News Archive

Galway 1st Almost cause upset

09 September 2008

Last weekend Galway Hockey Ladies 1st team travelled to Dublin to take on last years runner’s up in the Leinster Senior League, as fixtures come they don’t come much harder than Railway Union. So a youthful Galway side made the arduous journey to Park avenue in Sandymount, having little to lose and everything to gain, Galway were first out of the blocks and caught the Leinster side on the hop. It wasn’t long however before Railway Union regained their composure and settled into the contest. Galway continued to press with some excellent work up front from Irish Internationals Tara Melvin and Lynsey Trainor who were support by Meave O’Faherty and Eavan Murphy, unfortunately the Galway side could not find the break thorough required as the Railway defence held firm under pressure. Railway Union who are competing in the country’s first ever All-Ireland league this season, began a turn the screw on this young Galway side and capitalised a mistake at the back to take the lead. So at the interval Galway were trailing by a single goal, into the 2nd half the industrious midfield led by Captain Grace Melvin, Grainne Black and Elaine Newell dominated the early exchanges some beautiful build up play down the right eventually resulted with the club’s top goal scorer Eavan Murphy increasing her total for the season as she brought the side’s level. Spurned into action Railway launch wave after wave of ferocious attacks on the Galway defence but Goalkeeper Emily Molloy answered all questions asked of her, while the defensive cover provided by Deirdre Joyce, Sarah Melvin, Alison Hynes and another youth international Freddie Timmins could not be faulted. In the end however inexperience proved to be the Galway side’s undoing as in closing moments of the match Railway won a short corner and sub sequentially punished Galway as they clinched a narrow victory. Commenting after the match coach Richard Malone who was obviously delighted with his team’s performance commented that “ It was a trilling match and we did well to compete with such an experienced side, we worked a great goal from open play and some of our passages of play were excellent.” This indeed was an exceptional result when you consider Galway narrowly missed out on qualification for the All-Ireland League last season and shows their intend to build on the success of last season.

Final Score:

Railway Union 1st 2 Galway 1sts 1

Goalscorers:

Galway Eavan Murphy