Galway United women's side come from behind to defeat Cork City

Cork City 2

With manager Phil Trill ringing the changes following their cup semi-final shoot-out loss to Athlone the previous week, Nicole Nix got a rare opportunity to start in goal as Amanda McQuillan dropped to the bench, while Cora Griffin, Heather Loomes and Emma Doherty also all came into the starting eleven in place of Niamh Farrelly, Aoibhinn Donnolly and Aisling Meaney.

Now in the early exchanges, Cork certainly appeared to be defying their lowly league position at the foot of the table, as they went 2-0 up in the opening 16 minutes. Controversy reigned for their opener on 9 minutes, when Stella Berezowski appeared to be in an offside position when she got possession, before she raced away to tuck the opener past Nix, while the second saw South Korean striker Yuna Go power home a header following an Ellie O'Brien cross.

A home recovery was certainly required, but it took time before Abbie Callanan applied a close range finish after a serious press put the Cork defence under pressure and a 2-1 deficit always looked manageable thereafter. The home side should have levelled matters just before the break when Lucy Jane Grant got on the end of a Doherty cross, but directed her close range header outside a post. Moments later a Grant corner saw a serious goalmouth scramble in the box, before it was eventually cleared.

Now if Cork City had shown some ability in the opening half, the resumption was a different story as United controlled matters totally thereafter and very quickly they were rewarded with the equaliser on 53 minutes. After a Callanan shot was pushed away at the near post for a corner by Foyle, the Ardrahan native took the resulting set piece and Isabella Beletic was left all alone in the box to side foot home and tie up matters at 2-2.

With Beletic the conduit through which everything moved in central midfield, the home side continued to control matters as Heather Loomes, Eve Dossen and Cora Griffin continued to influence matters. However, the finishing left something to be desired as Doherty, Dossen and Aisling Meaney all spurned opportunities.

The match winner on 69 minutes owed everything to the run of Callanan down the left and when her cross was pushed away by 'keeper Foyle, the supporting Grant was centrally positioned in the box to fire the ball to the net for her first goal of the season and a 3-2 advantage for Galway United. Now sometimes this team just does enough to get over the line and this appears to be one of those days. Despite being totally unchallenged at the back, their lack of a killer instinct at the other end of the pitch would be a concern. A few half chances were created as Doherty headed wide, while Dossen's driving run and shot was spoiled by a Foyle save. Beletic headed over after a late corner, while Meaney sent a free kick from the edge of the box just over the crossbar.

However, enough was done and the win moved them to within a point of second placed Shelbourne, whilst still enjoying a game in hand. Elsewhere, leaders Athlone Town were making it five wins on the trot with a 2-1 success over Shamrock Rovers, as they maintained their seven point advantage over a United side who have a game in hand on the table toppers.

Galway United: Nix, Costello, Grant, Rehburger, Raimondi, Beletic, Dossen, Loomes (Farrelly 68mins), Griffin (Meaney 60mins), Callanan (Donnolly 85mins), Dossen.

Cork City: Foyle, Mendez, O'Brien, O'Leary, O'Hagan, Homan (Redmond 77mins), Mangan, Mackin (Lynch 89mins), Finnerty, Go (McCarthy 67mins), Berezowski.

Referee: Alan Franklin.