home for the visitors. Galway regrouped and coped admirably with the Waves' attack, but without a recognised striker, Galway lacked real penetration up front, despite the best efforts of an impressive Aislinn Meaney.
Galway WFC came more into the game with the wind at their backs in the second half, but they still needed to call on keeper Tina Hughes to rescue them as she pulled off a number of top-class saves.
In the final quarter Galway’s Méabh De Búrca and Lisa Casserly forced saves from Brooke Dunne, but Galway could not do enough to grab the equaliser.
The shock of the weekend, however, was Cork City's draw against champions Shelbourne. Shels, who strengthened their squad during the close season, were hot favourites for the league.
