By Conall Collier
Sligo Rovers will travel to St Colman’s Park, Cobh on Saturday for the final away game of the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) this season where they will tackle Cork City and Conor O’Grady will renew acquaintances with Cork City manager Danny Murphy.
Following the departure from the Showgrounds of manager Tommy Hewitt earlier this week, Head of Academy Conor O’Grady will be on sideline duty for the Bit O’Red.
His opposite number will be Danny Murphy and they both played for Cork City between 2001 and 2004.
Conor subsequently returned to Sligo Rovers for the 2005 season and was part of the First Division-winning team that year as the Bit O’Red claimed a place in the Premier after a gap of six seasons.
“I was really looking forward to returning to Turner’s Cross, but with a First Division game there on Friday night, our game has been transferred to Cobh as a precaution in the event of bad weather,” commented Conor O’Grady.
“Nevertheless, we are all looking forward to the game and I have already taken the team for three games this season while Tommy (Hewitt) was serving a suspension.
“We have a few injury concerns in relation to Muireann Devaney and Paula McGrory, but Keeva Flynn could be available after missing the draw last weekend and Anna McDaniel is not available.
“If the team can perform to the same level they managed last week against Peamount Utd then we definitely have a chance of getting that first league win of the season, but Cork will be keen to complete their campaign with a win also.
“It will be competitive and it will be another big challenge, but I have no doubt that the players will be ready for the challenge,” he added.
Cork City currently occupy eighth position and following last Saturday’s narrow home reversal against DLR Waves, to a first-half penalty, they will be focused on finishing the season with a victory against bottom-of-the-table Sligo Rovers.
The Munster women recorded a 1-0 victory against Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds last April with a 49th minute Colleen Kennedy-O’Connell goal.
Sligo Rovers had dominated the first 45 minutes of that game although Kennedy-O’Connell went closest to breaking the deadlock, but her effort was spectacularly cleared off the line by Keeva Flynn.
Sligo Rovers substitute Cara King was denied a second-half equaliser when she brought a finger-tip save out of Cork City ‘keeper Clodagh Fitzgerald.
Seven of that starting Cork City 11 featured against DLR Waves last weekend and while the points are fairly irrelevant in terms of finishing positions, both teams will target this as a must-win game with Sligo Rovers still chasing an elusive first WPD victory of the season.
Both teams exited the Women’s FAI Cup at the semi-final stage a fortnight ago with Shelbourne defeating Cork City by 5-0 at Tolka Park while Athlone Town had to work hard for a 1-0 victory against Sligo Rovers.
That performance by the Bit O’Red was sandwiched by impressive draws against Shamrock Rovers (1-1) at Tallaght Stadium, a feat also achieved by Cork City, and a 1-1 draw last weekend against defending champions Peamount Utd.
What was significant in both those games for Sligo Rovers was that despite the concession of early goals, a determined effort produced late equalisers in each instance from Keri Loughrey and Muireann Devaney.
There certainly won’t be any end-of-season attitude adopted by either side on Saturday and a hugely competitive encounter is anticipated.
The game will be live on LOITV with kick-off at 7pm