Doherty hits hat-trick in Galway United's away win over Cork City
Cork City 0Galway United 3INSPIRED by an Emma Doherty hat trick, Galway United maintained their position at the top of the Women's National League with a comfortable success in Turner's Cross on Saturday.
Phil Trill's charges were making it five wins in succession and, in the process, three clean sheets in a row as they turned a two goal interval advantage into a comfortable three goal success. Not even a late Ceola Bergin penalty miss could spoil what was an impressive outcome.
The visitors made three changes to their selection for their second road trip in successive weeks as Eve Dossen, Cara Griffin and Lynsey McKey all came into the starting eleven as replacements for Ava Mullins, Remini Tillotson and Aoibheann Costello. The game also saw the introduction of new signing Roma McLoughlin with the midfielder replacing her fellow county woman Doherty in the second half.
Both of United's opening half goals came courtesy of set pieces. The opener on 35 minutes came from a Doherty header as she got in front of a covering defender to get on the end of a McKey free kick.
The same duo combined to make it 2-0 when a McKey corner on this occasion saw the Donegal native again get her head to the delivery to send it past Una Foyle.
Though the visitors continued to enjoy the majority of possession and offered the greater threat in the last third of the park, some resolute defending by the home side kept the contest alive.
However, on a day when Doherty really had her eye in, she completed her hat trick quickly on the resumption when a ball over the top saw the striker win the race for possession with the advancing Foyle as she lobbed the ball into an empty net to make it 3-0 and, in the process, bring her tally for the season to five.
After the game manager Phil Trill was more than willing to spread the glory throughout the team. “Sure, the goals from Emma (Doherty) were great, but on the day there was a massive contribution from everybody.
The leadership group is very strong and they energise us daily with their contributions
"The leadership group is very strong and they energise us daily with their contributions. On the performance basis, we scored three goals, but could have added many more in the second half. “Momentum is a hell of a thing and we just want to keep it going and, no doubt, Peamount will pose a fresh challenge to us next time out.”
In their next outing, Galway United return to Eamonn Deacy Park for a Saturday (5pm) kick-off against Peamount United.
The sides met recently in the All Island Cup with United prevailing by 4-0 in convincing fashion, while last weekend, the Dublin side had to come from behind to grab a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers.
United's victory in Cork allowed them maintain their two point advantage at the top of the table over an Athlone Town side who defeated Wexford by 2-0. Two of the other title contenders went head to head and Shamrock Rovers came from two down to inflict a 5-2 defeat on Shelbourne.
Cork City: Foyle, McCarthy, Mackin, Flanagan, O'Brien (Malone 92), Mangan, Homan (O'Hagan 75), Finnerty, O'Donovan, Seward (O'Leary Callender 63), O'Driscoll,
Galway United: McQuillan, Cotter, Grant, Dossen, Griffin (Madden 69mins), Beletic (Loomes 81), Farrelly, McKey (McGough 59mins), Donnolly (Costello 59), Doherty (McLoughlin 81mins), Bergin.
Referee: Chris Sheehan.