By Conall Collier
Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt praised his players on Saturday evening despite a narrow defeat against hosts Bohemian FC in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) at Dalymount Park.
Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt was full of praise for his players on Saturday evening despite a narrow reversal against hosts Bohemian FC in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) at Dalymount Park.
It was the first game for a month for the Bit O’Red following various postponements and missing out on a round as the odd team of 11 in the WPD at the beginning of July.
The loss of Emma Doherty, Kelly Crompton and Zoe McGlynn, who transferred to other clubs, and the absence Keeva Flynn and Cara King meant that on this occasion almost half the team from the previous outing against champions Peamount at the of June had to be replaced.
To suggest that the changes were seamless wouldn’t be quite accurate, but what was obvious and evident was the depth of young talent that the club is producing though the Academy.
There was also the inclusion of Yvonne Hedigan for her first start for the Bit O’Red since she joined from Bohemian FC this season following a lengthy spell on the sideline after a serious injury.
Yvonne sustained a broken leg in 2021 and the road to recovery included a few setbacks along the way, but on Saturday the Sligo native, who attended Ursuline College with Emma Hansberry, got through 65 minutes at the centre of the defence.
Her experience was vital as the Bit O’Red defended tenaciously in the opening half and then pressed for what proved to be an elusive equaliser in the second-half.
That she departed with 25 minutes remaining wasn’t a reflection on her performance and more to do with that long absence from competitive action.
“We had a long break, about a month, we were coming into this game off the back of a defeat against the champions Peamount Utd, but I genuinely am very proud of the girls and although we lost it doesn’t feel like a loss,” stated the Bit O’Red manager.
“We were probably written off for this game because we lost players during the transfer window and we also had players on GAA duty in an All-Ireland final for Sligo.
“I felt we were the better team, especially in the second-half, it took us a while to find a rhythm, but that was to be expected with five changes.
“All we were missing was a goal, and that has been the story of our season so far, but everything else was positive and you must remember that Bohs defeated Galway Utd here a few weeks ago in their last home game.
“Yvonne (Hedigan) was immense, it was her first game in three years and it was understandable that she found the pace a bit much so it was as a precaution that she was substituted in the second-half.
“She (Yvonne) brings a wealth of experience to the team and I also have to mention young Mairead McIntyre who came on, she’s only 15 and didn’t look out of place.
“The two girls from the Gaelic will be back next week also and that will give us an extra dimension when it comes to picking the team for what will be a big test for us in the FAI Cup against another Dublin team, Terenure Rangers,” he concluded.