SLIGO ROVERS V TREATY UTD
BY CONALL COLLIER
Sligo Rovers will kick-off a 70th competitive game, since the club affiliated a senior team, at the Showgrounds on Sunday afternoon when Limerick side Treaty Utd will provide the opposition in a crucial Women’s Premier Division (WPD) game, 2pm.
This will be an unusual experience for the players as suspended manager Tommy Hewitt will have to watch the action from the stand due to the fall-out from last week’s game against Athlone Town when he was sent-off at half-time.
The dismissal arose after an unsuccessful query to the referee regarding a first minute red card for goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan who will also miss the action due to suspension.
However, the ‘keeper wouldn’t be available anyway as she sustained concussion after she collided with Athlone’s Casey Howe as both players challenged for the ball.
Apart from that, Sligo Rovers will have a full panel of players available for selection and will go into the game seeking a first WPD victory of the season at the 13th attempt.
Three scoreless draws have been achieved so far and one of those was at the Market’s Field last April against Treaty Utd.
The Limerick women have recorded wins against DLR Waves (twice) and Cork City, draws with Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers and currently sit in ninth place, some eight points ahead of the Bit O’Red in 11th position.
A form guide suggests that this will be a tight encounter as both teams lost (1-0) against Bohemian FC and both also enjoyed impressive wins in the FAI Cup at the beginning of August.
Sligo Rovers hit Terenure Rangers for five while Treaty scored nine against Ferns Utd in those FAI Cup ties.
Last weekend’s result cannot be used as a gauge of any sort for the Bit O’Red as they went toe-to-toe against Athlone Town with only 10 players for 89 minutes while Treaty lost at home to Bohemian FC.
Treaty will be wary of a reaction from a Bit O’Red side that will be targeting a second win in-a-row at the Showgrounds after that FAI Cup victory against Terenure a fortnight ago when goals from Paula McGrory (two) Jodie and Keri Loughrey and Rebecca Doddy sealed the victory.
McGrory missed last week’s game against Athlone as she was withdrawn after only a minute following that red card for Bonnie McKiernan and she will be on the scent of more goals
The Limerick side will be looking for big performances from the Canadian trio of Erin van Dolder, Danielle Steer and Delana Friesen as they look to get back to winning ways.
Kick-off at the Showgrounds is at 2pm and the game will be live on LOITV.