By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers will host Peamount Utd on Saturday in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) with manager Steve Feeney almost in a position where he might only have 11 fit players following the trauma of the past fortnight.

The stretcher-bearers were kept busy tending to the walking wounded and to those who couldn’t even walk following the WPD game against Galway and the All-Island Cup draw with Bohemians FC last Sunday.

Arising from those encounters, four Bit O’Red players are sitting on the bench due to injuries that were sustained, while Paula McGrory remains on the doubtful list ahead of this Saturday’s action.

Katie Melly and Jessica Casey were sidelined after the Galway game a fortnight ago. Amber Hardy Amber Hardy had to be stretchered off in the 90th minute last week after she sustained a fractured patella, and goalscorer Rachel McGoldrick sustained an arm injury (double fracture) after she fell awkwardly.

That’s the current challenge for Steve Feeney, who can reflect on what was a hugely encouraging display last Sunday, as his target will be a first win of the season against a Peamount side that finished sixth last season.

“We have a relatively young squad; Tommy (Hewitt) gave a lot of girls opportunities last year, and that experience will be helpful this season,” stated the Bit O’Red boss.

“Players like Emma Hansberry, Leah Kelly and Muireann Devaney add experience, and the players coming through from the Academy have the talent to make a serious contribution.

“It was evident in the All-Island Cup last week; we needed a solid performance to get anything out of that contest against Bohemians, and after a slow start, I felt that we were able to control the game for long periods,” he added.

Peamount currently sit in seventh place, some nine points adrift of leaders Athlone Town, as they adjust to the post-James O’Callaghan era after the long-serving manager stepped down from his role at the end of last season.

Emma Donohoe has stepped into the ‘hot seat’ at the Dublin club that has a rich tradition in the league and the distinction of winning the inaugural title back in 2012 when the recently retired Republic of Ireland international Louise Quinn was the captain.

The Dublin club won the last of four titles in 2023 and will always have a place in the history of Sligo Rovers.

Peamount’s home ground, PRL Park in West Dublin, was the venue in March 2022 for the historic first outing for Sligo Rovers in what was then the Women’s National League.

Last time out in the WPD, Peamount found the going tough against bottom-of-the-table DLR Waves and needed a second-half Jess Fitzgerald goal for a hard-earned 3-2 victory.

Peamount enjoyed a 3-0 win away to Cork City last weekend in the All-Island Cup, with goals in the 88th and 90th minutes sealing the victory after Croatian player Antea Guvo gave them the lead in the first half.

Sligo Rovers v Peamount Utd will kick off on Saturday at 3pm and will be available on LOITV.

David Goulden at the Showgrounds 

Francely Lomboto netted a dramatic 90th minute equaliser as Sligo Rovers stayed within reach of Cork City at the Showgrounds. 

Kitt Nelson had given the Rebels the lead with a quarter of an hour to go, but Rovers were rewarded for their hard work and perseverance when the lively Lomboto popped up to force Owen Elding’s header across the line at the death.

City finished this game with ten men after Josh Fitzpatrick butted heads with Rovers sub Stephen Mallon on 78.

For the third game in eight days, Russell named an unchanged starting side. While City rewarded last Monday’s match winner Nelson, who scored in this fixture back in March, with a start. The Preston loanee their only change from that dramatic win over Waterford. 

The hosts did start the brighter and went close through Jad Hakiki whose effort from the edge of the area whistled narrowly wide. While there was a hearts in mouths moment for the Leesiders early on when Rovers’ Gareth McElroy looked like he was shoved to the ground in front of the City posts as he tried to get contact on a Will Fitzgerald set-piece.

City’s Evan McLaughlin had a free-kick from the angle held by Sam Sargeant in the Rovers goal. While McElroy couldn’t generate enough power on his header from a Jake Doyle-Hayes cross late in the half. 

Rovers’ top scorer Owen Elding lost his footing at the crucial moment as he skewed an effort wide 12 minutes into the second period as they chased the opener. While at the far end, Djenario Daniels was inches away from tapping home a Joshua Fitzpatrick cross towards the back post with 20 to go.  

Cork hit the front on 77. Daniels missed Fitzpatrick’s cross but Nelson made no such mistake as he bundled the ball beyond Sargeant. 

Fitzpatrick was then shown a straight red after he got involved with Rovers sub Mallon on 78. 

Mallon was involved in the late drama as Elding sent the winger’s cross back across the face of goal for Lomboto to squeeze beyond Tein Troost. 

Fitzgerald almost won this game for the hosts in the fifth minute of added time but he dragged a shot wide and beyond the far post. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Daire Patton 72), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ronan Manning (Matty Wolfe 92); Will Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki (Stephen Mallon 72), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Francely Lomboto 62).  

