BY CONALL COLLIER
Early and late second-half goals from Paula McGrory and substitute Haylee Mersereau with her first touch gave Sligo Rovers a merited 2-1 Women’s Premier Division (WPD) victory against Peamount Utd at the Showgrounds on Sunday.
The final game of the WPD season produced a tough and uncompromising encounter as each side gave it 100 per cent in terms of effort and determination throughout the 90 minutes as the home supporters were well entertained.
Unusually, Sligo Rovers utilised three centre-backs with Emma Hansberry starting in the position. She was replaced at the interval by Alana Doherty who then limped out of the action on 81 minutes with Haylee Mersereau deputising.
Her first contribution was to rocket a header to the Peamount net from an Ella Karolak corner in the 82nd minute.
That goal gave the Bit O’Red the lead for the first time after Paula McGrory had equalised a minute into the second-half when she raced on to a Cara Jordan pass and finished confidently.
However, it was the Dublin women who were in the ascendancy at half-time with a 1-0 advantage from Millie Daly’s 12th minute goal despite the home side dominating the first 45 minutes.
Sligo Rovers battled bravely against the elements, but trailed to that Millie Daly goal after she ran on to a Freya Healy pass and benefited from a rebound when home ‘keeper Bonnie McKiernan attempted to clear the danger.
Both sides had chances prior to that opening goal with Cara Jordan’s effort blocked by Peamount ‘keeper Summer Lawless and at the other end Daly’s shot was saved comfortably.
The Bit O’Red worked hard in an effort to find an equaliser with Olivia Rush twice going close on 19 and 20 minutes while Cara Jordan won a race for possession with Lawless in the Peamount penalty area soon after, but the Dublin women scrambled a clearance.
Close to the interval Emma Duffy rifled over from the edge of the Peamount penalty area and then she had a shot saved by Lawless who handled well in the blustery conditions.
Paula McGrory had the sides level in the 46th minute and soon after Gracie Dunaway hit over after another Cara Jordan run made the opening.
Peamount squandered a gilt-edged opportunity in the 78th minute when Sophie Byrne blazed over and the Dublin women suffered the consequences of that miss when the Bit O’Red hit the front from that Mersereau goal.
Olivia Rush and Cara Jordan were unlucky not to add further goals in the closing minutes as Sligo Rovers finished the season on a positive note.
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Alice Lillie, Ella Karolak, Sabrina Hillyer, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Paula McGrory, Gracie Dunaway, Olivia Rush, Gio Dionicio.
Subs – Alana Doherty for Hansberry half-time, Emma Malone for McKiernan, Anna McDaniel for Dunaway and Sarah McCaffrey for McGrory all 66 mins, Haylee Mersereau for Alana Doherty 81m
Peamount Utd – Summer Lawless; Maeve Russell, Della Doherty, Abby Tuthill, Mary Phillips, Aoife O’Connor, Freya Healy, Ciara O’Neill, Millie Daly, Sophie Byrne, L O’Rourke.
Subs – Mia McGonnell for O’Connor and Mia Murtagh for Russell both 61 mins, Robin Bair4d for O’Rourke and Mia Gaff for Daly both 71m, Carrie Sinnott for Phillips 78m.
Referee – Kate O’Brien.
Assistant-referees – Thomas Joyce, Pawula Klaudia.
Fourth Official – Vicki McEnery.