BY CONALL COLLIER
First-half goals from Alana Doherty, Cara Jordan and Ava Hallinan gave Sligo Rovers the platform for a 3-2 Women’s Premier Division (WPD) victory at Dalymount Park on Saturday as they survived a two-goal second-half Bohemians revival.
Those first-half goals were the positives for the Bit O’Red, but the big negative was the loss of Emma Hansberry to a 40th minute ankle injury with Paula McGrory deputising.
This was another battling and determined team performance from the Bit O’Red with stand-out displays from Alice Lillie, Ella Karolak and Olivia Rush with second-half substitute Grace Dunaway also making an impact.
Wind-assisted Sligo Rovers hit the front when Alana Doherty headed a fifth minute goal after Cara Jordan’s determination earned a corner for her side.
Soon after, the hosts had a narrow escape when Jordan’s speculative effort from distance clipped the woodwork, but the reprieve didn’t last as the Dublin women conceded a penalty on 32 minutes.
Fiona Donnelly took a pull on Ava Hallinan’s jersey in the penalty area and referee Ruben Collins pointed to the spot with Jordan converting with confidence.
It got worse for the Dublin side close to the interval when Hallinan created her own opening and won the race for possession with Rachel Kelly in the Bohemians penalty area and slotted home for a 3-0 interval lead.
Against the second-half wind the Bit O’Red had to defend tenaciously, but conceded a72nd minute penalty that gave Bohemians a lifeline after Alannah McEvoy converted.
Neither side created any clearcut chances for the remainder, but a sensational 92nd minute Aoife Fennell goal for Bohemians left the remainder of added-time on a knife edge, but Sligo Rovers weathered the storm to extend an unbeaten WPD sequence to nine games.
Bohemian FC – Rachel Kelly; Sarah Power, Aoife Fennell, Lauryn McCabe, Aoife Brophy, Fiona Donnelly, Alex Devoy, Savannah Kane, Leiagh Glennon, Aoibhe Brennan, Lisa Murphy.
Subs – Sarah McKevitt for Glennon, Katie Malone for Devoy, Alannah McEvoy for Murphy and Hannah O’Brien for McCabe all half-time, Hannah Healy for Kane 71 mins.
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Sabrina Hillyer, Alana Doherty, Ella Karolak, Alice Lillie, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Emma Duffy, Ava Hallinan, Anna McDaniel, Olivia Rush.
Subs – Paula McGrory for Hansberry 41 mins, Gracie Dunaway for Hallinan 59m, Sarah McCaffrey for McDaniel and Leah Kelly for Hillyer both 81m
Referee – Ruben Collins.
Assistant-referees – Aaron Pisarnik, Ray Jason.
Fourth official – Conor Harkin.