Sligo Rovers and hosts Treaty United served an exciting Women’s National League (WNL) scoreless draw at the Markets Field yesterday evening, writes Conall Collier.

Treaty went into the game on the back of 11 defeats and will be disappointed not to have won this time out as they rattled the woodwork on a number of occasions and also missed a gilt-edged chance in the 90th minute.

For Sligo Rovers, it was a second clean sheet and they also had a couple of chances, but will be relieved to have picked up another point in their first draw of the season.


Sligo Rovers started on the front foot with a free from Aoife Brennan in the third minute that was saved by Treaty’s Trish Fennelly and soon after Emma Doherty surged through the home rearguard, but she was closed down and the danger was cleared.

Treaty settled into the game and worked the Bit O’Red defence without creating any worthwhile chances.

Gemma McGuinness raided consistently down the left wing and sent in a number of crosses, but didn’t pose any major problems either as both teams worked hard in the sweltering conditions.

Treaty’s Cara Griffin created a great opening in the 19th minute that gave Aislinn Meaney a chance, but her well-struck effort tested the quality of the crossbar and the ball was cleared by a relieved visiting defence.

At the other end, Treaty had a let-off when goalkeeper Trish Fennelly produced a spectacular save to deny Gemma McGuinness midway through the half.

Treaty began to enjoy a period of dominance and were unlucky not to score when a speculative Amy Madden effort from 30 yards thundered off the underside of the crossbar in the 39th minute and Amy Mahon gathered the loose ball.

The hosts remained in the ascendancy until the interval, but failed to make the breakthrough that their attacking play deserved.

Treaty were on the defensive in the early part of the second-half with both Alannah Mitchell and Laoise Brown solid in the central positions while for Sligo Rovers, it was the efforts of Lauren Boles at midfield that earned her side a lot of possession.

Both teams gave it their best shot and worked the respective goalkeepers, but it remained scoreless as Treaty were denied in the 90th minute when Aislinn Meaney saw her effort shaved the outside of the Sligo post.

Treaty Utd – Trish Fennelly; Emma Deegan, Sarah Kiernan, Jessica Casey, Alannah Mitchell, Lauren Keane, Jesse Mendez, Heidi O’Sullivan, Michaela Lawrence, Laoise Brown, Cara Griffin, Amy Madden, Aislinn Meaney.
Sub – Esra Kangal for Madden 79 mins.

Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Leah Kelly, Orna O’Dowd, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Aoife Brennan, Amy Roddy, Fiona Doherty. Sub – Paula McGrory for F Doherty 70 mins.