By Conall Collier
The long journey was much shorter on the way home as Sligo Rovers Women maintained recent good form with a first Women’s Premier Division win of the season as they got the better of Cork City with a goal in each half from Muireann Devaney and Keri Loughrey.
That’s three successive games unbeaten in the WPD and the victory will certainly boost confidence for the final home game of the season next Saturday against Wexford.
This game was played at Leeside FC (pictured) which is located at Little Island after the alternative venue that was declared on Thursday afternoon, St Colman’s Park, Cobh was deemed unsuitable on Saturday afternoon.
The game was initially moved from Turner’s Cross on Thursday due to the anticipated inclement weather and the various Status Orange and Status Yellow weather alerts from Met Eireann.
The diversion to Little Island was slightly shorter than the journey to Cobh although it still added some extra travel time and distance with the kick-off time also changed from 5pm to 7pm.
Both teams had to cope with poor conditions at the windswept and rain-lashed venue.
Cork City had a couple of early chances from Freya De Mange who saw her shot saved by Bonnie McKiernan and soon after Barrett Edison was denied by the post.
However, the Bit O’Red remained composed and produced some enterprising passages of play before finding the lead goal in the 15th minute when Muireann Devaney hit the target with a fine finish.
The joy for the Bit O’Red was brief as Christina Dring conjured up an equaliser inside a minute and the sides remained deadlocked at the interval.
Cork City resumed smartly, but Sligo Rovers stood strong and the first real action of the second-half was a card to a member of the home sideline team around the hour mark.
Then there was a stoppage in play due to an injury sustained by Rachel McGoldrick with about 15 minutes remaining and she was replaced by Paula McGrory.
Despite the wind and rain Sligo Rovers kept probing for an opening and in the 82nd minute Keri Loughrey, a consistent performer all season, gave Sligo Rovers the lead and they weathered the storm in the closing minutes for that crucial victory.
THE TEAMS
Cork City – Una Foyle; Kiera Sena, Orlaith O’Mahony, Christina Dring, Freya De Mange, Niamh Cotter, Barrett Edison, Colleen Kennedy O’Connell, Dorothea Greulich, Alix Mendez, Becky Cassin.
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKernan; Cara King, Alice Lillie, Sarah Kiernan, Kate Nugent, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Eimear Lafferty, Rachel McGoldrick, Keri Loughrey, Katie Melly.
Subs – Paula McGrory for McGoldrick and Keeva Flynn for Kiernan both 75 mins, Leah Kelly for Devaney and Robecca Doddy for Melly both 83m.