Details

Date Time League Season
4 June 2022 5:00 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Slattery rescues point for Galway

Jenna Slattery's delightful chipped finish from distance helped Galway snatch a share of the spoils away at WNL leaders Shelbourne from Tolka Park.

Shels had a chance to extend their cushion atop the standings, after second-placed Wexford Youths were stunned 1-0 away at Sligo Rovers elsewhere today.

Despite their dominance in terms of chance creation, the hosts were only a goal up at half-time. Rachel Graham and Noelle Murray particularly spurned good opportunities, then the latter shanked an even better effort from close-range before the hour mark.

That massive miss seemed to kick the visitors into gear, as they were suddenly in the ascendancy as the game got stretched and tired legs were being exploited.

A defensive mishap between Shauna Fox and Amanda Budden saw the ball spilled from the goalkeeper's hands, with Lynsey McKey racing to the loose ball but firing high and wide.

Slattery stole possession in the Shels half, spotted Budden off her line and let fly from distance with a deft effort, watching it float into the far corner to level.

Shels had a chance to further extend their cushion atop the standings, after second-placed Wexford Youths were stunned 1-0 away at Sligo Rovers elsewhere today.

But ultimately they were made to rue multiple missed goalscoring opportunities here, with Noelle Murray's miss just before the hour mark a catalyst for Galway's gung-ho forward approach.

The game got stretched, tired legs and minds duly exploited as a frantic finish ensued but it'll certainly be visiting boss Alan Murphy who heads home happier after seeing his side under the cosh for sustained periods in the first-half.

Saoirse Noonan broke the deadlock after 13 minutes with a first-time strike creeping beyond Abbiegayle Ronayne at her near post, after good work between Murray and eventual crosser Chloe Mustaki.

Despite their dominance in terms of chance creation, the hosts were only a goal up at half-time. Rachel Graham and Murray particularly spurned good opportunities, before the latter shanked an even better effort from close-range before the hour mark. 

Their passages of passing play in-and-around the final third threatened to blow Galway away at times, though they often lacked the right execution when it mattered most.

That miss seemed to kick the visitors into gear, as they looked dangerous in transition and were growing in confidence with each close call. 

As the game got stretched and more sloppy mistakes were committed, they found themselves in the ascendancy with Julie-Ann Russell and Emma Starr particularly applying pressure to propel them on.

A defensive mishap between Shauna Fox and goalkeeper Amanda Budden saw the ball spilled from the latter's hands, with Lynsey McKey racing to the loose ball but firing high and wide.

That moment, forced by Galway's relentless pressure, proved a warning the hosts wouldn't heed. Mustaki's pass to Pearl Slattery wasn't properly controlled by captain Pearl Slattery, who had her pocket pinched by an alert Jenna to the loose ball. Spotting Budden off her line and with no time to recover, she let fly from distance with a deft effort, watching it float into the far corner to level.

Despite more half-chances, nervy forays forward and late substitutions aplenty by both, a draw was how it ultimately finished. Afterwards, Murphy revealed his pride for Galway with third-placed Athlone Town next:

"We gave away a poor goal, tweaked it a little at half-time, our second-half was very good and we were probably going to win it in the end if it went a little longer but the quality they have is there to be seen. We have a lot of time on our hands, seven unbeaten and we've had a good turn [of form]. I think it was probably a fair result, good to go here and be disappointed with a draw."

As for Shelbourne, their WNL lead now sits at eight points with the aforementioned title-chasing Wexford up next weekend.

Shelbourne

1Amanda Budden Goalkeeper
14Chloe Mustaki Defender
2Jessica Gargan Defender
5Shauna Fox Defender
4Pearl Slattery Defender
3Jessie Stapleton Defender
8Rachel Graham Defender
14Jessica Ziu Midfielder
9Abbie Larkin 12 Forward
10Noelle Murray 22 Forward
11Saoirse Noonan Forward 13'
20Amanda McQuillan Goalkeeper
12Keeva Keenan 9 Defender
13Leah Doyle Defender
15Jemma Quinn Forward
18Aoife Kelly Midfielder
22Gloria Douglas 10 Forward
11Megan Smyth-Lynch Forward
16Lia O’Leary Forward
17Taylor White Forward

Galway WFC

20Abbiegayle Ronayne Goalkeeper
2Becky Walsh Defender
6Shauna Brennan Defender
21Kate Thompson Defender
14Therese Kinnevey Defender
18Jamie Erickson Defender
5Emma Starr Midfielder
7Chloe Singleton 4 Midfielder
8Julie-Ann Russell Midfielder 54'
9Jenna Slattery 23 Midfielder 73'
10Lynsey McKey 19 Forward
23Bryce Reynolds 9 Defender
19Saoirse Healey 10 Forward
22Eve Dossen Defender
24Roisin Jacob Defender
4Nicole McNamara 7 Defender
3Nessa Markham Defender
11Rebecca Shinnors Midfielder
13Jodie Griffin Forward
  • Thanks for joining me today, stay tuned to the site for the full match report and other coverage across the grounds from today's other WNL matches. Until next time, I've been Mosope Ominiyi, goodnight!

  • 94'

    Full-time! Shelbourne 1-1 Galway, the hosts drop points for only the second time this season and they ultimately just didn't adapt to their surroundings in a second-half that could've gone either way.

  • 90'

    No word on how much stoppage-time will be played, as the commentator confirms there's no electronic board or fourth official operating one at Tolka Park today. On they continue...

