Frustration for Treaty United ladies after stalemate in Galway
Treaty dominated the game for large periods but were unable to find a winning goal
TREATY United women played out a scoreless draw with third-placed Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday evening as they remained fifth in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
It was a hard-earned point on a night when the Shannonsiders dominated the Westerners and could easily have taken all three points given the number of chances they created but Laurie Ryan’s side had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Treaty United are on 26 points after 17 games following the stalemate in Galway, level with Sligo Rovers but ahead on goal difference.
Ryan’s charges have seven wins this term with five defeats and five draws from their games to date. Emma Jones made her debut in goals for Treaty against Galway and lined out alongside her sister Kate. Their brother Matt was part of the men’s team that were beaten at home against Wexford on Friday evening.
The Shannonsiders fashioned the first opening in the eleventh minute as the dangerous Ciara Breslin was played through on goal thanks to a delightful ball over the top from Katie Lawlee.
However, Galway goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan was quick off her line to smother the danger. Moments later, at the other end, Emma Doherty picked out the unmarked Abbey Callanan in the Treaty box.
But Shannonsiders goalkeeper Emma Jones made a vital intervention to keep the game scoreless. Caroline Penner was next to have a go, picking up possession inside the Galway box after being picked out by Lawlee, but she failed to get the connection required to challenge McQuillan.
Right on the stroke of the half-hour mark, Madison McGuane swung her left boot at a loose ball. The young Treaty star was unable to hit the target though with her shot going high and wide of the Galway goals.
Breslin had another big opportunity just before the break. Lawlee was once again central to the move. She slid a superb pass onto Breslin but her effort was too close to McQuillan to trouble the experienced Galway goalkeeper as the sides went in at the interval deadlocked.
The best chance of the game fell to the visitors twelve minutes after the restart. Penner rattled the upright after being played through by Breslin, before Fiona Doherty struck the rebound narrowly wide as Galway held on.
At the other end, Niamh Farrelly went close for the Westerners soon after the restart, but her powerful drive sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Twenty minutes from time, Breslin went close again for the Shannonsiders. However, Treaty lacked the end product, with her effort from the edge of the box curling over the crossbar.
Despite Treaty’s dominance, the home side nearly grabbed a winner with 13 minutes remaining as Ava Mullins forced a superb save from Jones with a curling effort.
On the stroke of the full-time whistle, Emma Doherty tried her luck from a tight angle, but once again Jones stood firm to ensure the points were shared on the west coast.
Next up, the Shannonsiders will return home to take on champions-elect Athlone Town at the Markets Field next Saturday.
Meanwhile, Galway will hope to cement their place in the top three when they travel to Tallaght Stadium to take on fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers.
GALWAY UNITED: Amanda McQuillan; Aoibheann Costello, Lucy Grant, Eve Dossen, Ella Raimondi, Jadw Rehberger; Niamh Farrelly, Isabella Beletic, Aislinn Meaney (Ciara Griffin, 79 mins); Emma Doherty, Abbie Callanan (Ava Mullins, 69 mins).
TREATY UNITED: Emma Jones; Sarah Rice, Kyah Coady, Kate Jones, Fiona Doherty; Katie Lawlee, Madison McGuane, Emma Oliphant, Ellen Goggin; Caroline Penner, Ciara Breslin.
Referee: Ryan Maher.