MATCH REPORT WFAI CUP
BY CONALL COLLIER
SLIGO ROVERS 5-0 TERENURE RANGERS
Sligo Rovers negotiated the challenge of Terenure Rangers in the first round of the Women’s FAI Cup at the Showgrounds on Saturday with a five-goal salvo that gave Tommy Hewitt’s side a first competitive win of the season.
First-half goals from Paula McGrory (two) were augmented by further strikes from Jodie and Keri Loughrey and Rebecca Doddy after the break to seal a comprehensive win.
The formbook indicated that this was the best team outside the League of Ireland against the bottom side in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD).
Terenure Rangers came into the game on the back of an impressive 2-1 victory six days earlier in the final of the FAI Amateur Cup against Whitehall Rangers as they retained the trophy won 12 months earlier.
Sligo Rovers kicked-off without a competitive win in either the WPD this season or the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup.
Last season the Dublin women faced Cork City in the competition, but lost out in that encounter at Richmond Park while Sligo Rovers made it to the last four where they exited against eventual winners, Athlone Town.
Sligo Rovers dominated the opening half, but squandered a number of early chances before Paula McGrory broke the deadlock with a fine finish on 20 minutes.
Soon after McGrory was narrowly wide following a good cross from Leah Kelly, but then the Bit O’Red displayed some complacency for a brief spell and were fortunate to keep the lead intact when Yvonne Hedigan had to scramble the ball off the line.
The chance for Terenure was created more by poor defensive play by the hosts who were extremely relieved not to concede an equaliser although Sarah Ryan and Caroline Thorpe were a constant threat for the Dublin women.
However, that reprieve appeared to spark the hosts into action and following a sustained period of pressure a claim for a penalty was waved away by the referee.
The official stopped play to allow Leah Kelly receive some attention in the Terenure penalty area and the hosts then finished the half on a high when McGrory made space and finished to the net for a 2-0 interval advantage.
Terenure resumed smartly for the second-half and Sarah Ryan had an excellent chance to reduce the deficit in the 47th minute, but was wide of the target. The same player had a couple of other chances for Terenure, but despite her best efforts was unable to find the net.
The Bit O’Red remained in the ascendancy and added a third goal with a superb Jodie Loughrey effort after Paula McGrory’s persistence to keep the ball in play was rewarded and Keri Loughrey made it 4-0 with a lob from about 30 metres following a quick counter attack.
Substitute Katie Melly was denied by the post on 72 minutes soon after Rebecca Doddy and Mairead McIntyre combined to create an opening.
Terenure substitute goalkeeper Liv Torfeldt had a hectic final seven minutes during which she made some spectacular saves, but she was beaten in the 90th minute when Doddy finished from close range to make it 5-0 for the hosts.
Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Yvonne Hedigan, Keeva Flynn, Kelsey Munroe, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Keri Loughrey, Leah Kelly, Jodie Loughrey, Paula McGrory, Mairead McIntyre.
Subs – Kate Nugent for Hedigan and Rachel McGOldrick for Kiernan both half-time, Rebecca Doddy for Kelly and Cara King for Munroe both 60 mins, Katie Melly for McGrory 72m
Terenure Rangers – Niamh Geraghty; Leanne Dicker, Niamh O’Donoghue, Jessica Hunt, Kerri Duffy, Caroline Thorpe, Linda Douglas, Niamh Carroll, Sarah Ryan, Caroline Healy, Melissa Haughton.
Subs – Lydia Kavanagh for Carroll 64 mins, Louise Gleeson for Healy 72m, Anna McGilacuddy for O’Donoghue and Liv Torfeldt for Geraghty both 83m
Referee – Robert Dowling
Assistant-referees – Darren Corcoran, Keenan Deering.
Fourth Official – Richard Storey.