SLIGO ROVERS 2 WEXFORD 0

BY CONALL COLLIER
Sligo Rovers turned on the style for a first victory victory in the All-Island Cup opener against defending champions Wexford at a rain-lashed and windswept Showgrounds on Saturday evening where a goal in each half from Cara Jordan gave the home supporters plenty to cheer about.

The victory was also a first win of the season for the Bit O’Red after a hugely disappointing display only seven days earlier when they conceded five goals in the Women’s Premier Division.

Manager Gavin Hughes made three changes to his starting line up from that encounter with Paula McGrory, Abby Rooney and Kelsey McQuillan dropping to the bench in favour of Emma Hansberry, Emma Duffy and Manu Baptista Filipe.

Wexford boss Dave Connell opted to start only three of the team that had lost to Galway the previous week with Emma Bucci, Roisin Joyce and Aisling Roche all surviving the cut.

Mnu Baptista Filipe was the standout player for the Bit O’Red with a composed midfield performance for 65 minutes when she was replaced by Paula McGrory.

The defence was also solid as Emma Hansberry and Leah Kelly stood strong with tremendous support from Ava Hallinan and Sabrina Hillyer and that was sufficient for a first clean sheet of the season.

The wind-assisted hosts stormed into a ninth-minute lead when Cara Jordan’s well-placed shot nestled in the corner of the Wexford net after the opening was created by Manu Baptista Filipe.

The hosts continued to surge forward in an effort to capitalise on the elements with Manu spraying the ball around with confidence as the half progressed.

Emma Duffy benefited from that creativity in the 32nd minute but her effort flashed the wrong side of the Wexford post.

However, the warning lights flashed for the Bit O’Red soon after when defensive indecisiveness gave Wexford a chance, but that was the only occasion and the rearguard was assured for the remainder.

Both Manu and Anna McDaniel went close for Sligo Rovers ahead of the interval without adding to the scoreline.

Wexford resumed the second-half smartly and Bonnie McKiernan saved well in the 46th minute, but the Bit O’Red displayed skill, character and determination to carve out a number of chances subsequently.

Cara Jordan was the architect-in-chief on 71 minutes when she got possession from a short corner and weaved her way into the penalty area before she rifled to the roof of the net past a stranded Claudia Keenan.

That sparked a reaction from Wexford, but for all their endeavour for the remainder the All-Island Cup champions didn’t seriously threaten apart from a Megan Smyth-Lynch effort that hit the top of the home crossbar with 15 minutes remaining.

At the other end, Sydney Stephens carved an opening for substitute Paula McGrory as the Bit O’Red battened down the hatches and moved into pole position in the group with what was a historic first win the All-Island Cup at the 10th attempt.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan, Leah Kelly, Ava Hallinan, Sabrina Hillyer, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Emma Duffy, Manu Baptista Filipe, Sydney Stephens, Cara King, Anna McDaniel.

Subs – Katie Melly for Hallinan and Paula McGrory for Baptista Filipe both 65 mins, Abby Rooney for McDaniel and Rachel McGoldrick for King both 87m, Kelsey McQuillan for Hillyer 89m.

Wexford – Claudia Keenan, Emma Bucci, Kayla Goncalves, Millie Daly, Devon Olive, Aisling Roche, Molly Kirwan, Lauren Walsh, Courtney Chochol, Anna Carson, Roisin Joyce.

Subs – Lauren Dwyer for Roche and Ciara Rossiter for Olive both half-time, Megan Smyth-Lynch for Goncalves and Katie McCarn for Kirwan both 62 mins, Leah McGrath for Chochol 77m.
Referee – Eric Eaton.
Assistant-referees – Oisin Walsh, Sam Ralph.
Fourth Official – Darren Corcoran

Kick-Off 5pm The Showgrounds

Match Sponsor: Fureys Of Sligo Coach and Bus Hire

Match Ball Sponsor: Crossan Entertainment

Manager Gavin Hughes on the game against Wexford

“Tomorrow gives our squad a valuable opportunity to test themselves against the current holders of the trophy- one Wexford lifted for the first time last season. It’s also our only home fixture in the All-Island Cup, with trips to Dublin and Belfast next month to complete the group stage.

