The second series of WNL action took Sligo Rovers to The UCD Bowl this evening where they faced DLR Waves and were edged out by the odd goal of five as substitute Kate Mooney claimed an 81st minute winner for the hosts writes Conall Collier.

This was an excellent display by the Sligo Rovers players who will feel disappointed not to have won the game as they had some excellent late chances.

The Dublin side had manager Graham Kelly seated in the stand serving the first of a three-game suspension, but that didn’t have any impact on the pitch as the game flowed from end-to-end during a frantic 90 minutes.

Gemma McGuinness had Sligo Rovers in the lead after only 10 minutes when she raced through the DLR defence and finished confidently past Eve Badana.

DLR countered, but it was a further 10 minutes before thay tested Amy Mahon who saved well from a firmly stuck Rachael Doyle shot.

The hosts continued to surge forward in the sweltering heat and Mahon was kept busy between the posts while the Bit O’Red threatened on the break.

DLR were rewarded for all the pressure in the 40th minute when Sophie Watters headed the equaliser at the far post.

The second-half was only five minutes old when DLR hit the front after substitute Avril Brierley capitalised on a loose ball in the penalty area.

Brierley was denied again soon after when Mahon saved smartly at the expense of a corner.

On the hour the Bit O’Red levelled when Emma Doherty rifled to the net as the palyers on each side maintained the high tempo.

The Rovers were denied by the crossbar after a surging run by Kerri O’Hara and DLR countered swiftly to create an opening, but the danger was averted.

Paula McGrory then had a chance for the Rovers, but her effort skimmed the bottom of the post with 20 minutes remaining.

Another DLR substitute, Kate Mooney, rocketed a header to the net in the 81st minute, but the visitors had one last chance in added time when Gemma McGuinness found space in the DLR penalty area, but her shot was saved.

Next up for Rovers is a home game against Cork City at 2pm next Saturday afternoon.

DLR Waves – Eve Badana; Lynn Craven, Jess Gleeson, Fiona Donnelly, Rachael Doyle, Kerri Letmon, Katie Malone, Aoife Brophy, Sophie Watters, Oleta Griffin, Sara McKevitt.

Subs – Avril Brierley for McKevitt 8 mins, Kate Mooney for Letmon and Orla Fitzpatrick for Doyle 72 mins, Nadine Clare for Donnelly 82 mins.

Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Leah Kelly, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Hyndman, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Amy Roddy, Kerri O’Hara, Fiona Doherty, Paula McGrory.

Subs – Helen Monaghan for O’Hara 75 mins, Aoife Brennan for F Doherty 81 mins, Katie Melly for Kelly and Sarah Kiernan for Hyndman 86 mins

Referee – Clare Purcell.