SLIGO ROVERS 1, TREATY UTD 2

BY CONALL COLLIER

Goals in each half from Cara Griffin and Anna Rockett gave Treaty Utd a hard-earned
Women’s Premier Division (WPD) victory over hosts Sligo Rovers who hit back through
Keeva Flynn on the hour on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts had claims for two penalties waved away by referee Gavin Colfer at 0-0, Treaty
dictated the exchanges and Katie Lawlee had an opportunity, but she blazed over the bar
from close range.
Sligo Rovers absorbed that period of Treaty pressure before they managed a meaningful
attack in the 17 th minute when they had two penalty claims waved away in quick succession.
Mairead McIntyre was injured in the second challenge by Treaty goalkeeper Katie Irwin and
had to be replaced by Rebecca Doddy.
Treaty remained in the ascendancy and had chances from Cara Griffin and Danielle Steer
before they broke the deadlock in the 37 th minute.
Katie Lawlee crossed from the left and Griffin capitalised on defensive hesitancy and
finished to the net for a 1-0 interval advantage.
Treaty added a second goal five minutes after the resumption when Anna Rockett found the
net following a scramble in the penalty area and while Treaty created a number of other
chances it was the hosts who found a response close to the hour mark.
Sarah Kiernan’s precise free picked out the run of Keeva Flynn who powered a header to the
net. Kiernan went close from a well-struck free soon after, but Treaty ‘keeper Katie Irwin
cleared the danger.
Treaty created a couple of good chances in the closing stages, but failed to hit the target
while the hosts kept pushing forward in search of an equaliser that proved elusive.
Both teams will be in FAI Cup quarter-final action next weekend – Sligo Rovers go to DLR
Waves and Treaty host Athlone Town.

Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Keeva Flynn, Muireann Devaney, Paula McGrory, Keri
Loughrey, Jodie Loughrey, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Kate Nugent, Rachel McGoldrick,
Mairead McIntyre. Subs – Rebecca Doddy for McIntyre 17 mins, Anna McDaniel for
McGoldrick 51m, Leah Kelly for Nugent and Kelsey Munroe for Kiernan both 72m.
Treaty Utd – Katie Irwin; Erin Van Dolder, Mara McCleary, Mijke Roelfsema, Cara Griffin,
Delana Friesen, Caleigh Boeck, Jillian Anne Tegan-O’Toole, Katie Lawlee, Anna Rockett,
Danielle Steer.
Referee – Gavin Colfer.
Assistant-Referee – Dylan Redmond, Keenan Deering.
Fourth Official – Aaron Pisarnik.

SLIGO ROVERS V TREATY UTD

BY CONALL COLLIER 

Sligo Rovers will kick-off a 70^th competitive game, since the club affiliated a senior team, at the Showgrounds on Sunday afternoon when Limerick side Treaty Utd will provide the opposition in a crucial Women’s Premier Division (WPD) game, 2pm.

This will be an unusual experience for the players as suspended manager Tommy Hewitt will have to watch the action from the stand due to the fall-out from last week’s game against Athlone Town when he was sent-off at half-time.

The dismissal arose after an unsuccessful query to the referee regarding a first minute red card for goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan who will also miss the action due to suspension.

However, the ‘keeper wouldn’t be available anyway as she sustained concussion after she collided with Athlone’s Casey Howe as both players challenged for the ball.

Apart from that, Sligo Rovers will have a full panel of players available for selection and will go into the game seeking a first WPD victory of the season at the 13^th attempt.

Three scoreless draws have been achieved so far and one of those was at the Market’s Field last April against Treaty Utd.

The Limerick women have recorded wins against DLR Waves (twice) and Cork City, draws with Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers and currently sit in ninth place, some eight points ahead of the Bit O’Red in 11th position.

A form guide suggests that this will be a tight encounter as both teams lost (1-0) against Bohemian FC and both also enjoyed impressive wins in the FAI Cup at the beginning of August.

Sligo Rovers hit Terenure Rangers for five while Treaty scored nine against Ferns Utd in those FAI Cup ties.

