News

Galway 1 make it two in a row against NUIG

01 October 2011

Galway took on NUIG in their second match of the new season.  The questions everyone was asking were could Galway keep up the pace and play that they displayed in their 3-0 win against Greenfields last week and could NUIG start this season like they did last year.

Both teams started well with the pace of the ball forcing both teams into fast attacking hockey.  Galway started to dominate in midfield midway through the first half with Alison Hynes, Michelle Carey and Tara Melvin, once again in top form.  They came close on a couple of occasions forcing good saves from Emilie Molloy in goals for NUIG.  However, NUIG were dangerous on the break and they too forced saves from Natasha Cooke in goals for Galway and twice from the defenders close to the goal line.

With 10 minutes before half time, Grace Melvin broke the deadlock with a chipped shot following some great pressure from the Galway players.  This settled Galway and with minutes remaining, they took the foot of the pressure slightly and let NUIG back into the game and with seconds remaining before the half time whistle, they equalised from a short corner.

The second half saw NUIG start the stronger and forced a number of short corners.  However, Galway’s defence stood firm.  Galway soon settled and stepped up the pressure and started to take back control of the game once again and from then on they dominated and limited NUIG to quick breaks from defence.  Galway were unlucky not to be a couple of goals ahead as they bombarded the NUIG goals with shot after shot. The post, the upright – all came to NUIG’s rescue but it was only a matter of time before Galway finally broke the deadlock from one of their many short corners when Emma Johnson deflected a Tara Melvin shot high into the NUIG goals.

The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the game with Galway forced to ponder on their many missed opportunities but satisfied that they continued their good start to the season.