Tribeswomen host Shelbourne in shoot-out for European qualification
Phil Trill’s side need a win to leapfrog visitors and finish as runners-up to Athlone Town
Galway United welcome Shelbourne to Eamonn Deacy Park this Saturday (4.35pm) on the final day of the Women’s National League season, with the two sides in a straight shootout for the runners-up spot in the league, and the place in European football next season that comes with that second-placed finish.
The sides are level on points in second and third in the table, with the Dublin outfit enjoying the better goal difference, and as a result, nothing less than a win will do for United, while Shels have the luxury of only needing a draw to finish second and take that European spot.
United set-up that shootout with a 2-1 win away to Peamount last weekend in the fourth meeting this season between the sides, and while they recorded a victory on each occasion, and this was another encounter where Phil Trill's charges had to work hard for their win.
It was the home side who broke the deadlock just before the interval when Millie Daly gave them a 1-0 advantage. but Galway United's response on the restart was impressive, and Aoibheann Costello levelled matters in the 48th minute.
It started as a quick counter attack as goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan put left-full Lucy Jane Grant in possession, and her release sent Costello away down the left. Showing great power and control, the Milltown native broke into the box and fired the equaliser low past Summer Lawless to tie up matters at 1-1.
The winner on 54 minutes owed everything to the workrate and finishing of leading scorer Emma Doherty. With Peamount in possession following a throw-in near their own corner flag, the Donegal native nicked the ball and from the edge of the area, and lofted an exquisite chip beyond the reach of Lawless to put her side 2-1 ahead.
United had looked the more threatening side throughout, as Doherty went close before the break, but was denied by Lawless. The goalkeeper later made comfortable saves from Eve Dossen, Aoibhinn Donnelly, and Doherty, as the visitors went looking for a third goal.
At the other end, McQuillan displayed her prowess with smart saves to deny Millie Daly and Abby Tuthill as United held on for a win that gives them something huge to play for tomorrow.
Galway United and Shelbourne have met on two previous occasions this season, with the sides sharing the spoils on a scoreless draw in league action back in May; while the Dublin side emerged 2-0 winners when they met in the All Island Cup final in Tolka Park in July.
Scoring goals has been a bit of a problem for United all season, but as a useless statistic, they have not scored in the first half in any of their last six games and indeed have only scored in the opening half in two of their last 14 contests.
Peamount United: Lawless, Doherty, Tuthill, O'Connor (McGonnell 71), Sinnott (Russell 60), Philips, Healy, O'Neill, Daly, Byrne, Murtagh (Lovely 60).
Galway United: McQuillan, Griffin, Grant, Cotter (Mullins 75), Rehberger, Beletic, Farrelly, Dossen, Donnelly (Callanan 75), Doherty, Costello (Gleeson 90).
Referee: Eric Eaton.