Cork City: Tien Troost; Milan Mbeng, Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley, Bernardo Couto (Matthew Kiernan 64); Evan McLaughlin, Sean Murray; Cathal O’Sullivan, Kitt Nelson (Rio Shipston 82), Alex Nolan (Joshua Fitzpatrick 53); Djenairo Daniels. 

Referee: Rob Harvey. 

Attendance: 2,187.

Sligo Rovers will play their third game in the space of eight days as Cork City are this Saturday’s visitors to the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

The game will be the Bit O’Red’s first outing at home in the second round of league fixtures following games in both Waterford and Derry over the Easter period. John Russell’s side took three points from those two games and will look to move out of the Premier Division’s bottom spot with a win over the Rebels this weekend. 

This will be the second time the sides will face each other this term. Top-scorer Owen Elding gave Rovers an early lead at Turner’s Cross back in March, but the Leesiders hit back through Kitt Nelson in the second period as the points were shared. 

Russell’s hand is strengthened for this one by the return of full-back Harvey Lintott to full fitness, while midfielder Connor Malley is available again having missed Tuesday’s defeat in Derry through suspension. 

Ollie Denham will be assessed in the lead up to Saturday, while Wilson Waweru continues his recovery.

Speaking to sligorovers.com this week, Russell says his players must prove they can perform when called upon and feels Cork’s late win over Waterford on Monday will have them arriving in Sligo all guns blazing. 

“There’s not really much point in me or anyone else talking too much about the game, it’s about actions. We can analyse and talk all we want but it’s worth nothing if we don’t go out on Saturday in front of our own supporters, on our own ground and take the game to Cork. The players, every one of them, know what is expected of all of them and they know what I want from them. I need them to do their talking on the pitch now. 

“It’s all about actions now. We know how good we can be and we must show it. We’re a very young side but we also have experience and having someone like Connor back adds to that. Harvey being back also gives us a boost and hopefully we’ll have positive news on Ollie. We’re as close to full strength as we’ve been all year so we have no excuse on that front. 

“Cork scored those late goals against Waterford and that’s going to have done a lot for them. They’re a very good side and they’ll be coming up here looking for another win. 

“We will be as well prepared as we can be and the players will have all the information they need. We’re really looking forward to being back at the Showgrounds and we’re focused on putting in a good shift.”

David Goulden 

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers return to action in the Women’s All-Island Cup first round with a fixture at the Showgrounds against Bohemian FC on Sunday, 1.30pm.

Last month the Dublin side visited the Showgrounds for the opening game of the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) and were held to a scoreless draw by a battling Bit O’Red performance.

Bohs will go into this encounter on the back of a heavy defeat (7-2) against Shelbourne a fortnight ago. They had no game last weekend due to a weather-enforced postponement against Waterford at the RSC.

Sligo Rovers endured a tough outing, in terms of injuries, last Saturday when they hosted Galway Utd at the Showgrounds.

While Galway recorded a hard-earned 3-1 victory, the Bit O’Red lost Katie Melly and Jessica Casey to separate second-half injuries, and both players were stretchered off.

Katie Melly sustained an ankle injury that will keep her out of the team for at least four weeks, while Jessica Casey will be sidelined for a similar timespan with a knee injury.

Rovers manager Steve Feeney accepted that both players will be a significant loss as he reflected on what was ultimately a costly outing against Galway.

“The concession of the early goal against Galway was disappointing, but the players responded positively, and we were well in the game after that,” he said.

“I suppose Galway created some chances in the first half, but we were solid, and I felt we were coming back into the game in the second half when we had the two injuries.

“Katie was a big loss, as she was doing a good job in a more defensive role, and she has great pace also, so her departure disrupted our fluency.

“Then we lost Jessica a few minutes later, and it just didn’t help us, but there was ample evidence of the character and determination of the players; they kept going, and the late goal from Rachel (McGoldrick) was deserved,” he added.

Looking ahead to a first outing in this season’s All-Island Cup, Steve stressed the importance of a winning start in what is a tough group that also includes Shelbourne and Linfield.

“I’m not expecting anything easy from Bohemians, and they will be approaching
this game with a similar attitude to ourselves; both teams will feel they can win, and to have a realistic chance of making the quarter-finals, winning the first game is vital,” stated the Bit O’Red boss.

“We will be targeting a victory to get the All-Island Cup campaign off to a good start. Both teams would have preferred a better start to the league, and both teams have conceded a good few goals, but this is an opportunity now for us to go out and get a victory.