Last weekend’s result cannot be used as a gauge of any sort for the Bit O’Red as they went toe-to-toe against Athlone Town with only 10 players for 89 minutes while Treaty lost at home to Bohemian FC.

Treaty will be wary of a reaction from a Bit O’Red side that will be targeting a second win in-a-row at the Showgrounds after that FAI Cup victory against Terenure a fortnight ago when goals from Paula McGrory (two) Jodie and Keri Loughrey and Rebecca Doddy sealed the victory.

McGrory missed last week’s game against Athlone as she was withdrawn after only a minute following that red card for Bonnie McKiernan and she will be on the scent of more goals

The Limerick side will be looking for big performances from the Canadian trio of Erin van Dolder, Danielle Steer and Delana Friesen as they look to get back to winning ways.

Kick-off at the Showgrounds is at 2pm and the game will be live on LOITV.

BY CONALL COLLIER

From five for to five against was only the tip of the iceberg for Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt following Saturday’s Women’s Premier Division (WPD) reversal against hosts Athlone Town.

Two red cards, one for goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan and one for manager Tommy Hewitt, were the main topics of discussion at the end of 90 minutes although the majority of spectators would have been unaware that the Sligo Rovers manager had been sent-off at half-time.

Sixty seconds had hardly elapsed when the referee deemed Bit O’Red goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan guilty of a red-card challenge on former Sligo Rovers player Casey Howe.

A further three minutes elapsed before the referee had an opportunity to brandish the ‘Bit O’Red’ to McKiernan as both players required immediate attention arising out of a hefty head-on collision.

Both players challenged for the ball with McKiernan racing from her penalty area and Howe going in the opposite direction.

Following the collision, both players had to be assisted off the ground and then off the pitch and play resumed with a free for Athlone.

Facing Athlone with a full complement of players would be a stern challenge for any team, but to have only 10 for 89 minutes meant that this was yet another test of character for Sligo Rovers.

Two quick first-half goals eased Athlone into the comfort zone by the interval and when the team emerged for the second-half there was no sign of Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt in the technical area.

Usually, a post-match interview with the manager is pitchside, but on this occasion the chat took place under the stand of the well-appointed Athlone Town Stadium, due to the red card.

Upset and annoyed was the demeanour of the manager, but it was in no way related to the result or the performance of the team.

“Look, I don’t want to say much because I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” stated Tommy Hewitt.

“The two players were injured, Bonnie sustained concussion and Casey (Howe) didn’t fare too well out of it either, but there wasn’t anything malicious in the challenge.

“I approached the officials at half-time as I wasn’t sure what Bonnie had been sent-off for, the game was only on for about a minute and I didn’t really see what happened.

“I asked the referee about the red card and he told me to go away and then I got a red card.

“Leaving that to one side, it was a tremendous performance from the team, I know I say it every week, but I was immensely proud of how they stood up to a very talented Athlone team.

“Earlier this season (in Athlone) we had a similar type of incident when the Athlone ‘keeper impeded our player when we had a goal-scoring chance and we didn’t even get a free.

“I suppose, to sum it up, I’m very disappointed with certain aspects of today’s game and it’s also tough on the players,” he concluded.

BY CONALL COLLIER

Top-of-the-table hosts Athlone Town took the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) points against a Sligo Rovers side that was reduced to 10 players in the opening minute on Saturday night.

Early first-half Athlone Town goals from Rosin Molloy and Brenda Ebika Tabe were augmented by a second Molloy goal soon after the resumption, a fine Kerry-Anne Brown strike on the hour and an 89^th minute Jesi Lynn Rossman penalty that completed the tally.

Against the odds, a young Sligo Rovers enjoyed some good spells in the game and substitute Anna McDaniel’s super 70^th minute strike was a real reward for the overall efforts of the 10 players.

However, the pattern of this game was set after only 60 seconds when Bit O’Red goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan was red-carded by referee Glen Geraghty following a challenge outside her penalty area that looked like a clash of heads with Athlone Town’s Casey Howe.

The former teammates at the Showgrounds last season were both assisted from the pitch after a lengthy stoppage.

