Bohemians 1 – 0 Sligo Rovers
By Conall Collier
Katie Malone’s 33rd minute goal gave Bohemian FC a hard-earned Women’s Premier Division (WPD) victory against Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park on Saturday afternoon.
This was a much-changed Sligo Rovers team compared to the one that finished the last outing some 28 days ago against Peamount Utd while Bohemian FC came into this game with a 1-0 victory against Galway to their credit in the last home outing
Five enforced changes gave manager Tommy Hewitt plenty to ponder, but at the end of a pulsating 90 minutes the Bit O’Red boss had only one disappointing aspect of the game to deal with – a narrow reversal.
That aside, there was plenty to admire about a battling performance that saw the hosts under sustained pressure for about 20 second-half minutes as Sligo Rovers went in search of what would have been a deserved equaliser.
The most encouraging element was the return to action after a three-year absence of former Bohemian FC player Yvonne Hedigan who had an excellent outing for the Bit O’Red in central defence alongside Kelsey Munroe.
That made some amends for the absence of Keeva Flynn and Cara King who were both on Ladies GAA All-Ireland Minor final duty for Sligo in a match-winning display at Brewster Park, Enniskillen.
Also absent were the trio of Emma Doherty, Zoe McGlynn and Kelly Crompton who featured against Peamount at the end of June, but have since moved to Galway Utd, Glentoran and Linfield.
The players on duty stepped up to the plate with another excellent performance from Amber Hardy between the posts as she made some sensational saves in each half and continued to enhance her reputation.
And the Bit O’Red had a good chance as early as the 12th minute when Paula McGrory’s shot had home ’keeper Rachael Kelly in action, but at the other end goalscorer Malone missed a sitter from about five metres.
Hedigan also produced some excellent tackles that averted danger and she used her experience to good effect as Bohs continued to search for an opening goal.
That goal eventually arrived 12 minutes before the interval when Sarah McKevitt centred from the right and Malone rifled to the net for what, at that stage, was a merited advantage for the hosts.
Hardy then made two smart saves before the break from Lisa Murphy and McKevitt.
Rebecca Doddy replaced Eimear Lafferty for the second-half and she certainly caused problems for the home defence as both ‘keepers’ made smart saves.
Hedigan was called ashore with 25 minutes remaining and the play flowed from end-to-end. The Bit O’Red probed and pushed for an equaliser that proved elusive although Alice Lillie had a good effort in added time.
Next up for Sligo Rovers is a home tie in the FAI Cup next weekend against Dublin side Terenure Rangers who play on Sunday in the FAI Amateur Cup final as they bid to defend the title they won 12 months ago when they tackle Whitehall Rangers at the Belfield Bowl.
Bohemian FC – Rachael Kelly; Katie Lovely, Aoibhe Fleming, Lisa Murphy, Tiegan Ruddy, Fiona Donnelly, Aoibhe Brennan, Sarah McKevitt, Alannah McEvoy, Katie Malone, Sarah Power.
Sub – Shauna Carroll for McKevitt 82 mins.
Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Yvonne Hedigan, Kelsey Munroe, Muireann Devaney, Paula McGrory, Keri Loughrey, Eimear Lafferty, Jodie Loughrey.
Subs – Rebecca Doddy for McGrory half-time, Kate Nugent for Hedigan 66 mins, Mairead McIntyre for Lafferty and Katie Melly for Kelly both 77m, Lauren Devaney for Kiernan 89m.
Referee – Glen Geraghty.
Assistant-referees – Simon Drislane, Paudie Hayes.
Fourth official – Kate O’Brien.