By Conall Collier
Sligo Rovers will kick-off a fourth season in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division (WPD) at the Showgrounds on Saturday, 3pm, against Dublin side Bohemian FC on International Women’s Day.
The Bit O’Red will be aiming to find some improvement on a disappointing 2024 campaign that was highlighted by a well-deserved FAI Cup semi-final appearance against WPD champions Athlone Town.
Both teams completed pre-season last Saturday. The Dublin women had a 2-0 win against Linfield with goals from Katie Malone and Mia Dodd while Sligo Rovers had a 2-2 draw against Galway Utd at the Showgrounds with goals from Cara King and Rachel McGoldrick. Galway equalised in the 91st minute.
Steve Feeney returns to the sideline in a managerial role after taking a break last season.
“I feel we have a nice blend of experience and youth in the squad this season,” stated Steve who will have Enda Scanlon in the role of assistant-manager.
“Alana Doherty has returned to the club from a scholarship in the USA and Louise Masterson has joined us also, she was previously with Peamount Utd.
“Louise spent a couple of months playing full-time in Italy at the end of last season, the family has links with Sligo Rovers so that’s how the contact materialised.
“She has featured in some of the pre-season friendlies and has travelled from Dublin for training as well, she could be a good addition to the squad.
“Another new face is Morgan Burnap from the USA (New Hampshire), she contacted the club initially, has shown up well in the pre-season friendlies and could be a big addition once she gets to the fitness level required, she played College Football in the USA,
“Lauren Devaney, a cousin of Muireann, has also joined the squad from the under-19s and will be pushing for a pace in the starting 11,” he added.
Looking at last season and the fact that Sligo Rovers finished bottom of the League, Steve suggested that the performances weren’t as bad as the results indicated.
“I didn’t see all the games, but from what I did see, it was encouraging, despite the results,” he said.
“The team had some good spells in games and they were certainly worth more than the one win, but what was really evident was the battling qualities and that’s hugely beneficial.
“A lot of younger players also came in, Mairead McIntyre, Anna McDaniel, Cara King, Rachel McGoldrick, all capable of kicking-on and going to another level this season in terms of performance.
“If you look at the second half of last season, lots of positives, the draw in Tallaght where they were pushing to win the game, the FAI Cup win in Dublin against DLR Waves, they finished the season strongly,” he commented.
Regarding the pressure and demands to play other sports, Steve said that he had given the matter serious consideration.
“I had a chance to look at that particular issue last season, whether it’s the GAA or the basketball, it’s difficult for everyone and probably the fairest approach is to try to accomodate the various demands as much as possible,” he said.
“The break last year gave me a chance to look at the broader picture, on and off the pitch, and while I enjoyed it (the break) I also missed the involvement and the goal now is to grow the Sligo Rovers brand in the Women’s Premier Division.
“We can build a team here over this season and next that will be capable of challenging the ‘big guns’ as I’ll call them.
“Firstly, we have to get the players believing in themselves, then we can push on and expect more
consistent performances on a weekly basis. That will help us to pick up points that they probably deserved, but didn’t get, last season.
“We have a core of players who have been together now in the League for two or three seasons, that
will benefit the rest and will boost team spirit as well.
“The standard in the League continues to improve and we will have to deal with that challenge, but we have some very talented young players coming through from the under-age teams.
“It might sound a bit boring, but it will be one game at a time, that will be the focus, the next game is the most important one and that’s the visit of Bohemians on Saturday, all we need is lots of support,” he concluded.
Bohemians endured a disappointing 2024 with an eighth place finish.
A new manager is in position as Alban Hysa, who previously managed Treaty Utd, steps up to this role from the Dublin club’s under-17 team.
Key players for Bohemians this season will be shot-stopper Rachael Kelly, the long-serving Katie Lovely plus Savannah Kane, Sarah McKevitt and Katie Malone.
Add in the former Shelbourne duo of Mia Dodd and Hannah Healy as well as Roisin McGovern who has returned after a five-year stint in the USA and there will be lots of optimism.
All the ingredients for an exciting opener to the season at the Showgrounds, live on LOITV, kick-off 3pm.