Slattery rescues point for Galway

Jenna Slattery’s delightful chipped finish from distance helped Galway snatch a share of the spoils away at WNL leaders Shelbourne from Tolka Park.

Shels had a chance to extend their cushion atop the standings, after second-placed Wexford Youths were stunned 1-0 away at Sligo Rovers elsewhere today.

Despite their dominance in terms of chance creation, the hosts were only a goal up at half-time. Rachel Graham and Noelle Murray particularly spurned good opportunities, then the latter shanked an even better effort from close-range before the hour mark.

That massive miss seemed to kick the visitors into gear, as they were suddenly in the ascendancy as the game got stretched and tired legs were being exploited.

A defensive mishap between Shauna Fox and Amanda Budden saw the ball spilled from the goalkeeper’s hands, with Lynsey McKey racing to the loose ball but firing high and wide.

Slattery stole possession in the Shels half, spotted Budden off her line and let fly from distance with a deft effort, watching it float into the far corner to level.

Shels had a chance to further extend their cushion atop the standings, after second-placed Wexford Youths were stunned 1-0 away at Sligo Rovers elsewhere today.

But ultimately they were made to rue multiple missed goalscoring opportunities here, with Noelle Murray’s miss just before the hour mark a catalyst for Galway’s gung-ho forward approach.

The game got stretched, tired legs and minds duly exploited as a frantic finish ensued but it’ll certainly be visiting boss Alan Murphy who heads home happier after seeing his side under the cosh for sustained periods in the first-half.

Saoirse Noonan broke the deadlock after 13 minutes with a first-time strike creeping beyond Abbiegayle Ronayne at her near post, after good work between Murray and eventual crosser Chloe Mustaki.

Despite their dominance in terms of chance creation, the hosts were only a goal up at half-time. Rachel Graham and Murray particularly spurned good opportunities, before the latter shanked an even better effort from close-range before the hour mark. 

Their passages of passing play in-and-around the final third threatened to blow Galway away at times, though they often lacked the right execution when it mattered most.

That miss seemed to kick the visitors into gear, as they looked dangerous in transition and were growing in confidence with each close call. 

As the game got stretched and more sloppy mistakes were committed, they found themselves in the ascendancy with Julie-Ann Russell and Emma Starr particularly applying pressure to propel them on.

A defensive mishap between Shauna Fox and goalkeeper Amanda Budden saw the ball spilled from the latter’s hands, with Lynsey McKey racing to the loose ball but firing high and wide.

That moment, forced by Galway’s relentless pressure, proved a warning the hosts wouldn’t heed. Mustaki’s pass to Pearl Slattery wasn’t properly controlled by captain Pearl Slattery, who had her pocket pinched by an alert Jenna to the loose ball. Spotting Budden off her line and with no time to recover, she let fly from distance with a deft effort, watching it float into the far corner to level.

Despite more half-chances, nervy forays forward and late substitutions aplenty by both, a draw was how it ultimately finished. Afterwards, Murphy revealed his pride for Galway with third-placed Athlone Town next:

“We gave away a poor goal, tweaked it a little at half-time, our second-half was very good and we were probably going to win it in the end if it went a little longer but the quality they have is there to be seen. We have a lot of time on our hands, seven unbeaten and we’ve had a good turn [of form]. I think it was probably a fair result, good to go here and be disappointed with a draw.”

As for Shelbourne, their WNL lead now sits at eight points with the aforementioned title-chasing Wexford up next weekend.