When play resumed with an Athlone free, Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt had to withdraw Paula McGrory with Amber Hardy taking over between the posts.

That left a depleted Bit O’Red side facing into 89 minutes of a rear-guard action against possibly the best team in the WPD at the moment as the Westmeath women vie for supremacy with joint-leaders Shelbourne ahead of next Saturday’s visit to Tolka Park.

There was further censure for Sligo Rovers during the interval when manager Tommy Hewitt was red-carded following a query to the officials regarding the decision to send-off Bonnie McKiernan in the opening minute. That gave coach Brendan Fitzsimons the managerial bib for the second-half.

Athlone Town dominated for the most part and were certainly worthy of a four-goal winning margin that would have been substantially greater without the performance of substitute goalkeeper Amber Hardy who drew gasps of admiration from supporters with some spectacular saves.

The nine outfield players also produced excellent performances in what would have been a rapid learning experience in a challenging environment.

The Bit O’Red just couldn’t cope with the surging runs down the wing of player-of-the-match Rosin Molloy who scored in each half and made the opening for her side’s fourth goal as Athlone probed and pushed in an effort to improve goal difference.

Sligo Rovers will host Treaty Utd next Sunday at the Showgrounds with a 2pm kick-off.

Athlone Town – Katie Keane; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan, Jesi Lynn Rossman, Rosin Molloy, Emily Burke, Laurie Ryan, Kerry-Anne Brown, Casey Howe, Madison Gibson.

Subs – Brenda Ebika Tebe for Howe one minute, Taylor Anderson for Burke and Hazel Donegan for Brown both 62m, Aoife Murphy-O’Connor for Molloy and Isabel Ryan for Gibson both 81m.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Keeva Flynn, Yvonne Hedigan, Kelsey Munroe, Alice Lillie, Muireann Devaney, Keri Loughrey, Paula McGrory, Jodie Loughrey, Rachel McGoldrick, Mairead McIntyre.

Subs – Amber Hardy for McGrory one minute, Leah Kelly for McIntyre and Kate Nugent for Hedigan both half-time, Sarah Kiernan for Munroe 59m, Anna McDaniel for McGoldrick and Jessica Casey for Lillie both 68m.

Referee – Glen Geraghty.

Assistant-referees – Dylan Redmond, John Hanney.

Fourth Official – Oliver Moran.

ATHLONE TOWN v SLIGO ROVERS

BY CONALL COLLIER

Seven days on from a first win of the season, Sligo Rovers will travel to tackle joint-top of the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) Athlone Town on Saturday evening, 7.30pm.

For Bit O’Red manager Tommy Hewitt it will almost feel like a home game as he returns to the venue where he patrolled the side-lines for the Westmeath club as he guided the fortunes of Athlone Town and also scooped the 2022 manager-of-the-year accolade.

Now, more than halfway through his initial season in the Sligo Rovers hot seat, Hewitt’s belief in his players was vindicated last Saturday at the Showgrounds when a well-regarded Terenure Rangers side was confidently negotiated in the first round of the Women’s FAI Cup.

Not that Sligo Rovers can expect to glean much praise for the 5-0 victory, but it was, nevertheless, an important step in the development process of what is, essentially, a very young team.

Hewitt was full of praise for his players in the previous WPD game despite a one-goal defeat at Dalymount Park against Bohemian FC a fortnight ago and will be looking for that type of character and commitment again.

Saturday’s encounter against Athlone Town will be a third successive outing for the Bit O’Red following what has been a somewhat fragmented fixture list this season and consistent competitive action will surely prove beneficial.

Last weekend Athlone Town, as holders, had a bye in the first round of the Women’s FAI Cup and will host the Bit O’Red on the back of a 2-1 reversal against Peamount Utd in front of the TG4 cameras a fortnight ago.

This will be a second visit of the  season to Athlone Town following a 2-1 April reversal in the Avenir Sports Cup where, despite trailing by two goals at the interval, a 75^th minute Muireann Devaney goal saw Sligo Rovers finish on the front foot, but unable to get an equaliser.

