Match Report: DLR Waves 1-3 Sligo Rovers
BY CONALL COLLIER
Sligo Rovers advanced to the last four of the Women’s FAI Cup on Saturday for the second successive season with a sensational victory against Dublin side DLR Waves at the Belfield Bowl.
Goals from Anna McDaniel, Kelsey Munroe and Paula McGrory sealed the victory against the tenacious hosts who found the net through Robyn Bolger.
The victory was thoroughly merited for the Bit O’Red who, this season, have reserved their best form for the knock-out competition and took a 2-1 interval advantage before sealing the win with a crucial third goal in the 63rd minute.
With manager Tommy Hewitt still sidelined through suspension and forced to watch the action from a distance, Conor O’Grady took the sideline reins for a second week.
The Bit O’Red made four changes from the previous week’s outing against Treaty Utd with Leah Kelly, Kelsey Munroe, Eimear Lafferty and Anna McDaniel replacing Sarah Kiernan, Kate Nugent, Rachael McGoldrick and Mairead McIntyre.
After a tentative opening, Sligo Rovers settled into the contest and had a chance as early as the 10th minute when DLR ‘keeper Rugile Auskalnyte fumbled a high ball, but the danger was averted.
However, the reprieve was brief and Anna McDaniel finished to the net in the 19th minute for a lead that rocked the hosts who almost conceded a second soon after when Paula McGrory’s shot brought a good save from Auskalnyte.
Ten minutes before the interval Kelsey Munroe increased the lead when she scored directly from a corner as the DLR rearguard spectated, but the Dublin side found a swift response through Robyn Bolger’s goal a minute later.
Undaunted, the Bit O’Red players remained calm and focused until the interval with McGrory narrowly wide from a speculative overhead kick and big performances from Leah Kelly, Keeva Flynn, Kelsey Munroe, Alice Lillie and Muireann Devaney.
The Rovers stood strong during the early stages of the second-half as DLR pushed and probed.
The efforts of Eimear Lafferty and Keri and Jodie Loughrey helped to sustain the 2-1 advantage until the 63rd minute when Munroe sent over another corner and McGrory finished in a crowded goalmouth to make it 3-1.
The only chance of note DLR had for the remainder was a Shanagh Cody effort on 75 minutes that Amber Hardy saved comfortably.
The victory will give the players a major confidence boost for the next home game in the Women’s Premier Division against DLR Waves at the Showgrounds on Saturday 7th September. Next Saturday it’s Galway Utd away.
DLR Waves – Rugile Auskalnyte; Amber Cosgrove, Chloe McCarthy, Jess Gleeson, Izzy Finnegan, Abby Brophy, Robyn Bolger, Keelan Dodd, Aisling Meehan, Subs – Taylor White for Bolger and Shanagh Cody for Doyle both 61 mins, Nadine Seward for Brophy and Rebecca McMahon for Dodd both 79m, Hannah Tobin-Jones for Gleeson 90m
Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Leah Kelly, Keeva Flynn, Kelsey Munroe, Alice Lillie, Muireann Devaney, Keri Loughrey, Eimear Lafferty, Jodie Loughrey, Paula McGrory, Anna McDaniel. Sub – Rachael McGoldrick for Lafferty 88 mins..