WOMEN’S SOCCER NATIONAL LEAGUE
O’Riordan’s charges unable to cope with classy Dublin rivals
UCD WAVES…………………………………… 3
GALWAY WFC…………………………………. 0
DAIRE WALSH AT
JACKSON PARK
DON O’Riordan’s tenure as Galway Women’s Football Club supremo got under way at Jackson Park on Sunday afternoon but, in spite of the best efforts of his side, it was Republic Of Ireland International Julie-Ann Russell who helped to swing the outcome in favour of a star-studded UCD Waves outfit.
The former Salthill Devon starlet remains a popular figure in the county, but thanks to her sublime finishes in the 34th and 55th minutes respectively, she ensured that the south Dublin side were in a commanding position prior to Aine Gorman’s insurance goal 11 minutes from time.
The all-action winger (who was a summer arrival from perennial title challengers Peamount United) suffered a setback eight minutes from time when a second yellow-card brought an abrupt halt to her participation, but there was not enough time for the Tribeswomen to exploit their numerical advantage.
With eight wins from 21 fixtures in the 2013/14 WNL, there were plenty of positives for Galway to focus on ahead of the current campaign. The presence of former Galway United player and manager O’Riordan in the dug-out is also a welcome development, while in Meadbh de Burca, they have a player who is a key component of Sue Ronan’s national team.
Yet, despite being a ‘new’ addition to the league (the club is essentially a merger between DLR Waves and UCD Ladies Football Club), the Belfield girls are expected to be one of the major competitors at the summit of the table, and on the evidence of their league debut, it is easy to see why.
Shrewd pre-season business has seen Aine O’Gorman, Dora Gorman, Karen Duggan, Russell, Ciara Grant and Seana Cooke all pledge their Waves allegiance, and owing largely to the close bond they enjoy on the international stage, it came as little surprise to see them settling so comfortably during the early stages.
Galway attackers Kara Mullins and Eleanor Stafford were willing operators early on, and were doing their level best to provide an outlet inside the final-third, but as the half wore on UCD appeared to be the more likely of the two teams to break the deadlock.
Indeed, this is precisely what happened 11 minutes before the interval when a long-range strike by Russell was fired beyond the reach of Galway netminder Melissa Casserly. After working hard to contain the formidable UCD front line, the concession of this goal was a blow to the visitors, but with just one goal separating the sides upon the resumption, it was by no means a lost cause.
Cooke had found the back of the Galway net with a 42nd minute header, but the offside flag came to the rescue of the Westerners on this occasion.
UCD were hell-bent on adding to their advantage, however, and although de Burca and company were alert to much of the danger, they were unable to prevent Russell heading home her second from a Waves set piece ten minutes into the second period.
This left Galway with a mountain to climb during the final half-hour of action, and while their energetic midfield never shied away from the difficult task at hand, a third UCD goal always seemed inevitable. With Russell angling for a hat-trick, Casserly upended the 23-year-old inside the box, and Aine O’Gorman made no mistake from the subsequent 79th minute spot kick.
Russell’s 82nd minute dismissal did help Galway to build some late momentum, but the UCD defensive line remained unbreached, and they will now be aiming to bounce back in their first home league outing of 2014/15 against Peamount at Eamonn Deacy Park this Sunday.
UCD WAVES: McGuirk; McCarthy, Grant, Duggan, Cooke; Thorpe, Gorman, Carroll, Russell; O’Gorman, Berrill.
Reserves: Taylor, Ryan, O’Reilly, Nolan, Brien.
GALWAY WFC: Casserly; Cormican, de Burca, Fahy, Carter; Hudner, Cunningham, Barrett, Kelleher; Mullins, Stafford.
Reserves: Hughes, Fox, Creaven, Keane, Moran, Walsh.