Details

Date Time League Season
3 August 2021 7:00 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Fahey finds late winning Galway goal

Galway came away from Lissywollen with all three points after a Chloe Singleton first half strike and an Anna Fahey header late on got the job done for Stephen Lally’s side.

The visitors dominated possession in the first half and went in at the break leading. Athlone fought back in the second and a freak goal from Lucy Jane Grant nearly had the visitors kicking themselves, but Galway managed to have the final say

Galway started this game well. While they didn’t break through in the first 20 minutes, they controlled possession and Athlone remained camped in their own half.

The first flash point came from Lynsey McKey, who from the right hand side whipped a ball in that came close to going straight in. It was unclear whether it was a shot or cross, but it wouldn’t be the last time this happened in this game.

Galway were rewarded two minutes later when Nicole McNamara got the ball in midfield and played a nice ball over the top for Singleton. The right winger burst down the right hand side and slammed it into the top corner, a strike worthy of giving her side the lead.

McKey had a strikingly similar chance around the half hour mark, when despite being from a tight angle on the far right, tried to fire a ball into the Athlone box. Again, whether she meant it or not was unclear, but she was brutally unlucky as the ball hit the inside of the left hand post. Galway would stay one up until the break.

There were few chances up until the 57th minute, when a free kick way out on the right gave Athlone a chance to threaten. Substitute Lucy Jane Grant stepped up and the ball flew into the top left corner. Like McKey twice before her, the intentions were unclear. However, the goal was impressive and Athlone weren’t going to care if it meant they got something from this game.

Momentum started to go the Midlanders way and Galway probably felt like kicking themselves. For a team that dominated possession in the first half, they were somehow all tied to a team that had been camped in their half most the game. T

hey were nearly further punished in the 70th minute, when a ball to the back post found its way to Kellie Brennan, who tested Hannah Walsh at her near post. Galway’s keeper was equal to the effort, however.

Galway avoided dropping points five minutes from time when McKey put in a beautiful corner. Anna Fahey rose highest and buried the ball into the back of the net. It was all the Tribeswomen needed to secure the points.

For Athlone, it’s yet another defeat. All manager Tommy Hewitt can do is see what lays in store the rest of the way and see what has to be improved on next season.

For Stephen Lally however, it’s hopefully a confidence booster. He’ll be hoping the first half injuries to Shauna Brennan and Nicole McNamara are nothing to worry over, however.

Athlone Town

1Abbiegayle Ronayne Goalkeeper
2Fiona Owens Defender
5Chloe Flynn Defender
6Muireann Devaney Midfielder 84'
10Kellie Brennan 27 Forward
11Laurie Ryan Midfielder
13Kelsey Munroe 15 Defender
14Roisin Molloy Midfielder
20Jessica Hennessy 17 Midfielder
21Emily Corbet 19 Forward
24Shauna Peare Defender
50Niamh Coombes Goalkeeper
15Lucy Jayne Grant 13 Forward 57'
17Aife Haran 20 Midfielder
19Laoise Ó hAodha 21 Forward
23Ava Dolan Forward
26Aisling Mahony Forward
27Sinead Todd 10 Defender

Galway WFC

25Hannah Walsh Goalkeeper
3Savannah McCarthy Midfielder
5Meabh de Burca Defender
6Shauna Brennan 2 Defender
7Chloe Singleton 12 Midfielder 21'
65'
8Julie-Ann Russell Midfielder 22'
10Lynsey McKey Forward
14Therese Kinnevey Defender
18Emma Starr Midfielder
21Nicole McNamara 24 Defender
22Ruth Fahy Midfielder
20Leah Hayes Cohen Goalkeeper
2Becky Walsh 6 Defender
9Aoife Thompson Forward
12Elle Rose O’Flaherty 7 Forward
16Aoife Lynagh Defender
19Saoirse Healey Forward
23Abbie Callanan Forward
24Anna Fahey 21 Forward 86'
65'
  • 94'

    Full time and Galway take the three points. Agony late on for Athlone as Shauna Peare had a chance to equalise, but her header just sailed over the bar.

  • 93'

    Haran tried to catch out Walsh with a late free. Wasn't to be though.

  • 86'

    Maybe a winner! Fahey rose highest from a McKey corner and buried it into the back of the net!

  • 84'

    Devaney booked for descent.

  • 81'

    She's replaced by Elle Rose O'Flaherty.

  • 81'

    Goalscorer Chloe Singleton makes way.

  • 73'

    They're replaced by Sinead Todd and Laoise Ó hAodha.

  • 73'

    Double sub for Athlone. Kellie Brennan and Emily Corbet are off.

  • 70'

    Ball fell to Kellie Brennan at the back post and she nearly bet Walsh at her near post, but the Galway keeper makes a good save.

  • 65'

    Double yellow for Galway. Firstly, Anna Fahey is booked for a cynical foul on Muireann Devaney. Then, the goalscorer Chloe Singleton is booked for descent.

  • 62'

    Momentum is with Athlone now. Galway will be kicking themselves.

  • 57'

    Goal! Grant whips in a free and it flies into the top corner, totally catching Walsh off guard! Completely against the run of play, but Athlone won't care.

  • 54'

    Decent chance for Galway as a free is whipped in, but no one can get a touch.

  • 46'

    They're replaced by Lucy Jane Grant and Aoife Haran, respectively.

  • 46'

    Galway get us back underway and it\'s a double sub for Athlone. Kelsey Munroe and Jessica Hennessy are off.

  • 45'

    Half time and Galway lead, deservedly so. Have had plenty of possession too but not many other clear cut chances. Athlone will need to seriously wake up to get back in this one.

  • 36'

    She's replaced by Anna Fahey.

  • 36'

    Another sub forced by injury unfortunately in this first half. Nicole McNamara is forced off.

  • 29'

    McKey again! Attempts one from the far right and while it's again unclear whether it's a cross or shot, it nearly goes in, hitting the inside of the Athlone post!

  • 22'

    Russell is booked for a late tackle.

  • 21'

    Goal! One that was coming as Galway take the lead. McNamara played one over the top and Singleton found the top corner from the right hand side. Was an excellent finish.

  • 19'

    McKey hit one and although it was unclear whether it was a cross or shot, it came dangerously close to the Athlone goal.

  • 15'

    Largely uneventful first quarter of an hour. Galway probably controlling possession, but no clear cut chances yet.

  • 10'

    She's replaced by Becky Walsh.

  • 10'

    Sadly an injury forces an early sub for Galway. Shauna Brennan is off.

  • 1'

    Athlone get us underway.

  • Kickoff is imminent in Lissywollen.

  • Lineups for both teams are now in.

  • A win tonight would move Athlone up the table. The teams they'd leapfrog (Treaty and Bohs) however, would have games in hand on them.

  • Both sides come into tonight's game in need of a win and can take inspiration from their performances against top teams last week. A win would do wonders in terms of confidence for either side.

  • Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for tonight's WNL clash between Athlone Town and Galway, I'm Seán Comber and I'll be taking you through tonight's proceedings.

Past Meetings

(Series 8)
3 - 4
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway WFC v Athlone Town

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

Galway WFC v Athlone Town

Ground

Athlone Town Stadium
Athlone Town Stadium, Old Rail Trail, Garrycastle, Athlone East Rural Electoral Division, The Municipal District of Athlone — Moate, County Westmeath, Leinster, N37 N1F2, Ireland

Formerly DCU Journalism, covering mainly Athlone teams for finalwhistle.ie