Jamie Thompson struck late to snatch a point for Shamrock Rovers, as they came from behind to secure a draw with Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Thompson delivered a hammer blow for United, as they felt they had done enough to weather a storm and secure a huge win on their maiden voyage in the league as a Senior Women’s side. 

Gemma McGuinness had given them the lead, and despite some big saves from net minder Jessica Berlin who had a quiet afternoon for large parts, the inform Rovers striker found a way to score late on to take a point back to the capital.

A very entertaining opening to the tie out West, Galway used their home advantage well to keep a lot of the overall possession, they had a chance after seven minutes, with Rola Olusola as she had attempted to race past Amanda Budden while she was outside the area but the Rovers' keeper cleared the ball out for a throw.

Galway hit the breakthrough minutes later, a lovely corner floated in by Lynsey Mckey, was headed out at the back post, Gemma McGuinnes took aim on the volley and it found a way to squirm past Budden into the Rovers net. 

Rovers were doing little to threaten Galway, they were over hitting passes and just not getting their chances, while the hosts were looking much the better as the half wore on, Rovers defence alert to clear another dangerous McKey corner on the half hour mark.

Jamie Thompson had the best chance for Rovers in that opening half as she was one on one with Galway keeper Jessicia Berlin, but her effort destined for the bottom corner of the Galway net was stopped by the American’s outstretched right foot.

Minutes later Shauna Fox tried her luck to put Rovers level, but her shot hit the head of Eve Dossen and went out Rovers corner, that came to nothing and the hosts had a deserved lead at the interval.

Into the second half as almost from the off Galway looked to have made it 2-0, Olusola again with a chance but her effort was well over the crossbar, Thompson went down in the box after 54 minutes with appeals for a penalty, but nothing was given.

Berlin was kept quiet for large parts of the tie but she justified her selection with some key interventions particularly two fine second half saves from Aine O’Gorman and Jamie Thompson but was key to the westerners holding on to their single goal lead in the closing stages.

McGuinness did have a half chance ten minutes from time to wrap up the tie but she just couldn’t get on the end of the long ball from Kinneavey. Rovers cleared the danger and Alanna McEvoy got a snapshot off at the other end.

Galway used every opportunity to allow the clock to keep ticking in the closing stages as they sought to make their advantage stick to the final whistle.

McGuinness and Aoife Thompson almost combined with a 1-2 to create a chance for McGuinness but the Donegal native was caught marginally offside on the return pass.

Berlin almost got caught out coming for a set piece cross as she got caught in no mans land but the header went over the crossbar to save her blushes and maintain the shutout.

The pressure finally paid off for Shamrock Rovers as their pressure was made to count. A slide rule pass down the line to Aine O’Gorman saw the veteran chip into the centre and Eve Dossen could only half clear as far as Jaime Thompson on the edge of the box.

The on form striker found the bottom corner of Berlin’s goal from the edge of the box to level matters on the day and rescue a point for the visitors.