Sion Swifts took the Group C Avenir Sports Women’s All-Island Cup spoils this afternoon with a comprehensive 4-1 second round victory against Sligo Rovers at the Melvin Sports Complex, writes Conall Collier.

The opening half was a cagey affair and the teams turned over on level terms (1-1), but Sion Swifts dictated the exchanges after the break.

Both teams lost in the first round of Group C last weekend with Sion Swifts edged out by the odd goal in three away to Cliftonville while the Bit O’Red lost at home to Bohemian FC.

Both teams needed to win to have any chance of earning a semi-final ticket and Sion Swifts achieved that target, but will need favourable results elsewhere to progress.

Despite the best efforts of the players in this encounter the opening 40 minutes was scoreless.

However, the deadlock was broken a minute later when another Sligo Rovers own goal, this time a deflection off Kate Nugent, gave Sion Swifts the lead.

Undaunted by the setback, the Bit O’Red got back on level terms when Sarah Kiernan rifled a free into the bottom corner of the Swifts net in first-half added time to leave it 1-1 at the interval.

The hosts resumed smartly for the second-half and hit the front again in the 51st minute with a Kerry Brown goal.

The hosts remained in the ascendancy and were rewarded with a third goal with about 20 minutes remaining when Caoirse Doherty finished to the net and effectively sealed the win.

It got worse for the Bit O’Red in the 81st minute when Sion Swifts substitute Tara O’Connor-Farren added a fourth goal for an impressive victory for the hosts.

Sligo Rovers will complete the Group C campaign next weekend with a trip to Belfast to tackle Cliftonville while Sion Swifts will play Bohemian FC.

Sion Swifts – Jennifer Currie: Aimee Neal, Tasmin McCarter, Saoirse Healy, Kelly
Crompton, Zoe McGlynn, Kerry Brown, Cora Chambers, Teegan Lynch, Aoibhe O’Neill, Caoirse Doherty. 

Subs – Caoimhe Walsh for Neal 45 mins, Lauren Haynes for Healy 58m, Tara O’Connor-Farren for Doherty 76m.
 
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Emma Hansberry, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Casey Howe, Aoife Brennan, Jodie Loughrey, Keela Scanlon, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Kate Nugent. 

Subs – Amy Roddy for Nugent, Leah Kelly for Scanlon and Keri Loughrey for Hansberry all 64 mins, Katie Melly for J Loughrey 71 mins, Ciara Henry for Boles 80m.