BY CONALL COLLIER

Sligo Rovers extended an unbeaten Women’s Premier Division (WPD) sequence to 10 games following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds against Galway Utd as Gracie Dunaway and Emma Doherty traded goals in each half.

Dunaway gave Sligo Rovers the lead with her first goal for the club midway through the opening half while Emma Doherty equalised for Galway five minutes into the second-half.

Galway Utd came into the crucial encounter after failing to win midweek at Dalymount Park while in the Women’s FAI Cup quarter-final last weekend they needed extra-time for a 2-1 victory after a scoreless 90 minutes against the Bit O’Red.

Saturday’s draw at the Showgrounds saw Phil Trill’s side drop from second to third in the table some four points adrift of leaders Athlone Town while Sligo Rovers consolidated fifth place with eight games remaining.

Both teams featured changes from the WFAI Cup game with Haylee Mersereau making her first start for the Bit O’Red after a substitute appearance last weekend against Galway when she replaced Sabrina Hillyer.

For Galway, Remina Tillotson was unavailable following a red card in that midweek game against Bohemians while Aoibhin Donnelly and Cara Griffin also dropped to the bench. The trio of Aislinn Meaney, Ava Mullins and Ella Raimondi deputised.

There were a number of individual battles over the 90 minutes with the Doherty duel the most intriguing as Alana Doherty for Sligo Rovers curtailed Galway’s Emma Doherty who was frequently caught offside.

Then there was the midfield tussle between Cara Jordan and Galway’s Niamh Farrelly as both players enjoyed periods of dominance. Jordan certainly shaded the verdict in terms of work rate and carved out numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Sligo Rovers lost Anna McDaniel to an early injury and she was replaced by Cara King in what was a high-tempo opening half.

The warning signs were there for Galway as early as the 17th minute when Gracie Dunaway beat two Galway defenders and tested Amanda McQuillan’s shot-stopping ability.

However, McQuillan had to pick the ball out of the net midway through the half when Dunaway swivelled smartly on Jordan’s cross into the penalty area and gave her side a merited lead.

The Jordan – Dunaway combination continued to test the Galway defence for the remainder of the half with McQuillan saving well on the stroke of half-time.

Galway resumed the second-half smartly and on the one occasion that offside wasn’t a factor, Emma Doherty headed her side level with an excellent finish from a 50th minute corner.

Both sides worked hard for the remainder and it was evident that Galway found the going tough in the closing stages as they resorted to the long ball in an effort to grab that elusive second goal.

At the other end, the assistant-referee appeared to flag for a 90th minute infringement against a Sligo Rovers player on the edge of the Galway penalty area, but the referee let play continue ahead of the final whistle.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Ava Hallinan, Haylee Mersereau, Alanah Doherty, Alice Lillie, Emma Duffy, Cara Jordan, Ella Karolak, Olivia Rush, Gracie Dunaway, Anna McDaniel.

Subs – Cara King for McDaniel 13 mins, Sarah McCaffrey for Hallinan 60m, Gio Dionicio for Dunaway and Paula McGrory for Duffy both 85m.

Galway Utd – Amanda McQuillan; Aoibheann Costello, Lucy Grant, Isabella Beletic, Niamh Cotter, Niamh Farrelly, Aislinn Meaney, Ella Raimondi, Amy Tierney, Ava Mullin, Emma Doherty.

Subs – Aoibhin Donnelly for Tierney 63 mins, Cara Griffin for Meaney 74m.

Referee – Michael Connolly.

Assistant-referees – Richard Storey, Keenan Deering.

Fourth official – Darren Corcoran.