News Archive

Galway 2nds Pull off Cup Shock

09 November 2008

Galway 2nds 1  Scorer: Louise Conlon

Pembroke Wanderers 1

Galway win on PS 1-0

Galway 2nds recorded a historic victory this weekend as they overcame Pembroke Wanderers in Serptine avenue on Saturday afternoon after a thrilling penalty stroke competition. Pembroke where with out doubt serious favourites to win this contest, with the team from the west were never anything more than underdogs especially conceding home advantage to the Dublin side. Prior to the game Galway suffered another below as influential player Alsion Hynes was taken ill, while this rocked Galway they managed to regroup prior to the game. Galway who are captained this year by Grainne Murphy took to the field full of confidence with the return of Emma Glanville from injury while having the experienced former international goalkeeper Tara Browne in goal. Galway were also with out other influential players Michelle Carey (injuryed) while Freddie Timmins and Eavan Murphy were both in France. The first half saw Galway applied early pressure on Pembroke with Louise Conlon, Roseanne Regan and the tireless Niamh Walsh causing consistent problems for the Pembroke defence, Galway's midfield was anchored by Christine Rabbitte, with Grainne Black and Deirdre Hatton supporting roles. Eventually Pembroke managed to established a foot hold in the game and began to apply some pressure of their own, the game ebb and flow with neither side being able to make their possession telling. With two minutes to go in the first half the Galway defence of Louise Thorton, Siobhain Hammon and Emma Glanville was eventually resulting in a penalty corner for Pemborke. From the resulting penalty corner the Dublin side punished Galway and took the lead with a clinical finish. Following a harsh team team talk from coach Richard Malone, Galway took to the field looking for something following their excellent first half display and it duly arrived about 20 minutes into the 2nd half as some excellent play from Grainne Black release Louise Conlon into the Pembroke and she produced the required finished and rocked the Dublin side. So at the end of 70 minutes both sides were level and so have the 2nd time in a week a Galway team would play extra time and golden goal, coach Richard Malone reintroduced the influential Ciara Bourke and Lisa Geraghty into the action, however neither side could managed a break thorough. So again Galway faced penalty strokes to decided their future in an Irish cup, captain Grainne Murphy won the toss and opted to go first with Christina Rabbitte taking Galway's first stroke which was saved by the young Pembroke keeper, so the pressure was on keeper Tara Browne to produce a safe which she duly delivered so both sides were level as Grainne Black stepped having scored two stroke the previous week, Black was unlucky not to convert this time. unbelievably the pressure was again on Browne to save them and again she produced another save. So both sides were again even, next in line for Galway was Roseanne Regan who expertly finished her storke to hand Galway the lead, while Pembroke wasted their next stroke. It was Emma Glanville next up the Galway side a former Pembroke player Glanville was egar to put Galway thorough to the next round however the Pembroke keeper was more than able for the challenge as she produce another outstanding save. So Pembroke presented with another opportunity to level score put the ball over the bar. So it was up to Ciara Bourke Galway's last taker to ensure Galway progress however the Pembroke keeper who was undoubtedly inspired produced another fine save. So the pressure again fell on Tara Browne to be Galway's hero and again she didn't disappointed and so ensured Galway progressed despite being underdogs.