By Conall Collier
Wexford took the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) points at the Showgrounds on Saturday and Sligo Rovers added another player to a lengthy injury-list when Keeva Flynn was stretchered-off with about 15 minutes remaining.
Keeva sustained the injury in front of the Sligo Rovers technical area and the play was held up for about four minutes as she received attention before she was removed from the pitch on a stretcher.
Sligo Rovers trailed by two goals, one in each half, at that stage from Della Doherty and Ciara Rossiter and the Wexford women added a third through Leah McGrath near the end.
Wexford dominated for the most part in the opening half and had a chance from Orlaith Conlon that was narrowly wide after only 52 seconds.
Ciara Rossiter had a good effort saved by Bonnie McKiernan in the 10th minute with Becky Cassin’s long-range effort flying over the crossbar in the 20th minute.
Midway through the half Kylie Murphy was wide, but that was down to pressure from Rovers recent arrival Annie McKinley while Keeva Flynn, Katie Melly and Alice Lillie were also prominent in defence.
Making her home debut, Bernie Ferreira was creative around the middle, but lacked sufficient support to punish a Wexford rearguard that was comfortable.
However, Alice Lillie’s run on the half-hour created an opening for Mairead McIntyre, but her shot was finger-tipped away for a corner by a relieved Wexford ‘keeper Maria O’Sullivan.
Soon after Wexford were awarded what looked like a free of the soft variety on the edge of the centre circle and the Bit O’Red switched off long enough for Della Doherty to capitalise for a lead goal on 37 minutes.
Wexford’s Ciara Rossiter gave her side a two-goal advantage on 54 minutes when she pounced after Bonnie McKiernan spilled the ball from what was a needless corner.
McKiernan had been forced into a smart save to concede the corner after Wexford’s Aoife Kelly dispossessed Emma Hansberry and unleashed a fine shot.
Hansberry almost made amends 10 minutes later when her long-range effort bounced off the Wexford crossbar with ‘keeper Maria O’Sullivan scrambling in vain for a touch.
Keeva Flynn was stretchered-off with about 15 minutes remaining and Wexford substitute Leah McGrath scored the goal-of-the-game near the end to wrap up what was a comfortable afternoon for her side.
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Alice Lillie, Keeva Flynn, Annie McKInley, Katie Melly, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Kya McKenna, Bernie Fereira, Mairead McIntyre, Anna McDaniel.
Subs – Eve Caprani for McDaniel 55 mins, Lauren Devaney for Hansberry and Louise Masterson for Ferreira both 68m, Amy McCarthy for Flynn 73m.
Wexford – Maria O’Sullivan; Aisling Roche, Orlaith Conlon, Della Doherty, Lauren Dwyer, Kylie Murphy, Becky Cassin, Aoife Kelly, Ellen Molloy, Ciara Rossiter, Freya De Mange.
Subs – L McGrath for Rossiter 55 mins, M Daly for Roche and C Maher for Conlon both 70m, M Kirwan for Kelly 88m.
Referee – David Dunne.
Assistant-referees – Conor Fitzgibbon, Oisin Walsh.
Fourth official – Shane O’Brien.
Harvey Norman Sligo Rovers player-of-the-match – Katie Melly.