Video

Details

Date Time League Season
22 May 2021 2:00 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Athlone edge Galway in 7-goal thriller

Athlone confirmed the first win of the season with a lively 4-3 win visiting Galway, in the eighth round of fixtures of the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League.

There was late drama at Eamonn Deacy Park, as Muireann Devaney completed a brace in the final embers, with the visitors already down to 10 players.

Such an enthusiastic show deserved such an end of matters, which could have bounced for each side. Both teams performed brilliantly sharing dominating moments and leaving all they had on the pitch.

The Town came on eager to impress from the early stages looking for what they were missing so far - a win. Muireann Devaney didn’t take long to send her first warning, forcing the goalkeeper Maja Zajc to slap away a strong shot.

Against the run of the play, Abbie Callanan clipped the ball into the back of the net, confirming her goal debut on her initial start for the first team.

Kelly Brennan missed an equalising chance with five minutes gone, as she sent an incredible effort wide off the bar. Moments after this Katelyin Keogh put the away side back on terms as she sent in a loose ball resulting from a corner.

Devaney turned things around shortly after smashing the ball in from the edge of the box, putting some justice on the score, analysing their superiority during the first half an hour; She had a similar chance two minutes later, but not with the same accuracy as the ball went wide.

Kellie Brennan struck in the third for the visitors with a sweet finish with 41 minutes on the clock, but Lynsey McKey had plans to keep the Tribes ladies alive and reduced immediately sending the ball in directly from a corner kick.

The electrifying speed came back with the teams into the second half, with McKey again in focus as she completed the first brace of the show with class by pouncing the ball past Ciara Glackin.

Maz Sweeney, in her first game in charge, put fresh oil in the engine in the dressing room with the hosts asking much more questions in the second half.

Athlone came close to take the lead once again as the ball got cleared off twice on the goal line.

10 minutes from the end, Aoife Haran left her team down to 10 players when she got sent off.

Taking advantage of the situation, the maroon and white outfit came close to grab the win several times, but the golden moment happened in the other box and with three minutes of the five additional minutes already played.
Devaney completed her brace deflecting a ball coming from a corner and securing the win for the Town.

Galway WFC

1Maja Zajc Goalkeeper
3Savannah McCarthy Midfielder
4Shauna Fox Defender 81'
7Chloe Singleton Midfielder
10Lynsey McKey Forward 45', 47'
11Sinead Donovan 22 Midfielder
12Elle Rose O’Flaherty 19 Forward
14Therese Kinnevey Defender
16Chloe Moloney Defender
21Nicole McNamara 2 Defender
23Abbie Callanan 9 Forward 12'
2Aislinn Meaney 21 Forward
8Tessa Mullins Midfielder
9Aoife Thompson 23 Forward
13Aoibheann Costello Midfielder
18Elena van Niekerk Forward
19Saoirse Healey 12 Forward
22Ruth Fahy 11 Midfielder
25Trish Fennelly Hunt Goalkeeper

Athlone Town

16Ciara Glackin Goalkeeper
3Emma Donohoe Defender
4Leah Brady Defender
6Muireann Devaney Forward 26', 90'
9Katelyn Keogh Forward 15'
10Kellie Brennan 8 Forward 43'
11Laurie Ryan Midfielder
13Kelsey Munroe 17 Defender
14Roisin Molloy Midfielder
22Melissa O’Kane Defender
23Ava Dolan 21 Forward
8Kayla Brady 10 Midfielder
17Aife Haran 13 Midfielder 80'
18Karley Leavy Midfielder
19Roisin Jacob Defender
21Emily Corbet 23 Forward
24Ciara McManus Midfielder
50Ria McPhilbin Goalkeeper
  • 90'

    FT: Galway 3-4 Athlone as the visitors confirm the first win of the season.

  • 90'

    Athlone Town close to the first win of the campaign despite being down to ten men – Devaney completes the brace at the very end!

  • 73'

    No sight of goal threats for the last 15 minutes, with the matters being serious disputed in the middle. No teams have intentions of lose points at this stage.

  • 56'

    It seems like Galway’s sleepy attitude stayed in the dressing room as the hosts are now dominating matters.

  • 47'

    Lindsey Mckey shows all of her class pouncing the ball past Ciara Glackin as the equalizer is reached early in the second 45 minutes.

  • 46'

    We are back for the second half.

  • 45'

    HT: Galway 2-3 Athlone Town in an absolutely electrifying first half. The Town girls are more than a deserved leader at the break, constantly findings venues to come dangerously forward in the pitch. Galway on their side have ultimately found the back of the net on two of three big opportunities to score.

  • 45'

    McKey reduces immediately for Galway sending it in directly from a corner!

  • 43'

    Kellie Brennan sends the ball in for the third time for Athlone Town with a sweet finish.

  • 40'

    Devaney with a similar change from where she put Athlone up front, but this time the ball went wide off.

  • 30'

    Very entertaining 30 minutes at the Eamonn Deacy Park with Ahtlone coming much aggressive looking for the first win of the season.

  • 26'

    Devaney smashes the ball from the edge of the area putting Athlone in the lead! This was something else.

  • 17'

    Katelyin Keogh puts Athlone back on terms as she enjoying a loose ball resulting from a corner to make the quick equalizer.

  • 14'

    Kelly Brennan misses a tremendous change to reach the equalizer as she sends a shot wide off the bar.

  • 12'

    The score is changed at early doors! Abbie clips the ball into the back of the net, brilliant goal from the promise teenager.

  • 8'

    Devaney brings the first warning smashing a strong shot as Zajc sends it away for a corner.

  • 7'

    Athlone eager to impress in the early exchanges, keeping Galway inside their own half.

  • 1'

    The referee blows the whistle into the first half.

  • Athlone on their side are going through a tough moment in terms of results, as they are yet to confirm a win in the current season. The two points confirmed by splitting the spoils facing Cork City and Treaty United stuck the Lissywollen outfit at the tail end of the league.

  • Curiosity hovers in Galway to see how the ladies’ team will perform this afternoon after the club had announced Billy Clery’s step down as manager during the week. Maz Sweeney was appointed as the caretaker, assisted by Tommy Lally and Alana Moran.

  • Good afternoon and you are very welcome to the live coverage of the clash between Galway and Athlone Town happening at the Eammon Deacy Park. I’m Bernardo Santos, telling you all about it as it happens.

Past Meetings

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

Galway WFC v Athlone Town

Ground

Eamonn Deacy Park
Eamonn Deacy Park, Dyke Road, Terryland, Menlough, Galway City, County Galway, Connacht, H91 ET6N, Ireland

With previous experience on a top-tier sports newspaper and a media department of a former European Champion club, Bernardo also collaborates as a sports journalist and media editor at St. Patrick's Athletic.