BY CONALL COLLIER
Sydney Stephens maintained her super strike-rate with a sensational 80th minute goal as Sligo Rovers delivered a battling Women’s Premier Division (WPD) performance against Shelbourne in a 2-2 draw at Tolka Park on Saturday.
Sydney’s super strike to the top corner from over 30 yards gave Sligo Rovers a 2-1 lead after Cara Jordan’s 64th minute penalty cancelled Jess Gargan’s 40th minute lead goal as the action resumed after the mid-season break.
Amidst all the goals, there was also a 57th minute Bonnie McKiernan finger-tip penalty save from Shelbourne’s Aoibheann Clancy
However, Shelbourne salvaged a draw in the 90th minute when second-half substitute Halle Harcourt also claimed a spectacular overhead kick equaliser for the Dublin side.
Sligo Rovers took a four-game unbeaten WPD run into this encounter and displayed great determination to make amends for the disappointing All-Island Cup outing against Linfield at the end of May.
They were confident and assured with a well organised team effort keeping the hosts at bay and Cara Jordan had an early chance that was parried to safety by Shelbourne ‘keeper Mya Sanchez.
At the other end Shelbourne had shots from Rebecca Watkins and Leah Doyle on target, but Bonnie McKeirnan dealt with them confidently.
The Bit O’Red contained the hosts until the 40th minute when a misplaced pass created an opening for the Dublin side and Jess Gargan capitalised with a lobbed effort from about 12 yards that gave Bonnie McKiernan no chance.
Despite that, Sligo Rovers finished the half on the front foot and Jordan had a late chance, but she sent her effort over the bar.
The second-half was a fragmented 45 minutes with Keeva Keenan of Shelbourne and Emma Hansberry of Sligo Rovers both requiring treatment after they were flattened by the ball as they blocked shots in separate incidents.
Hansberry was replaced by Alice Lillie who also got a blast of the ball to her face, but she stood strong.
The first action of note in that second-half was the Shelbourne penalty that McKiernan parried and the defence cleared. The hosts were punished soon after when Jordan demonstrated the art of penalty-taking.
The Bit O’Red continued to grow in stature, but the Stephens strike was created from her own ability to hit the target from distance.
The concession of that goal also fired-up the hosts who were on the verge of tasting a first home defeat of the season until that 90th minute Harcourt leveller.
Shelbourne – Mya Sanchez; Keeva Keenan, Leah Doyle, Maggie Pierce, Pearl Slattery, Alex Kavanagh, Rebecca Watkins, Maeve Wollmer, Jess Gargan, Aoibheann Clancy, Aoife Kelly.
Subs – Halle Harcourt for Watkins 66 mins, N Hannon for Kavanagh 79m, B Severns for Wollmer 79m.
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Ava Hallinan, Kelsey McQuillan, Alana Doherty, Sabrina Hillyer, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Emma Duffy, Sydney Stephens, Ella Karolak, Anna McDaniel.
Subs – Cara King for Hallinan 66 mins, Alice Lillie for McQuillan and Mairead McIntyre for Hansberry both 79m.
Referee – Daragh White.
Assistant-referees – Paul Farrell, Conor Fitzgibbon.
Fourth official – Mark Houlihan.