DLR Waves vs Galway WFC Report

 

Kate Mooney and Katie Malone both netted for the hosts as DLR Waves picked up their first win of their 2021 WNL campaign, with a 2-1 victory over a previously unbeaten Galway WFC at the UCD Bowl.

A Rachel Kearns goal levelled the game before the interval, and the sides remained tied at 1-all entering the closing minutes.

Waves found the net for the second time on 88 minutes, after a mistake by the Galway keeper ensured Malone tapped the ball into a vacant goal.

Galway heaped pressure on late on, but Eve Badana and the DLR defence held strong to claim their first victory.

Both sides flew out of the blocks playing the game at what was a very high tempo. This led to a scrappy opening 10 minutes with no team making any inroads into the opposition box.

On the 15th minute the home side opened the scoring through Mooney, who got her head onto a long ball played down the field. She controlled her header well to find the corner of the opposition net.

This goal propelled the visitors into action. They started to gain a foothold in the middle of the park through Kiera Cormican. As Galway pushed forward, the Graham Kelly well trained defensive unit stood firm, not allowing any shots to trouble Eve Badana in the goal.

With the game heading towards the break goal scorer and debutant Mooney suffered a leg injury which meant her debut for her new club had to be cut short. She was replaced up front by Katie Malone.

Neither team had a shot on goal for the rest of the half as both defences were tenacious against any threat.

The second half was much like the start of the opening one with some very scrappy play from both clubs.

Billy Clery’s side won an indirect free kick due to the pressure Kearns put on Badana who couldn’t get rid of the ball quickly.

Both sides traded half chances which ended up wide of the goals. The away side won a free near the end line. Substitute Aoife Thompson whipped a great ball into the Waves box. Kearns read the flight of the ball perfectly. Her bullet header flew into Eve Badana net to level the tie.

Kelly started to empty the bench to try and change the outcome of the match. The final whistle was within touching distance when DLR fired a ball into the Galway box. After a mistake from the keeper Malone tapped into an empty net to give the hosts the lead, arguably against the run of play.

Galway piled on the pressure till the end but Badana and the Waves defence help out for a win.

https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/event/dlr-waves-v-galway-wfc/

DLR Waves vs Galway Preview

 

DLR welcome high-flying Galway to Belfield this evening at 6pm aiming for their first victory of the season.

The Dublin side sit fifth in the table after the opening two rounds of games in the league. In comparison the Westerners lie second, two points adrift of the top spot and high-flying Shelbourne.

Galway will be traveling East on a high after scoring three goals in their last game, against another Dublin side Bohemians. The only dampener on what was a great result for them was the sending off late on of the very influential Chloe Singleton.

The DLR defensive unit will have to be in great form to keep out this Galway side, who just go out and attack from the opening whistle. Ex-Irish underage international Rachel Kearns has been influential for Galway in pressing from the front. She is now starting to find her feet in the league and could very easily end up being the top scorer in the division. 

Clery’s side will be looking for the experienced Therese Kinnevey along side Savannah McCarthy to control the middle of the park and distribute the ball to Kearns along with McKey; both of whom got their names on the scoresheet in their last game.

The home side will be looking to goal scorer from the last game Carla McManus to add to her tally for the season. If she can get any supply, it will be very difficult for the away sides back line to keep that ball out of the net.

Whether Graham Kelly will make any tactical changes to his side is yet to be seen. As the home side they will need to go out and attack this game. This could be very difficult for the young side.

A counter attacking game could be the plan of action for the home side. Kerri Letmon will be looking to open her scoring for the season. If herself and the aforementioned McManus have their shooting boots on, we could be in for a very entertaining and high scoring game.

https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/event/dlr-waves-v-galway-wfc/

Treaty United vs Cobh Preview

 

New boys Treaty United are aiming to continue their unbeaten debut season this Friday, when they host a Cobh Ramblers side chasing their first league point.

The Limerick side sit 4th in the table after two games; but their Munster counterparts are rooted to the bottom after two big losses. The first of those defeats came against Rebel County colleagues Cork City, before the Dublin students hit them for 4 goals in their last game.

Stuart Ashton side, who finished 6th in this league last season will be hopeful that their experience might show in Limerick as they attempt to get their first points of the season.

Due to Covid, a lot of teams have had huge issues in recruiting because of financial issues. Cobh’s recruitment has mainly been localised, picking up players from around Cork who have experience in the Munster Senior League.

David O'Leary (Avondale United), Ciaran Griffin (Cobh Wanderers), Caelian Rooney (Youghal United), Jake Hegarty and James McCarthy (Middleton) have all been added to the squad.

Stuart Ashton will be hoping that one or two of these players might come to the fore to help star man Charlie Lyons get a result on the night.

Tommy Barrett’s side are yet to concede a goal in the competition, albeit they have gone down to 10-men in their opening two games.

Treaty’s backline is well marshalled by last week’s game winner Anthony O’ Donnell; along with versatile club captain Jack Lynch. It will be very difficult to see how Cobh will break through this resolute rear-guard especially with them on home turf.