Sligo Rovers lost (2-0) in a WPD game during May at the Showgrounds where a goal in each half from former player Casey Howe proved crucial for Athlone.

However, Bit O’Red claims for a penalty in that game were waved away by the referee after Keri Loughrey was impeded as she raced towards the Athlone penalty area and got a touch on the ball ahead of ‘keeper Katie Keane’s lunge, but the chance was gone.

Athlone will target a return to winning ways while the Bit O’Red will be aiming to add to last weekend’s victory and take something home from the game.

Kick-off at Athlone Town Stadium is at 7.30pm and the action will be live on LOITV.

MATCH REPORT WFAI CUP

BY CONALL COLLIER

SLIGO ROVERS 5-0 TERENURE RANGERS

Sligo Rovers negotiated the challenge of Terenure Rangers in the first round of the Women’s FAI Cup at the Showgrounds on Saturday with a five-goal salvo that gave Tommy Hewitt’s side a first competitive win of the season.

First-half goals from Paula McGrory (two) were augmented by further strikes from Jodie and Keri Loughrey and Rebecca Doddy after the break to seal a comprehensive win.

The formbook indicated that this was the best team outside the League of Ireland against the bottom side in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD).

Terenure Rangers came into the game on the back of an impressive 2-1 victory six days earlier in the final of the FAI Amateur Cup against Whitehall Rangers as they retained the trophy won 12 months earlier.

Sligo Rovers kicked-off without a competitive win in either the WPD this season or the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup.

Last season the Dublin women faced Cork City in the competition, but lost out in that encounter at Richmond Park while Sligo Rovers made it to the last four where they exited against eventual winners, Athlone Town.

Sligo Rovers dominated the opening half, but squandered a number of early chances before Paula McGrory broke the deadlock with a fine finish on 20 minutes.

Soon after McGrory was narrowly wide following a good cross from Leah Kelly, but then the Bit O’Red displayed some complacency for a brief spell and were fortunate to keep the lead intact when Yvonne Hedigan had to scramble the ball off the line.

The chance for Terenure was created more by poor defensive play by the hosts who were extremely relieved not to concede an equaliser although Sarah Ryan and Caroline Thorpe were a constant threat for the Dublin women.

However, that reprieve appeared to spark the hosts into action and following a sustained period of pressure a claim for a penalty was waved away by the referee.

The official stopped play to allow Leah Kelly receive some attention in the Terenure penalty area and the hosts then finished the half on a high when McGrory made space and finished to the net for a 2-0 interval advantage.

Terenure resumed smartly for the second-half and Sarah Ryan had an excellent chance to reduce the deficit in the 47^th minute, but was wide of the target. The same player had a couple of other chances for Terenure, but despite her best efforts was unable to find the net.

The Bit O’Red remained in the ascendancy and added a third goal with a superb Jodie Loughrey effort after Paula McGrory’s persistence to keep the ball in play was rewarded and Keri Loughrey made it 4-0 with a lob from about 30 metres following a quick counter attack.

Substitute Katie Melly was denied by the post on 72 minutes soon after Rebecca Doddy and Mairead McIntyre combined to create an opening.

Terenure substitute goalkeeper Liv Torfeldt had a hectic final seven minutes during which she made some spectacular saves, but she was beaten in the 90^th minute when Doddy finished from close range to make it 5-0 for the hosts.

Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Yvonne Hedigan, Keeva Flynn, Kelsey Munroe, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Keri Loughrey, Leah Kelly, Jodie Loughrey, Paula McGrory, Mairead McIntyre. 

Subs – Kate Nugent for Hedigan and Rachel McGOldrick for Kiernan both half-time, Rebecca Doddy for Kelly and Cara King for Munroe both 60 mins, Katie Melly for McGrory 72m

Terenure Rangers – Niamh Geraghty; Leanne Dicker, Niamh O’Donoghue, Jessica Hunt, Kerri Duffy, Caroline Thorpe, Linda Douglas, Niamh Carroll, Sarah Ryan, Caroline Healy, Melissa Haughton. 

