WLOI Match Report: The Hoops lose their first 3 goals to 2 at Eamonn Deacy Park

Eamonn Deacy Park - source Galway United website

Christine Allen reports

Opposite the Comer Stand, a swirling wind shook the LOITV gantry as Galway United and Shamrock Rovers rekindled their rivalry for their first league encounter of 2025.

From the kick-off, the home side were intent on becoming the hammer and not the nail.

Against a Rovers eleven renowned for their slick, one-touch, high-tempo football, attack became the best form of defence as Ceola Bergin, Niamh Farrelly, and Emma Doherty swept forward in gusts - Doherty hounding Keane into her first misstep.

Spooked as the Donegal native advanced, the Rovers netminder hoofed a clearance straight into the path of Bergin - the former Wexford Youth teeing up the strike for Amanda Smith who's first time effort bobbled narrowly past Keane’s post.

A goal looked imminent as Bergin, Doherty, and Smith slipped behind the Rovers defence with alarming alacrity.

It arrived in the 4th minute when a touch from Doherty set Callanan through.

Keane, caught yards off her line, could only watch as the number sixteen struck the ball on the bounce and the net rippled.

1-0.

On the restart, Rovers responded with urgency as Ella Kelly harassed and hassled the maroon shirts in an effort to win back possession.

On her respective left flank, Aoibheann Costello frustrated Emily Corbet as the Hoops attacker probed for an opening while Kate Thompson and Eve Dossen kept debutant Keelin Comiskey in check.

Rovers were fortunate not to concede a second in the 26th when a fortuitous deflection for Phill Trills eleven bounced off Bergin and into the path of Doherty who dragged it beyond Comiskey.

One v one against Keane, the number 23's decision to drive the ball low favoured Keane’ whose outstretched leg denied her.

Battling against a Hoops high press, the United backline neutralised attacks from both respective flanks until the 29th minute when Dossen’s clearance fell to the young Kelly.

On pure instinct the Tallaght native scooped the ball through a narrow gap towards a moving green and white target.

Corbet latched on, took a deft touch and rifled a shot across Nicole Nix into the bottom left hand corner.

1-1

Ralph remained a persistent threat inside the box but United crowded out the Greenhills native before she could pop off a shot and Rovers continued to get very little bang for their buck.

The home side struck again just before half-time.

In the 43rd minute, Thompson’s press forced Ralph off the ball and United swooped, launching it forward to Bergin.

Spotting Farrelly on the charge, Bergin played her in - the veteran muscling past Scarlett Herron to toe-poke it home

2-1.

And then…a moment of brilliance from Ruesha Littlejohn.

Scouting Nix off her line, the WNT international struck an audacious attempt from the halfway mark, lofting the ball over the stranded keeper and into the net.

2-2

The second-half saw Rovers regain composure at the back as Reynolds batted Bergin out of touch.

Securing little success on the left, United opted to explore the right but Herron stood tall against Doherty’s marauding run and conceded the corner.

The ensuing set-pieces had Rovers scrambling as Lucy Jayne Grant pitched inviting deliveries into the heart of the box - Beletic rattling the post with a powerful header.

Then a break from nothing for The Hoops.

Bursting forward with three green and white shirts to two maroon, Ralph swung a ball across centre to O’Gorman, but the weight of the pass forced the forward wide and the chance came to nothing.

Rovers continued to rally the left flank - O'Gorman floating a dangerous cross into the box. Alert for the full 90 minutes, Costello reacted swiftly to dispossess the roving Corbet before she could pull the trigger.

Galway were gifted a penalty in the 78th when a header from Smith struck Brophy’s hand but Keane’s spring to the right denied the Canadian striker from the spot.

Undeterred United won the corner.

As Grant swung the set piece inside Doherty rose high, her header forcing a touch from Keane, but despite the keeper's parry, the ball spilled into the bottom left hand corner.

3-2

With twenty-five minutes left to play the Hoops made a number of changes.

Joy Ralph and Emily Corbet made way for Anna Butler and Katie O’Reilly while Melissa O’Kane replaced Jamie Thompson. Ciara Whyte in addition made her debut for the Rovers senior side in the 88th.

Galway too opted for fresh legs - Rola Olusola replacing Callanan and Jodie Griffin coming on for Ava Mullins.

Little, however, shifted in terms of the dynamic between both rivals.

In the dying moments, Comiskey delivered a spectacular through ball to Anna Butler, whose surging run nearly bore fruit - until Nix smothered.

The game ended 3-2 to the Tribeswomen who now hold third place in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division league table.

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