By Conall Collier
Sligo Rovers gave Women’s Premier Division title-chasing Shelbourne an uncomfortable 90 minutes at the Showgrounds on Saturday evening where a Kate Mooney hat-trick sealed victory for the Dublin side.
Leading by two goals midway through the opening half, Shelbourne looked set for a comfortable win, but the Sligo Rovers players hadn’t seen that script and got back into contention with the goal-of-the-game from Anna McDaniel before the interval.
While Shelbourne dictated and enjoyed lots of possession in the second-half, they were also uneasy at times.
That was evident when referee Kate O’Brien ignored pleas for a second-half penalty on the hour that resulted in a yellow card for goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan’s complaints from the other end of the pitch.
There was also a yellow card for Shelbourne defender Keeva Keenan in the closing stages, apparently for time-wasting at a goal-kick.
There was nothing sluggish about Shelbourne for the opening exchanges as they were lively and surged forward, intent on taking control .
Sligo Rovers ‘keeper Bonnie McKiernan made an early save and Cara King had a chance for the Bit O’Red, but was closed down quickly by a Shelbourne rearguard that was controlled by the impressive Pearl Slattery.
Shelbourne remained in the ascendancy and Keeva Flynn made a crucial interception in the sixth minute before Bonnie McKiernan saved from Roma McLaughlin.
After absorbing the Shelbourne onslaught, the Rovers rearguard was penalised and the Dublin side hit the front from a 20th minute Kate Mooney penalty that just eluded Bonnie McKiernan and trickled into the net.
Mooney put Shelbourne into the comfort zone five minutes later when she claimed her second goal of the afternoon.
However, that comfort zone was only an illusion and the Dublin side had no answer to a mazy Anna McDaniel run on 31 minutes that left the Shelbourne ‘keeper picking the ball out of her net.
Trailing by a goal, the Bit O’Red resumed the second-half smartly and Anna McDaniel was narrowly wide in the 48th minute.
Shelbourne countered and Mackenzie Anthony was denied by a fine Bonnie McKiernan save, but the crucial third goal arrived in the 65th minute when Mooney finished from close range for her hat-trick.
Both sides made changes in the closing 20 minutes with Shelbourne substitute Gabriella Del Pico making an impact without hitting the target.
Anna McDaniel had a late chance for the hosts, but was narrowly off target and while the Dublin side deserved the victory, the Sligo Rovers performance will certainly boost confidence for next weekend’s WFAI Cup tie against DLR Waves at the Showgrounds.
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Sarah Kiernan, Keeva Flynn, Alana Doherty, Eimear Lafferty, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Katie Melly, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Mairead McIntyre for Doherty 56 mins, Kya McKenna for King 68m, Róise Burke for Kelly, Lauren Devaney for Flynn and Morgan Burnap for Melly all 81m.
Shelbourne – Amanda McQuillan; Keeva Keenan, Nia Hannon, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle, Alex Kavanagh, Rachel Graham, Rebecca Devereux, Kate Mooney, Roma McLaughlin, Mackenzie Anthony. Subs – A Clancy for Graham and R Cooke for Devereux both 65 mins, G Del Pico for McLaughlin 71m, M Wollmer for Mooney and G Quinn for Doyle both 75m.
Referee – Kate O’Brien.
Assistant-referees – Shane O’Donoghue, Keenan Deering.
Fourth official – Mark Houlihan.