Rachel Doyle’s two-goal salvo midway through the second-half gave her the tag of super-sub as DLR Waves worked hard for a 3-0 victory against hosts Sligo Rovers in the Women’s National League today at the Showgrounds.
Close to 1,000 spectators witnessed the historic first home game in the WNL for Sligo Rovers and while manager Steve Feeney is still looking for that first win, it was a good day for the club as referenced by Sligo Rovers club stalwart and former secretary Mary McGowan at half-time.
She expressed her delight at the occasion and suggested that this would be a long-term project in conversation with Austin O’Callaghan of Ocean FM at the interval.
“This is not going to be a flash in the pan, this team will be, like the men’s team, here in 100 years, it’s a great occasion and there is a great sense of pride
around the project,” she stated.
It didn’t start well for the hosts who were a goal down to a speculative effort that crept inside the post after three minutes.
Avril Brierley found the net for DLR with that effort and she was a constant threat during that opening 45 minutes while a surging run
from Sarah McKevitt almost produced a second goal.
At the other end a 30th minute Emma Hansberry corner caused panic in the DLR six-yard box, but the danger was averted and then close to the interval a
Gemma McGuinness cross posed more problems as the hosts gained in confidence.
DLR lost team captain Jess Gleeson to injury in the 44th minute and she was replaced by Oleta Griffin.
The Rovers had chances within two minutes of the resumption with Aoife Brennan causing the problems on each occasion
for what was a relieved DLR rearguard.
McGuinness continued to pose a threat to DLR with some surging runs and visiting ‘keeper Eve Badana saved well on the hour when a Hansberry corner created a chance for the Bit O’Red.
Hansberry limped out of the action soon after and DLR manager Graham Kelly made a double substitution with Rachel Kelly and Kerri Letmon introduced.
Kelly made an instant impact heading home in the 68th minute and finishing from a free seven minutes later for her side’s third and clinching goal.
Sligo Rovers – Kristen Sample; Leah Kelly, Emma Hansberry, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Hyndman, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Aoife Brennan, Amy Roddy, Katie Melly. Subs – Sarah Kiernan for Brennan, Paula McGrory for Hyndman and Kerri O’Hara for Hansberry all 65 mins, Fiona Doherty for Melly 75m, Ruth Monaghan for Kelly 81m.
DLR Waves – Eva Badana; Nicole Keogh, Lynn Craven, Jess Gleeson, Fiona Donnelly, Katie Malone, Aoife Brophy, Avril Brierley, Sophie Watters, Shauna Carroll, Sarah McKevitt. Subs – Oleta Griffin for Gleeson 44 mins, Rachel Doyle for Malone and Kerri Letmon for Watters both65m.
Referee – Joe Hession.
Assistant-referees – Richard Storey, Keenan Deering.
Fourth official – Martin Cuddihy.
Report: Conall Collier