Galway Women’s FC will be delighted to return to Eamonn Deacy Park for their next two fixtures after losing to Cork City in Bishopstown on Saturday.
Having travelled to Cork with high hopes after their recent win over league leaders Peamount, Galway contributed to an eight goal thriller, but in the end the hosts ran out 5-3 winners in this entertaining Continental Tyres WNL game.
Galway suffered the worst possible start from which they never recovered. City were fortunate to open the scoring on 40 minutes when a shot rebounded off the post and found Claire Shine. Although she looked off side, Shine took advantage and made no mistake from six yards. A minute later Cork doubled their lead when Evelyn Daly hit a huge strike from 35 yards out and it sailed past a stranded Tina Hughes in the Galway goal.
Galway regrouped and two minutes later pulled one back when Aislinn Meaney threaded a pass through to release Aoife Brennan, who slotted past Amanda Budden from just inside the box. It narrowed the gap to 2-1 up at the break, but just before the hour mark Maggie Duncliff put City 3-1 up with a free kick from the left.
Galway changed their formation with three at the back and it looked to be paying dividends when a Brennan cross found Lisa Casserly at the back post on 77 minutes. However when Brennan was dispossessed by a dubious tackle, the referee waved play on and Cork took advantage - the ball finding Shine who ran at the Galway defence and finished.
Evelyn Daly then grabbed her second and Cork’s fifth on the 90th minute. However, there was still time for Galway to get their third when Lynsey McKey expertly dispatched a free kick from the left in the third minute of injury time.
Manager Billy Clery will now be looking for his side to take full advantage with back-to-back home games against Shelbourne and UCD Waves respectively.
Although Saturday's fixture (6pm ) will be tough against a Shelbourne side that has renewed confidence having put eight past Kilkenny last weekend, it is one the Galway women will relish.
Galway WFC v Cork City: Tina Hughes, Jenny Byrne, Keara Cormican, Shauna Fox, Grainne Barrett, Lisa Casserly, Sadbh Doyle, Meabh De Burca, Aislinn Meaney, Aoife Brennan, Lynsey McKey.
