Gemma McGuinness wrote herself into the history books of Sligo Rovers when she grabbed a sensational first goal for the club in the Women’s National League against Cork City at Turners Cross on Saturday evening.

It got better for the under siege Bit O’Red soon after when Emma Doherty beat the offside trap and calmly finished to the net in the 70th minute.

Cork City got back into contention with 15 minutes remaining when Nadine Seward finished at the far post.

This was a third outing for Steve Feeney’s side following defeats by Peamount and DLR Waves while for hosts Cork City it was a second outing as last week’s game against Treaty Utd was postponed.

Cork lost (0-3) to Galway on the opening day and had a training game against Mayfield during the week to compensate for the postponement last Saturday.

Cork City dominated the opening exchanges and really could have had a goal or two on the scoreboard as Aoife Cronin and Shaunagh McCarthy were denied by Kristen Sample inside 15 minutes.

At the other end Fiona Doherty’s cross gave Aoife Brennan an opening, but she just failed to connect with the ball which drifted wide.

Cork remained in the ascendancy and created lots of chances, but failed to make a breakthrough. Brennan went close for the visitors from a 38th minute free and Gemma McGuinness began to make more of an impact on the wing.

Cork remained on the front foot after the resumption with Becky Cassin and Zara Foley going close as the Bit O’Red defended tenaciously with Amy Hyndham making a crucial clearnace in the 57th minute and Shaunagh McCarthy’s effort soon after flashing past the post.

In a rare Sligo attack Gemma McGuinness pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Cork area and her effort went in off the angle of post and crossbar in the 62nd minute.

Emma Doherty, who arrived just in time for the game, scored the second.

Cork City – Abby McCarthy; Danielle Burke, Ciara McNamara, Zara Foley, Aoife Cronin, Shaunagh McCarthy, Becky Cassin, Eva Mangan, Kelly Leahy, Lauren Walsh, Lauren Singleton. Subs – Nadine Seward for Foley 62 mins, Aoibhin Donnelly for McCarthy 68m, Nathalie O’Brien for Walsh 84m.

Sligo Rovers – Kristen Sample; Leah Kelly, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Hyndman, Amy Roddy, Emma Hansberry, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Aoife Brennan, Amy Roddy, Katie Melly, Fiona Doherty. Subs – Emma Doherty for Melly, Sarah Kiernan for Hansberry and Paula McGrory for Roddy all 60 mins, Erin Coyle for Doherty 70m, Helen Monaghan for Kelly 84m

Referee – Claire Purcell.
Assistants – Chris Braganza, Paul Braganza.
Fourth official – David Keeler.

Report: Conall Collier