Subs – Lydia Kavanagh for Carroll 64 mins, Louise Gleeson for Healy 72m, Anna McGilacuddy for O’Donoghue and Liv Torfeldt for Geraghty both 83m

Referee – Robert Dowling

Assistant-referees – Darren Corcoran, Keenan Deering.

Fourth Official – Richard Storey.

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers will seek a place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s FAI Cup this Saturday as they host Dublin’s Terenure Rangers at the Showgrounds, with kick-off at 3pm.

Terenure Rangers arrive with strong confidence following their 2-1 victory in the Women’s FAI Amateur Cup final last Sunday, where they defeated Whitehall Rangers at the Belfield Bowl. This win secured back-to-back cup triumphs for Terenure, making them the first team to retain the trophy.

Sligo Rovers made a solid start at this stage of the competition last season with a comfortable win over Donegal’s Bonagee Utd at the Showgrounds. Conversely, Terenure’s 5-0 defeat to Cork City in the same round last year at Richmond Park was somewhat misleading, as Cork City scored the final three goals late in the game.

Terenure enters this match in excellent form, having secured victories over Home Farm (4-0), Marks Celtic (11-1), Killester/Donnycarney (4-2), and Douglas Hall (6-2) leading up to their recent cup win.

Terenure manager Caroline Kelly and her team—Paula Hamilton, Robert Fitzgerald, Alan Moore, and Ciara Smith—have carefully reviewed Sligo Rovers’ recent performances against Peamount Utd and Bohemian FC. Despite making five enforced changes in their last match, Sligo Rovers will benefit from the return of key players like Yvonne Hedigan and Keeva Flynn, which could strengthen their defence.

Although Sligo Rovers have struggled with scoring this season, they have consistently created chances. Facing a team from outside the Women’s Premier Division might be the catalyst they need for their first win of the season.

With Terenure Rangers in impressive form and aiming for victory, an exciting and closely contested 90 minutes is expected at the Showgrounds.

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New signings Jack Henry-Francis and Luke Pearce are available for selection as Sligo Rovers take on Cobh Wanderers in Sunday’s Sports Direct FAI Cup second round clash at the Showgrounds, kick-off 6pm.

Rovers will look to progress against the Munster Senior League side on the 30th anniversary year of the club’s second FAI Cup win, back in 1994. 

The Bit O’Red will be without the suspended JR Wilson who serves the second of a three match ban following his red card against Derry City. While John Mahon continues his recovery from a long-term achilles injury. Kailin Barlow will miss out following a knock he picked up in Friday’s friendly draw with Everton in Sligo. 

Stephen Mallon is available despite being sent off during last week’s win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park. He will serve his suspension in an upcoming Premier Division game. 

While Henry-Francis and Pearce will be in the match day squad, after recently agreeing to join on loan from Arsenal and Cardiff City respectively. 

Rovers have experience of coming up against the Cork side in recent FAI Cup history. A brace from Dinny Corcoran along with strikes from David Cawley and Raffaele Cretaro saw Sligo advance to the fourth round at the expense of Cobh at St Colman’s Park, back in 2015. 

Manager John Russell played the first half of that game and having won the cup with Rovers in both 2010 and 2011 as a player, he is aware of how much the tournament means to both the club and its supporters. Russell is also expecting Cobh to come to the Showgrounds looking to cause an upset. 

“There’s always a real excitement when it comes to the cup and the early rounds”, he says.

“I was there for two wins and was lucky to be involved. We all know how much the FAI Cup means to Rovers. We probably haven’t done ourselves much justice in the competition in the last few years but we’re going into this game in a really good place. 

“I would dearly love to bring this club to another cup final and win it but we can’t think about that at the moment. We have to win on Sunday.

“We have prepared in the same way as we would for any game. We know Cobh aren’t coming all the way to Sligo just to play a game of football. They have an experienced manager in Stephen Henderson who will know what it takes to get through and we have to be wary of them.

“We are in good form in the league the last few weeks but this stands for nothing when we kick-off. We know we have a real job on our hands on Sunday and that’s evident by the fact that we rested a lot of the lads for the Everton game.” 

David Goulden