By Conall Collier

Two goals in each half gave Cork City an opening win of the Women’s Premier Division season at the expense of a disjointed Sligo Rovers side that missed a 94th-minute penalty at Turner’s Cross on Saturday evening.

Manager Steve Feeney made one change to the starting lineup from the opening weekend draw against Bohemians, with Paula McGrory coming in for Mairead McIntyre, who dropped to the bench.

Sligo Rovers enjoyed a positive start and created a number of chances, but hosts Cork City made the all-important breakthrough in the 19th minute with a swift counterattack and capitalised on a defensive lapse as Christina Dring finished well.

And it got worse for the Bit O’Red five minutes later when Dring again capitalised on a lapse by Sligo Rovers as she won possession around the centre circle and held off a number of challenges before claiming her second goal of the afternoon.

Sligo Rovers went in search of a goal, and Paula McGrory had a chance on 36 minutes, but her effort on the turn went wide, and no further openings were created at either end as it remained 2-0 at the interval for Cork City.

There was a fragmented start to the second half as each side had players that required attention, but it was the Bit O’Red who went close in the 51st minute when Rachel McGoldrick was denied from close range.

Muireann Devaney then had an effort narrowly over, and play was again stopped for attention to the Cork City goalkeeper.

Cork added a third goal in the 63rd minute when Aoibhin Donnelly scrambled to the net after more hesitant defending from the Bit O’Red, and it was 4-0 in the 66th minute when Ciara Fitzpatrick also capitalised on generosity from the visitors.

Katie Melly was denied in the 75th minute when her free kick from 30 yards thundered off the Cork City crossbar, while Alana Doherty and Keeva Flynn also went close before a penalty was awarded in the 94th minute.

Muireann Devaney’s spot kick hit the post, and while the Bit O’Red finished with a surge, it was a disappointing result for Steve Feeney’s side.

Cork City—Una Foyle, Shaunagh McCarthy, Ciara McNamara, Heidi Macken, Niamh Cotter, Kiera Senna, Christina Dring, Eva Mangan, Aoibhin Donnelly, Heidi O’Sullivan, Ciara Fitzpatrick. 

Subs: Ellie O’Brien for Sullivan at half-time, Cathranne Fitzgerald for Dring at 75 mins, Zoe Finnerty for Cotter at 79 mins, and Lauren Homan for Donnelly at 82 mins.

Sligo Rovers—Bonnie McKiernan, Kate Nugent, Cara King, Keeva Flynn, Alana Doherty, Katie Melly, Paula McGrory, Muireann Devaney, Emma Hansberry, Eimear Lafferty, Rachel McGoldrick. 

Subs: Mairead McIntyre for McGoldrick 60 mins, Anna McDaniel for McGrory and Kya McKenna for King both 70 mins, Alice Lillie for Melly, Morgan Burnap for Nugent, and Jessica Casey for Hansberry all 85 mins.

Referee: Sean Grant.

Assistant referees: Ricky Crean, Christopher Braganza.

Fourth official—Eoin Harte.