ATHLONE TOWN v SLIGO ROVERS
BY CONALL COLLIER
Seven days on from a first win of the season, Sligo Rovers will travel to tackle joint-top of the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) Athlone Town on Saturday evening, 7.30pm.
For Bit O’Red manager Tommy Hewitt it will almost feel like a home game as he returns to the venue where he patrolled the side-lines for the Westmeath club as he guided the fortunes of Athlone Town and also scooped the 2022 manager-of-the-year accolade.
Now, more than halfway through his initial season in the Sligo Rovers hot seat, Hewitt’s belief in his players was vindicated last Saturday at the Showgrounds when a well-regarded Terenure Rangers side was confidently negotiated in the first round of the Women’s FAI Cup.
Not that Sligo Rovers can expect to glean much praise for the 5-0 victory, but it was, nevertheless, an important step in the development process of what is, essentially, a very young team.
Hewitt was full of praise for his players in the previous WPD game despite a one-goal defeat at Dalymount Park against Bohemian FC a fortnight ago and will be looking for that type of character and commitment again.
Saturday’s encounter against Athlone Town will be a third successive outing for the Bit O’Red following what has been a somewhat fragmented fixture list this season and consistent competitive action will surely prove beneficial.
Last weekend Athlone Town, as holders, had a bye in the first round of the Women’s FAI Cup and will host the Bit O’Red on the back of a 2-1 reversal against Peamount Utd in front of the TG4 cameras a fortnight ago.
This will be a second visit of the season to Athlone Town following a 2-1 April reversal in the Avenir Sports Cup where, despite trailing by two goals at the interval, a 75th minute Muireann Devaney goal saw Sligo Rovers finish on the front foot, but unable to get an equaliser.
Sligo Rovers lost (2-0) in a WPD game during May at the Showgrounds where a goal in each half from former player Casey Howe proved crucial for Athlone.
However, Bit O’Red claims for a penalty in that game were waved away by the referee after Keri Loughrey was impeded as she raced towards the Athlone penalty area and got a touch on the ball ahead of ‘keeper Katie Keane’s lunge, but the chance was gone.
Athlone will target a return to winning ways while the Bit O’Red will be aiming to add to last weekend’s victory and take something home from the game.
Kick-off at Athlone Town Stadium is at 7.30pm and the action will be live on LOITV.