Rovers dig deep to beat Bohemians
Gritty win at Dalymount Park sets up a home semi-final against Athlone Sports Direct Women’s FAIC Quarter-Final Bohemians Sligo Rovers 0 1
SLIGO Rovers’ senior women’s team have reached the semi-final of the Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup for the first time following a 1-0 win away to Bohemians last Saturday. Emma Hansberry proved to be the difference for Rovers on the score sheet as the Bit O’Red progressed to the last four off the back of one of their finest performances.
SPORTS DIRECT WOMEN’S FAI CUP
SEMI-FINALS:
Both semi-finals take place on Saturday, October 14.
Rovers’ reward is a home semi-final against Athlone Town – last year’s runners-up – on Saturday, October 14 (The Showgrounds, 4pm).
Steve Feeney named an unchanged team that had lost 4-0 away to Shamrock Rovers the previous week, but had one welcome addition on the bench in Paula McGrory, available again after work commitments.
The first chance for Rovers came when Emma Hansberry whipped in a free-kick from the left wing and found Emma Doherty who guided an excellent headed effort just wide.
Less than a minute later Rovers were attacking again down the left, this time Casey Howe and Jodie Loughrey combining with the latter sending an inviting cross into the box which was headed down to Emma Hansberry, who saw her first time shot deflected out for a corner. Bohemians almost found an opening goal on 11 minutes but goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan responded quickly to pull off an excellent save from a Rachel Doyle effort.
Bohs had more possession but unable to do much with it thanks to astute defensive work from the Rovers rearguard, with recent signing Eimear Lafferty excelling in the heart of the defence.
The hosts were also slowly but surely losing the ball higher up the pitch, particularly when venturing towards Rovers’ left flank as winger Jodie Loughrey looked to shut them down and start a counterattack at every opportunity.
Lafferty’s commanding presence led to confidence flowing for Leah Kelly and Sarah Kiernan who were increasingly more assured in their own defensive duties as the first-half went on. Meanwhile, Emma Hansberry was increasingly causing problems for the Bohemians defence. The experienced midfielder’s time with her home club has been disrupted by injuries, but when fit and on form as she was on success in Carney. “We ran a seven-a-side tournament just to get the feel for something a bit more competitive in the middle of pre-season and it was also a good opportunity for players from other teams to get to know each other as well.
“A lot of the players across the league are back playing for the first time in 10 or 15 years and the younger players might not know the older players because of that gap.”
She continued: “Every team seems to have a good few weeks of pre-season behind them now, we have just had a good four weeks together ourselves and are looking forward to actually playing games now.”
It has been a long time since female players just out of the U-18 grade locally had a next step into senior soccer, with only Sligo Rovers bridging that gap in the last few years through their
Saturday, this ex-international adds a whole new dimension to the Bit O’Red midfield.
It was Hansberry who forced the corner for Rovers next chance as Sarah Kiernan’s in-swinging set-piece managed to strike the top of the crossbar. Bohs finished the first-half with more possession but it was again rendered useless by a sturdy Rovers backline. Steve Feeney’s side have, by their own admittance, had an unfortunate habit of conceding goals on the stroke of half-time, so heading into the break at 0-0 was reward enough for their first-half efforts as they had a promising platform to build on.
This indeed was a massive boost for the confidence of Rovers who began the second-half in complete control of proceedings as the star performers of the first-half, Eimear Lafferty and Emma Hansberry, continued to shine in their respective roles, while Casey Howe also looked to cause more problems in the final third.
Alice Lillie and Keri Loughrey, the youngest members of the starting line-up, were also playing with a heightened sense of self-belief as they took more chances and asked questions of the Bohs defence.
They finally converted this dominance into a chance after 56 minutes when Leah Kelly’s deep cross was met by Emma Doherty who had the accuracy but lacked the power to beat Rachael Kelly with a header.
There may have been cause for concern for the cohesion of the defence just after the hour mark when Eimear Lafferty was forced off with an injury. Those fears quickly subsided, however, as the back four kept its shape with Sarah Kiernan stepping up as the experienced half of the centre-back
Friday, September 22
Saturday, September 23
Sunday, September 24 entry into the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division.
Even with a League of Ireland side in place in Sligo, many players still had nowhere to go and the time in which this has needed to be addressed comes across in the age profile of many squads according to Catherine.
“That was probably the big thing that came out of the pre-season tournament. There were a lot of players there who haven’t really had the opportunity to play since they were in the underage leagues and they ranged in age from 25 to their late 30s.
“It was great to see they still had that enthusiasm to play and it is great that this league is providing a way back in for so many of these players after so many years without having that outlet.”
As with any new competition, time and
TURNING POINT:
partnership which now featured Castleconnor teenager Keeva Flynn. With 13 minutes to go, Rovers finally got the goal they deserved. A corner from Casey Howe caused a goalmouth scramble which resulted in the ball landing at the feet of Jodie Loughrey whose effort went in with the aid of an Emma Hansberry deflection. The goal was later credited to Hansberry. Rattled and unable to break Rovers down, Bohs tried to equalise from long-range. Kate Malone’s 25-yard strike five minutes from time had promise but fortunately for Bonnie McKiernan the shot just whistled wide.
Best for Rovers: Emma Hansberry
Sligo Rovers (v Bohemians): Bonnie McKiernan, Leah Kelly, Eimear Lafferty (Keeva Flynn 62), Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Lauren Boles, Emma Hansberry,
Jodie Loughrey, Keri Loughrey (Paula McGrory 85), Casey Howe, Emma Doherty Subs not used: Amber Hardy (gk), Amy Roddy, Amy Hyndman, Jessica Casey, Helen Monaghan, Ciara Henry, Kerri O’Hara patience will be needed – especially as many players are only returning to the sport for the first time in years.
“The message is for players to enjoy the sport again, get back to full fitness at their own pace and look ahead to the potential the league has in the long-term beyond this inaugural season. “With every club a bit of time will be needed and this first season I feel is going to be primarily about players getting up to their best level,” Catherine stated.
“There are a lot of good players across the league but it all comes to back that long absence from football, it is going to take time to get back to full fitness and it is going to take time to improve technically again – but everyone will get there with more game time.”
She added: “Team might lose more games than they’ll win, but everyone will benefit in the long run with every game they get into their legs – not only for this year, but in the seasons to follow as well.”
This weekend’s first round will see two games go ahead tomorrow (Friday) evening, two on Saturday and two on Sunday.