A first half Rachel Kearns hat trick wasn't enough to ensure full marks for Galway WFC on their first test this season as Cork City battled back to snatch a 3-3 draw with a long range Becky Cassin effort levelling matters late on.

It was the first league game for Shauna Fox as captain of Galway WFC. However Cork City WFC had their game plan
upset early on with Sophie Liston having to go off after picking up an injury early.

Games with fans in attendance will have to wait for later in the season, but despite that the game was given a wider potential for a viewing audience, with the announcement the LOITV platform online which will stream all WNL games for free. The value for the viewers was certainly starting to show soon enough with Rachel Kearns hitting the back of the net for the hosts at the 15th minute.

Galway seemed to be playing the occasion in a nervy first half but doubled their lead with another strike from the mercurial Rachel Kearns.

Cork City had their chances as well through an Eabha O’Mahony unlucky not to have anybody get on the end of her corner kick. Eventually Cork City did get themselves on the score sheet thanks to substitute Lauren Egbuloniu hitting the net in the 31st minute.

Republic of Ireland international Eabha O’Mahony equalized early on the 37th minute as the game opened up for both sides.

Galway barely had to wait for a chance and broke ahead again when Rachel Kearns got her hat trick just a minute later with a superb goal. Cork City had their chance to equalize just before the break as Aoife Thompson got near the Galway net before her shot went wide.

Debutant Sarah McKevitt then had a one on one chance for Cork City but there was not getting past Slovenian international goalkeeper Maja Zajc in the home goal.

Cork City made a change at the break fresh legs coming on for the second half with Nathalie O’Brien coming on for Lauren Singleton. Maja Zajc was on top form again in the second half with a superb save on the 50th minute.

Eleven minutes later came Galway’s best opening of the half as a fortunate break allowed Rachel Kearns two chances to put the tribeswoman two goals ahead but Abby McCarthy pulled off a fantastic double save to keep the Rebel's feet on the ground in the game.

Lauren Egbuloniu look to have broken through again on the verge of hitting a brace on the 62nd minute but was denied that opportunity due to another superb Maja Zajc save. Cork City however got their equalizer thanks to an 85th minute strike when Becky Cassin struck a long range effort worthy to share the spoils on the day.