Rovers are punished by a ruthless Athlone side
SSE Airtricity WNL Series 21
Athlone Town Sligo Rovers
S4 2
LIGO Rovers’ recent slump in the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League continued with a 4-2 loss away to Athlone Town on Saturday last.
Amy Boyle-Carr and Paula McGrory scored in either half for Rovers, but a Gillian Keenan brace and Kelly Brennan and Emily Corbet goal each ensured the points for the hosts, whose starting side included Gurteen’s Roisin Molloy and Manorhamilton’s Muireann Devaney – both former Rovers academy players – who were excellent.
Rovers manager Steve Feeney made two changes from the side who lost 3-2 away to Cork City as he welcomed back fit again Gemma McGuinness and Amy Roddy back into the side in place of Aife Haran and Helen Monaghan.
Rovers had plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges and made it count after just four minutes when they opened the scoring.
After holding off Laurie Ryan in midfield, Lauren Boles played a short pass to left-back Sarah Kiernan, whose hopeful first-time ball over the top found Amy Boyle Carr who had come in from the right flank and placed a cool finish beyond Niamh Coombes. As was to be expected from a team of Athlone’s quality, they looked for an immediate response and almost found it two minutes later.
Laurie Ryan weaved her way into the Rovers box before forcing a big save from the onrushing Amy Mahon. The ball looked destined to fall to Roisin Molloy for an easy finish into an open goal, but the alert Paula McGrory denied her the opportunity.
Roisin Molloy would soon have another inviting chance when an interception by Sarah Kiernan on Gillian Keenan fell kindly to her on the edge of the box. Her effort had enough power to slip under Amy Mahon’s hand, but she got enough of a touch to take the sting out of the effort and take it off course.
Athlone’s pressure told in the 15th minute as they scored a wellworked equaliser. Kelly Brennan and Muireann Devaney played a squared a ball to Emma Doherty for a first-time shot which forced a fine save from Niamh Coombes.
Athlone looked to put the tie beyond doubt with 15 minutes to go when Roisin Molloy went on a piercing run down the right wing before unleashing a shot which Amy Mahon reacted to by tipping onto her near post.
Rovers responded to this by reducing the deficit with what was undoubtedly the goal of the game. Amy Mahon, Aife Haran, Fiona Doherty, Emma Doherty and Lauren Boles all contributed to a swift counter-attack when concluded with a Gemma McGuinness cross being headed into the back of the net by Paula McGrory to set a possible grandstand finish for the Bit O’Red. Rovers looked to punish some hesitant Athlone defending late on when a Lauren McLellan free-kick almost found Emma Doherty in acres of space but Jessica Hennessy did just enough to cut out the danger.
Athlone followed this with a fourth goal in injury-time. Gillian Keenan again was the focal point as she broke down the right flank before cutting a ball inside for Emily Corbet who took a touch before firing the ball beyond Amy Mahon’s reach.
Rovers host their Connacht rivals Galway WFC on Saturday week, September 10. Galway WFC, who are fifth in the standings, were beaten 2-1 by Shelbourne last weekend.