TREATY UTD 0 SLIGO ROVERS 0
BY CONALL COLLIER
Sligo Rovers earned a Women’s Premier Division point on Saturday evening in Limerick when they produced a battling performance in a scoreless draw against unbeaten Treaty Utd at the Markets Field.
Zoe McGlynn, Eimear Lafferty and Sarah Kiernan were named in the Sligo Rovers starting 11 in place of Jodie Loughrey, Keeva Flynn and Amy Roddy from the previous outing against Galway.
However, Flynn was brought in just before kick-off and gave a solid performance after Kelly Crompton picked up a knock in the warm-up.
The opening exchanges were somewhat frantic at each end as the wind and rain dictated, but Sligo Rovers defended resolutely against both the elements and the persistence of a sometimes over-exuberant Yasmine Saidi for Treaty Utd.
The best chance of the opening half was for Treaty in the 31st minute when the Bit O’Red gifted possession to the hosts, but the danger was averted.
Treaty returned the favour five minutes later through goalkeeper Ann Marie Ulliac, but once more, the danger was averted.
Soon after, there was another moment of danger for Treaty when Ulliac ventured outside her penalty area and almost lost possession as she tried to get the ball back into the penalty area.
On the stroke of half-time Katie Lawlee was denied from close range when Keeva Flynn intervened while at the other end Treaty once more almost gifted a lead goal to the Bit O’Red, but escaped with the concession of a corner.
Sunshine greeted the players for the second-half and Treaty were fast out of the traps with an early chance before they also forced a couple of corners without any reward.
Wind-assisted Sligo Rovers dominated the remainder and pressed forward in search of a lead goal.
Paul McGrory missed the proverbial ‘sitter’ in the 66th minute when Emma Doherty headed a centre back across the Treaty six-yard box.
Sligo Rovers also had a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside, but will take plenty of positives from this game as they remain unbeaten away from home and also have clean sheets from those two away games.
The attendance at the game was 506.
Treaty Utd – Ann Marie Ulliac; Grace McInerney, Erin Van Dolder, Talia White, Kayla Kyle, Cara Griffin, Delana Friesen, Yasmine Saidi, Leah Martin, Jillian Tegan O’Toole, Katie Lawlee. Subs – Kate O’Donovan for Van Dolder half-time, Fiana Bradley for Saidi 79m.
Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Kelsey Munroe, Sarah Kiernan, Keeva Flynn, Eimear Lafferty, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Emma Doherty, Zoe McGlynn, Paula McGrory, Keri Loughrey. Subs – Jodie Loughrey for Kiernan 56 mins, Cara King for McGrory 77m.
Referee – Thomas Joyce.