  • 88'

    Reynolds replacing goalscorer Slattery too for the visitors, who need some fresh legs to finish strong here.

  • 83'

    Some subs now... Nicole McNamara introduced into the fray, with Singleton coming off. Murray among those being replaced for Shels too.

  • 74'

    Well then... how costly will that Murray miss earlier prove? It's all to play for again now, with 15 minutes plus any stoppages to go, and both sides are pushing for a winner here..

  • 73'

    GOAL! Jenna Slattery retrieves possession in the Shelbourne half, spots Budden off her line and lets fly from distance to equalise!

  • 67'

    The game is opening up now, both sides looking threatening... Murray and Noonan combine before Stapleton rushes her eventual effort and blasts wide. Up the other end, Starr sees an onrushing Singleton, who toepokes narrowly wide of the far post.

  • 62'

    Defensive mishap between Shauna Fox and Amanda Budden sees the ball spilled from the goalkeeper's hands, Lynsey McKey races to the loose ball but somehow doesn't keep her attempt on target - fires high and wide!

  • 57'

    How did she miss? Murray shanks the ball horribly over the bar, from close-range, after another purposeful passage of passing play - Gargan, Noonan and Ziu combine before Murray fluffs her lines with the goal gaping.

  • 54'

    Russell is the first player into the referee's book, she got a talking to midway through the first-half for committing one too many cynical fouls and can have no complaints this time for another late challenge that was retroactively punished after another Shelbourne attack.

  • 50'

    Chance! A promising breakaway sees Murray baring down on goal but she was in two minds and opted to tee up Noonan, but the chance fizzles out as Galway goalkeeper Abbiegayle Ronayne closed her angles well enough.

  • 46'

    Second-half has begun and no changes by either side at the break, it seems.

  • 45'

    Half-time! Shelbourne 1-0 Galway, the hosts are deservedly ahead but all things considered, Galway will be glad it\'s still only a one-goal deficit at the break. Not much in the way of true goalmouth action for them yet, which can all change if Bohemian's turnaround win over Peamount last weekend is anything to go by...

  • 41'

    Murray shoots goalwards on the edge of the area after another potentially dangerous cross is partially cleared, but the eventual effort trickles harmlessly wide.

  • 35'

    Not much has happened in the last ten minutes, Shelbourne are comfortable with their slender lead but Galway haven't done enough to trouble them. A stop-start affair, with the referee giving multiple players a stern talking to, but keeping his cards in his pocket for now.

  • 25'

    Besides the energetic, marauding Julie-Ann Russell, it's hard to see any Galway players really unlock the Shels backline here. Noelle Murray has had two attempts at goal, one she miscontrolled with a glancing header at the near post, another she created herself but blazed over the bar after dinking the ball over two defenders.

  • 14'

    That\'s the seventh goal of the season for Noonan, who extends her tally as the player with the best minutes-per-goal ratio across the WNL this term.

  • 13'

    Goal from nowhere! Murray and Larkin combine, the latter lofts a hopeful ball towards the far post and Saoirse Noonan breaks the deadlock with aplomb - a first-time finish creeps in at the near post.

  • 10'

    Frenetic start by both, Galway looking to counter with numbers in transition but are struggling with their final ball - as evidenced by a promising free-kick floating harmlessly wide. Graham came close from distance earlier, after some good last-ditch defending thwarted an onrushing Stapleton inside the area.

  • Kick-off! Will Shelbourne extend their lead atop the WNL after Wexford Youths lost away at Sligo Rovers earlier today, or do fourth-placed Galway have a trick up their sleeve on this sunny evening?

  • Eventually, the same can be said for Galway. The two sides are back out onto the pitch, going through their final motions with kick-off moments away now...

  • Shels team news is out! Today marks Rachel Graham's 150th appearance for the hosts. For the full eleven and substitutes, check the line-up tab now.

  • So, what will Galway have to say in response this evening? The two sides are going through their respective warm-up routines at Tolka Park, and the line-ups are to come.

  • The one I'm focused on, is the Shelbourne backline have only conceded one goal in their 12 WNL matches this term. First-choice goalkeeper Amanda Budden was rarely troubled during the reverse H2H fixture in mid-April, a 2-0 win.

  • With under an hour to go between now and kick-off, fancy some pre-match reading? Take a glance at my match preview if you haven't already - in the article portion of this page. Some interesting stats to take into account...

  • Good afternoon and welcome to today's live play-by-play commentary as Shelbourne host Galway in the WNL. My name's Mosope Ominiyi, I'll take you through the evening's action with kick-off scheduled for 5pm.

Past Meetings

(Round 6)
0 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Series 25)
2 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Semi Final)
1 - 0
FAI Women's Cup
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Series 16)
1 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Series 7)
5 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Series 2 - Group 1)
5 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Series 6)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 18)
3 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 13)
0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 5)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 17)
0 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

(Round 10)
2 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

(Round 3)
1 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

2 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

5 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

1 - 6
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

0 - 3
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Galway WFC

0 - 2
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Shelbourne

Ground

Tolka Park
Tolka Park (Shelbourne FC), Drumcondra South A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

Mosope Ominiyi is a freelance sports journalist and sub-editor with over a decade's worth of experience, having graduated in 2020 with a BA Hons degree at Staffordshire University. His work has appeared in The Times, MailOnline and Sportskeeda, among other platforms.