GALWAY UTD 4, SLIGO ROVERS 2

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers surrendered a two-goal interval advantage on Saturday evening in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) against title-chasing Galway Utd who replied with four second-half goals.

New signing Annie McKinley made her debut for the Bit O’Red and Sarah McDaniel also started with both players making a big contribution.

Two more new faces appeared for the Bit O’Red in the second-half with Bernie Ferreira and Louise Masterson sent into the fray by manager Steve Feeney.

McKinley arrived from California where she played College football for the last four years and concluded her final season with a League Championship success.

She made an instant impact for the Bit O’Red as she rocketed a header to the net on 13 minutes from an Emma Hansberry corner and 20 minutes later the duo struck again.

Goal number two was similar to the opener and that gave the Bit O’Red the platform for a 2-0 interval advantage.

Galway’s only real chance in the opening half was a Celoa Bergin effort that went narrowly wide.

However, Galway upped the tempo for the second half with early goals from Emma Doherty and Isabella Beletic for parity by the 50th minute.

Then, the former Sligo Rovers striker headed Galway in front on the hour as the hosts showed a more positive disposition in the second half.

That attitude produced a fourth goal for Galway with six minutes remaining.

Rovers lost possession around midfield, and Galway substitute Amanda Smith capitalised to make it 4-2, sealing a hard-earned victory for the hosts in sweltering conditions.

Galway Utd – Nicole Nix; Aoibheann Costello, Lucy Grant, Isabella Beletic, Kate Thompson, Therese Kinnevey, Ceola Bergin, Ava Mullins, Eve Dossen, Emma Doherty, Niamh Farrelly. 

Subs – A Smith for Mullins 62 mins, R Olusola for Bergin 76 mins, K Coady for Doherty and A Donnelly for Thompson, both 88 mins.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Sarah McDaniel, Keeva Flynn, Annie McKinley, Alice Lillie, Emma Hansberry, Paula McGrory, Katie Melly, Kya McKenna, Alana Doherty, Cara King. 

Subs – Bernie Ferreira for Hansberry and Louise Masterson for McGrory, both 74 mins; Eve Caprani for McDaniel and Amy McCarthy for King, both 85 mins.

Referee – Kate O’Brien.

Assistant referees – Conor Fitzgibbon, Paudie Hayes.

Fourth official – Declan Toland.