Last Saturday’s result was disappointing for everyone, but it’s important we learn from it. There were plenty of positives to take: we created several good chances and were unfortunate not to score at key moments.

The players have worked extremely hard in training this week and are fully focused on the challenge ahead. Wexford, like ourselves, are searching for their first win of the season, which will make for a competitive and exciting contest.

As I’ve said before, it is a privilege to be appointed the Manager of Sligo Rovers Women for the club’s fifth season in the League of Ireland. Our responsibility is to concentrate on our own performance – what we do well and what we need to improve on. We showed in our opening game against Athlone Town that we are capable of competing with the best teams in the league.

Once again, I’m looking forward to facing the All-Island Cup champions and demonstrating that we have a team ready to challenge the top sides.”

Sligo Rovers 0

Shamrock Rovers 5

BY CONALL COLLIER

Shamrock Rovers maintained an unbeaten Women’s Premier Division away record with a comfortable victory against hosts Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday where defensive lapses proved costly for the Bit O’Red.

Both managers made three changes from the previous weekend defeats. Sligo Rovers lost (1-2) away to Galway Utd with the concession of two penalties after taking the lead while the Dublin women lost at home to Peamount Utd and finished with 10 players following the dismissal of Roisin McGovern.

Abby Rooney, Cara King and Anna McDaniel started for the Bit O’Red at the expense of Emma Hansberry, Alice Lillie and Ella Karolak as manager Gavin Hughes sought a winning formula.

For the visitors, Mia Dodd, Della Cowper-Gray and Caitlin St Leger started for James O’Callaghan’s side with McGovern (suspended), Sadhbh Doyle and Emily Corbett missing out.

Early and late goals in a high-tempo opening half gave Shamrock Rovers a two-goal interval advantage with the first from a sixth minute Ellen Molloy penalty and the second on 43 minutes from Katie O’Reilly.

Defensive lapses by the Bit O’Red contributed to both goals but in between those scores, the hosts created a number of chances with Cara Jordan, Paula McGrory and Sydney Stephens piling pressure on the Dublin women.

Six minutes into the second-half Stephens brought a finger-tip save out of Amanda Budden with a well-struck effort as the hosts made a valiant effort to get back into contention.

However, all that effort counted for nothing midway through the half when the Dublin women were gifted a third goal. Mia Dodd got a touch on the edge of the penalty area at the expense of the out-rushing Bonnie McKiernan and the ball rolled into the net.

Substitute Alice Buggle added some extra gloss to the victory when she grabbed a couple of opportunist late goals for the Dublin side as they eased to victory.

Shamrock Rovers were also fortunate to finish with 11 players following some retaliation in the 80^th minute after a Sligo Rovers player was yellow-carded.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan, Leah Kelly, Ava Hallinan, Kelsey McQuillan, Sabrina Hillyer, Cara Jordan, Paula McGrory, Abby Rooney, Sydney Stephens, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. 

Subs – Emma Duffy for Rooney, Manu Baptista Filipe for McGrory and Emma Hansberry for McQuillan all 65 mins, Alana Doherty for Hallinan 82m.

Shamrock Rovers – Amanda Budden; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Maria Reynolds, Therese Kinnevey, Ella Kelly, Mia Dodd, Katie O’Reilly, Ellen Molloy, Della Cowper-Gray, Jaime Thompson, Caitlin St Leger. 

Subs – Sadhbh Doyle for Dodd and Alice Buggle for Cowper-Gray both 67 mins, Emily Corbett for Molloy 70m, Taylor White for Thompson and Mia Gaff for O’Reilly both 85m.

Referee – Glen Geraghty.

Assistant-referees – John Hanney, Klaudia Pawula.

Fourth official – Dylan Redmond.