“We will have to make changes due to injuries to Katie (Melly), Jessica (Casey) and Paula (McGrory), while Emma Hansberry is on the doubtful list at this stage. Muireann and Lauren Devaney may not be available.

“On the plus side, Leah Kelly came on for Jessica last Saturday, and she was lively and energetic. We have plenty of players who are just waiting for a chance to start, and Sunday could be an opportunity for them,” he concluded.

Bohemian FC will start with manager Alban Hysa serving a suspension following his dismissal from the sideline last time out against Shelbourne for two yellow cards.

However, that won’t seriously impact the starting 11, and the Dublin women will
Look to players like Hannah Healy and Katie McCarn to score the goals, each having hit the target this season already.

Other players who have the potential to make big contributions include Roisin McGovern, who has got amongst the goals, and Aoibhe Brennan; both have started all five WPD games this season.  

Kick-off at the Showgrounds on Sunday will be at 1.30pm, and the game will be on LOITV.

Sligo Rovers were unable to follow up their Easter Friday hammering of Waterford as the Bit O’Red were beaten by Derry City at the Brandywell.

During a game in which the scoreline didn’t accurately reflect the storyline, Rovers were two behind after 25 minutes.

The opener arrived with more than a touch of controversy involved. Daniel Mullen clearly handled the ball inside the area but somehow referee Marc Lynch failed to spot the incident. Mullen fired past Sam Sargeant for the lead having controlled the ball in more than contentious circumstances.

Derry had their second mid-way through the opening half when Gavin Whyte broke free of Jake Doyle-Hayes before finishing past Sargeant.

The second half was only minutes old when Mullen copper-fastened the points for the Candystripes when he finished off a Michael Duffy set piece.

Rovers fought on and were arguably the better side in the last half hour. Francely Lomboto, Oskar Van Hattum and Matty Wolfe, each second half subs all went close as Rovers troubled the opposition on several occasions before the finish.

Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce (Hayden Cann 74), Mark Connolly, Kevin Holt, Sam Todd; Carl Winchester, Robbie Benson (Adam O’Reilly 64), Gavin Whyte (Liam Boyce 64; Dom Thomas, Daniel Mullen (Sean Patton 74), Michael Duffy (Paul McMullan 81).

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant, Conor Reynolds (Daire Patton 60), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Owen Elding, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ronan Manning (Stephen Mallon 60), Will Fitzgerald (Oskar Van Huttum 84); Jad Hakiki (Matty Wolfe 60); Cian Kavanagh (Francely Lomboto 60).

Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway).

John Russell is urging his players to build on Friday’s dominative win over Waterford as the Bit O’Red face into crunch clashes with both Derry City and Cork City in the coming days. 

Rovers put in a superb showing despite inclement conditions at the RSC as goals from Gareth McElroy, Owen Elding, Cian Kavanagh and Francely Lomboto saw Rovers pick up a first win in six to lift themselves above the Rebels who now occupy bottom spot by virtue of Rovers’ better goal difference. 

Speaking to LOITV after the four goal victory, a proud Russell spoke of his pride in a real clinical performance from the visitors who kept a clean sheet for the first time this year. 

“We managed the game and did really well to get an early goal”, he said. 

“It was an outstanding move, real high energy and high pressing. We looked a threat all night and managed the conditions really well. It was touch and go whether the game would go ahead but we dealt with the surface really well. 

“They had a man sent off, which changed things for them but overall, we’re delighted with a clean sheet. To score four goals away from home in front of travelling support on the back of what’s been a tough few weeks for them and us is great. I keep saying it, we’ve great belief in this group. They keep working hard and a lot of our performances have been good. It’s just been about turning those performances into three points and we were able to do that tonight.” 

Rovers were irresistible in the middle, bossing the centre of the pitch and that didn’t go unnoticed by Russell who heaped deserved praise on his engine room generals. While he also acknowledged the influence and input of his centre halves and goalkeeper. 

“We have been playing well this year but we were guilty of giving away goals and making silly errors, but we didn’t do that tonight. Jake Doyle-Hayes, we missed him and it was great to have him come back into the team. I thought him and Ronan Manning were excellent along with Jad Hakiki. 

“We played on the front foot and we showed what we’re all about. The clean sheet is huge because we haven’t managed to do that yet this season. Sam (Sargeant) was very assured and made the big decisions very well. John Mahon and Gareth McElroy defended well and had to because everyone knows the quality that Padraig Amond and Tommy Lonergan have. It was a tough night for Waterford, but we still had to perform and play to our strengths which we did.

“We need to build on this now, we know there’s more in this group and we need to push on against Derry.”

David Goulden