LINFIELD 1 SLIGO ROVERS 1
By Conall Collier
Rosie Burke’s 90th minute equaliser earned battling Sligo Rovers a priceless Women’s All-Island Cup draw with hosts Linfield in Belfast on Saturday afternoon where another casualty was added to the injury list and held up the action for almost 15 minutes.
Burke’s 90th minute equaliser was greeted with silence from the home crowd, but it kept the Bit O’ Red’s qualification hopes intact ahead of the final group game against Shelbourne on Saturday 7th June.
Rovers manager Steve Feeney named an unchanged side from the previous week’s encounter against Athlone Town, but he was forced into making a substitution midway through a well-contested opening half.
Kate Nugent sustained an injury in the 22nd minute as she closed down a threatening Linfield attack and there was a lengthy delay as the stricken player received attention. She was eventually removed by an ambulance that drove on to the pitch.
Up to that point Linfield had slightly the better of the exchanges, but didn’t manage to beat Bonnie McKiernan who delivered her customary composed performance.
When play resumed both sides had chances with Emma Hansberry going close on a number of occasions for the Bit O’Red while Alex Clarke and Keri Haliday had the best opportunities for Linfield.
The opening goal arrived close to the hour mark (14 minutes added time) when Clarke found the net for the hosts after a free was awarded to Linfield on the edge of the Sligo Rovers penalty area.
Linfield were relatively comfortable in the second-half, but were unable to make the breakthrough for a second goal against a tenacious Rovers rearguard with substitute Keeva Flynn marking her return to the side with a solid contribution.
There was also a couple of notable Bonnie McKiernan saves, one on 84 minutes that kept the Bit O’Red in contention.
The equaliser arrived as the clock ticked into added time when 75th minute substitute Rosie Burke got a vital touch in a crowded Linfield goalmouth. The Bit O’Red battened down the hatches for four minutes of added time.
Linfield – Caoimhe Magee; Sarah Jane McMaster, Abi Sweetlove, Mia Fitzsimons, Zoe McGlynn, Cora Chambers, Keri Halliday, Keri Loughrey, Zoe Knox, Alex Clarke, Ellen Hampton. Subs – Jennifer McDaid for Knox and Ashley Hutton for Hampton both 60 mins, Eve Reilly for Clarke and Rhianna Breen for Halliday both 67M, Eva Myles for Chambers 83m
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Alice Lillie, Sarah Kiernan, Kate Nugent, Alanah Doherty, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Eimear Lafferty, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Keeva Flynn for Nugent 22 mins, Kya McKenna for King 56m, Rosie Burke for Doherty 75m.
Referee- Louise Thompson.
Assistant-referees – Maria Creaney, Mark Davison.
Fourth official – Sam Naylor.