SSE Airtricity WNL
SSE Airtricity WNL Series 19
Sligo Rovers Bohemians
SLIGO Rovers’ woes against Bohemians continue. Last Saturday afternoon’s 2-0 defeat to the Dublin outfit at The Showgrounds is the third time in this season’s SSE Airtricity Women’s National League that Rovers have lost to Bohs, following two other losses (3-1 and 2-1) earlier this season. There was also their Evoke.ie FAI Women’s Cup quarter-final exit to Bohs on the Saturday before last, a 3-1 reversal at Dalymount Park.
Goals from Niamh Prior and Abbie Brophy secured the points for Bohs last Saturday, although Rovers will feel they could have earned at least a draw based on their improved second-half. The hosts also had goalkeeper Amy Mahon to thank for a string of excellent saves to keep the tie alive at half-time when it was 1-0 to the visitors.
Rovers manager Steve Feeney made three changes from the side knocked out of the Evoke.ie FAI Women’s Cup by Bohs – Emma Hansberry, Jessica Casey and Aife Haran came in for Ruth Monaghan, Amy Boyle Carr and Gemma McGuinness. Rovers were presented with an uphill task within a minute of kick-off. Bohs made a swift start to proceedings when a ball forward released Niamh Prior who found herself in space and one on one with goalkeeper Amy Mahon. Prior had time to calmly place the ball well beyond the reach of the Mayo native.
Amy Mahon, who now faces competition for the number one jersey following the signing of American Anais Coyne, had to be alert five minutes later when an inswinging corner curved straight towards goal, but she managed to stop it on the line.
Abbie Brophy, often the tormentor of Rovers in previous meetings this year, was central to Bohs’ attacks but she came up against Kerri O’Hara who was in formidable form for the Bit O’Red.
O’Hara not only limited the influence of Brophy, she but also looked like being Rovers’ best chance of unlocking the Bohs defence whenever they could attack on the counter. Counter-attacking would be the only answer for Rovers who were regularly bombarded by attacks from the visitors but an inspired Amy Mahon kept the scoreline at 1-0, making stunning saves to deny both Abbie Brophy and Chloe Darby during the remainder of the first-half. Mahon had to be alert within seconds of the restart when an early attack set Abbie Brophy away but she could not find a way past the home goalkeeper. The second-half had a more even flow to it. Kerri O’Hara remained a threat while Emma Doherty also grew into the game after being isolated in the first-half.
The introduction of Aoife Brennan and Ciara Henry also provided another
Bohemians:
STANDINGS
1. Shelbourne
2. Wexford Youths
3. Athlone Town
4. Peamount
5. Galway WFC
6. DLR Waves
7. Bohemians
8. Sligo Rovers
9. Cork City
10. Treaty United
P W 20 14 19 12 19 12 19 10 19 8 19 7 20 7 19 6 19 3 19 0
D 3 4 3 4 6 6 6 1 0 1
L 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 12 16 18
F 54 35 34 54 32 31 25 22 16 5
A 7 19 17 23 22 18 24 39 66 73
Diff +47 +16 +17 +31 +10 +13 +1 -17 -50 -68
Pts 45 40 39 34 30 27 27 19 9 1