Sligo Rovers created a little piece of history on Saturday evening in west Dublin when the club fielded a senior team for the first time in the Women’s National League.
The outcome was somewhat predictable, a 6-0 victory for hosts and seasoned campaigners Peamount Utd, but after the initial disappointment of conceding six goals, the players and management of the Bit O’Red can take plenty of positives from the encounter.
There was, as there usually is on occasions like this, a Sligo Rovers connection with Peamount.
The Dublin club’s manager is James O’Callaghan who graced the Showgrounds during the final part of Dermot Keeley era back in the 1992 /’93 season.
“I went on loan to Sligo Rovers from Shelbourne, I just missed the team that went on to win the FAI Cup the following season under Willie McStay,
maybe that’s why they won it,” he quipped when questioned on Saturday about his links with the club.
From O’Callaghan’s perspective, it was a good way to start the season.
Four first-half goals was just about what Peamount deserved against a hard-working and tenacious Sligo Rovers side that was playing a first competitive senior women’s game in the almost 100-year history of the club.
And it almost started with a sensational first minute goal for Sligo Rovers when a cross from the left wing by Amy Hyndman was spilled by
Peamount ‘keeper Niamh Reid-Burke, but she recovered quickly and the danger was averted.
At the other end, Kristen Sample displayed her goalkeeping ability with some fine saves, but despite some determined defending against wave after wave of Peamount pressure, the opening goal arrived with a fine Dora Gorman drive after 21 minutes.
Erin McLaughlin added a second goal soon after and the talented Stephanie Roche eased the hosts into the comfort zone with a two-goal salvo close to the interval.
The Rovers were more competitive after the resumption and while a revival was never on the cards, they made Peamount work extremely hard for two more goals which arrived from Aine O’Gorman on the hour and with 10 minutes remaining.
Sligo Rovers manager Steve Feeney expressed satisfaction with the way his team showed marked improvement in the second-half.
“Some of the goals we conceded were down to mistakes, but Peamount scored a couple of very good goals also, we will benefit from the game we can now look forward to our first home game of the season next weekend,” commented Feeney.
Peamount Utd – Niamh Reid Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Chloe Moloney, Tiegan Ruddy, Erin McLaughlin, Karen Duggan, Sadhbh Doyle, Dora Gorman,
Alannah McEvoy, Stephanie Roche, Aine O’Gorman. Subs – Tara O’Hanlom for McEvoy, Jetta Berrill for McLaughlin and Lauren Kelly for Doyle all 65 mins, Sarah Duke Power for Moloney 73m, Michelle Doonan for Roche 81m
Sligo Rovers – Kristen Sample; Amy Hyndman, Ruth Monaghan, Orna O’Dowd, Helen Monaghan, Lauren Boles, Amy Roddy, Katie Melly, Gemma McGuinness, Aoife Brennan, Fiona Doherty. Subs – Erin Coyle for H Monaghan and Paula McGrory for Brennan both 65 mins, Lauren McLellan for Doherty 76m, Ciara Henry for Hyndham 83m.
Referee – Daryl Carolan; assistant-referees Wayne McDonnell, Chris Campbell, fourth official – Sarah Dyas.
DAY ONE RESULTS
Peamount 6, Sligo Rovers 0; Shelbourne 1, Bohemain FC 0; DLR Waves 5, Treaty Utd 0; Cork City 0, Galway 3; Athlone Town 1, Wexford 2.
NEXT UP
Saturday 12th March – Sligo Rovers v DLR Waves; Bohemian FC v Athlone Town; Treaty v Cork City; Galway v Peamount; Wexford v Shelbourne.
Report: Conall Collier