With exciting talent like Joel Coulstrain and Conor Melody in attack Friday could be the night that these players will show their skill and finishing ability and finally open their account for the club.

If the Shannonsiders can finish the game with 11 men, it will be very difficult to see anything but a win for this fledgling new club.

https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/event/5192/

Drogheda vs Finn Harps Report

 

HARPS PEGGED BACK BY DROGS

Finn Harps kept their unbeaten start to the season going with a hard fought 1-1 draw with Drogheda United at Head in the Game Park this evening in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

Ollie Horgan’s side travelled to the Wee county to keep there early run of form going. Horgan named an unchanged side in comparison to Drogheda who made a few changes along with changing their formation for the visit of Harps.

The early stages of the game were very nip and tuck with both sides cancelling each other out for the opening 25 minutes.

It wasn’t until just before the half hour mark that the game burst into life. When in form Adam Foley gathered the ball at the edge of the box turned and fired a shot that was well saved by the goalkeeper.

The home side’s first chance came moments later when Mark Doyle collected the ball and ran directly at the defence but his low effort from inside the box was well saved by McGinley in the goal.

The last chance of the half came to the away side when Ethan Boyle got the ball on the edge of the box, but his attempted lob flew over the bar.

The 2nd half of the game was a much brighter affair. Mark Russell fired a shot in anger from long range that was tipped over the bar by the keeper.

The first goal of the game was a goal worth waiting for, Karl O’ Sullivan hit a strike from outside the box which flew into the corner giving the keeper no chance.

5 minutes later the home side grabbed the equaliser after James Browne danced his way through the defence , before laying the ball to Mark Doyle who tapped into an empty net.

Both managers started emptying the bench after the hour mark. Trying to liven up the closing stages.

Browne made his way from out wide into the box again in the 80th minute but after doing all the hard work McGinley saved his goal bound effort.

In the closing stages the home side piled on the pressure. If it wasn’t for a great interception by Shane McEleney, as Dinny Corcoran was waiting to tap into an empty net.

https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/event/drogheda-united-finn-harps/

Treaty United vs Wexford Report

 

TREATY TAKE THE SPOILS ON HOME DEBUT

Treaty United created their one little piece of history with a Anthony O'Donnell header enough to give them a 1-0 victory over Wexford FC in their first ever home game despite playing the last 30 minutes with 10 men.

It was the opposition that controlled the game better in the opening period of play. They created the first chance when a through ball landed at the feet of Jack Doherty whose controlled effort was well saved by Shane Cusack.

Wexford kept on the pressure, this lead to the second chance of the game through defender Luke Turner whose goal bound header was easily saved by Cusack.

In the 28th minute Treaty took the lead when defender Anthony O’Donnell got his head onto a great free kick whipped in by Mark Ludden. This was the home sides first ever goal in senior football.

Both sides cancelled each other out for the next 10 minutes with the defenders on both sides clearing any ball that came near either box.

Wexford won a corner with the game heading towards the break. They attempted a training ground move and it would have come off if it wasn’t for Ludden being alert clearing the ball at the back post. The home side had the last chance of the half though Joel Coustrain whose shot from the edge of the box went narrowly passed the post.

The 2nd half of this game was a much tighter affair. With chances few and far between. The home side had the best chance with a header that went past the far post.

The game changed dramatically just after the hour mark when Treaty’s Clyde O’Connell was given a 2nd yellow card in the space of 5 minutes.

This meant that the Shannonsiders would be on the backfoot for the last 25 minutes of the game. As the south east side started to control the game, they tried absolutely everything to break down a solid back line.

The back line cleared every ball that went near the box with O’Donnell and captain Jack Lynch coming out on top in every battle.

History was made at the final whistle when the home side held on for the win.

https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/event/treaty-united-wexford/

Treaty United vs Wexford Fc preview

 History will be made on Friday night in the Markets Fields in Limerick when Treaty United host Wexford FC in their first every home game in the League of Ireland First Division.

Having opened there maiden league campaign last weekend in the east of the country against Bray. The midwestern side managed to come away from that game with a solitary point, even after they got a man sent off in the game.

Brian O Sullivan’s Wexford side will be looking for a different result after they lost their first game of the season away to Cabinteely.

This trip to Limerick will be extremely tough as Treaty are very strong in defence, this was very evident from Barrett’s side last weekend against Bray especially when they held a dangerous side scoreless after being reduced to 10 men.

Wexford will have two key men returning from injures that affected both players pre-season with the club. If Dan Tobin and Charlie Smith are going to be available for O'Sullivan’s side on Friday night. It will be a timely return to fitness.

Unfortunately Wexford’s two new signings Anto Dolan and Cameron Smith still remain unavailable due to the long term injuries they have picked up. Barrett’s young side are relatively inexperienced at this level. With a squad made of mainly Limerick and Clare based amateur players. Barrett will be looking for the players with League of Ireland experience under their belt to try and gain a historic victory for the club.

This game will be available to watch on LOITV for anyone that has an interest in soccer in the Midwest or the south east or anyone who want to witness a little bit of League of Ireland history in the making.

https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/event/treaty-united-wexford/