An exasperating visit for Sligo Rovers to Belfast for the Women’s All-Island Cup on Saturday where hosts Linfield registered a 5-0 win to seal a place in the last eight at the expense of Wexford on goal difference.
The statistics will show that first-half goals from Sophie McKnight and Megan Bell gave the Belfast side a 2-0 interval advantage. A 49th minute red card for Sydney Stephens left the Bit O’Red with 10 players.
Further goals followed from Linfield through a 56th minute Cora Chambers penalty and late strikes from McKnight and Rhianna McBreen in the closing minutes.
Sligo Rovers manager Gavin Hughes, who was the recipient of a 58th minute red card, made one change from the side that defeated against Cork last week with Emma Duffy starting instead of Alana Doherty.
There was only four minutes on the clock when Emma Hansberry picked up a yellow card, apparently for dissent, but the referee was more lenient when it came to some of the challenges from the hosts.
That aspect aside, Sligo Rovers had the best of the early chances with Sydney Stephens denied by the crossbar on five minutes and Sabrina Hillyer’s effort parried to safety soon after by a relieved Lily Woods between the Linfield posts.
Sligo Rovers resumed the second-half smartly with Anna McDaniel denied by Woods before Stephens departed in the 49th minute on a second yellow card and she was joined by her manager in the 59th minute.
Despite that, Sligo Rovers pushed forward and had what looked like a reasonable claim for a penalty waved away in the 55th minute, but 60 seconds later Linfield were awarded a spot kick that Chambers converted and that effectively finished the game as a contest with the late goals earning a quarter-final ticket.
Linfield – Lilie Woods; Sarah Jane McMaster, Abi Sweetlove, Zoe McGlynn, Cora Chambers, Grace McKimm, Megan Bell, Keri Loughrey, Sophie McKnight, Rhianna Breen, Rachel McLaren. Subs – Z Knox for McGlynn, E Reilly for McKimm.
Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Kelsey McQuillan, Leah Kelly, Sabrina Hillyer, Emma Duffy, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Manu Baptista Filipe, Sydney Stephens, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Ella Karolack for Kelly half-time, Ava Hallinan for King 65 mins, Ivana McMahon for McKiernan 88m.
Referee- Mark Miskmmin.
Assistant-referees – Fabrice Dubois, Ken Ross
Fourth official – Reuben Laverty.
