Kate Mooney and Katie Malone both netted for the hosts as DLR Waves picked up their first win of their 2021 WNL campaign, with a 2-1 victory over a previously unbeaten Galway WFC at the UCD Bowl.

A Rachel Kearns goal levelled the game before the interval, and the sides remained tied at 1-all entering the closing minutes.

Waves found the net for the second time on 88 minutes, after a mistake by the Galway keeper ensured Malone tapped the ball into a vacant goal.

Galway heaped pressure on late on, but Eve Badana and the DLR defence held strong to claim their first victory.

Both sides flew out of the blocks playing the game at what was a very high tempo. This led to a scrappy opening 10 minutes with no team making any inroads into the opposition box.

On the 15th minute the home side opened the scoring through Mooney, who got her head onto a long ball played down the field. She controlled her header well to find the corner of the opposition net.

This goal propelled the visitors into action. They started to gain a foothold in the middle of the park through Kiera Cormican. As Galway pushed forward, the Graham Kelly well trained defensive unit stood firm, not allowing any shots to trouble Eve Badana in the goal.

With the game heading towards the break goal scorer and debutant Mooney suffered a leg injury which meant her debut for her new club had to be cut short. She was replaced up front by Katie Malone.

Neither team had a shot on goal for the rest of the half as both defences were tenacious against any threat.

The second half was much like the start of the opening one with some very scrappy play from both clubs.

Billy Clery’s side won an indirect free kick due to the pressure Kearns put on Badana who couldn’t get rid of the ball quickly.

Both sides traded half chances which ended up wide of the goals. The away side won a free near the end line. Substitute Aoife Thompson whipped a great ball into the Waves box. Kearns read the flight of the ball perfectly. Her bullet header flew into Eve Badana net to level the tie.

Kelly started to empty the bench to try and change the outcome of the match. The final whistle was within touching distance when DLR fired a ball into the Galway box. After a mistake from the keeper Malone tapped into an empty net to give the hosts the lead, arguably against the run of play.

Galway piled on the pressure till the end but Badana and the Waves defence help out for a win.