Battling Bit O’Red beaten in Athlone

Avenir Sports All-Island Cup Group ‘D’ – Round Two Athlone Town Sligo Rovers 2 1

SLIGO Rovers remain winless in Group ‘D’ of the Avenir Sports Women’s All-Island Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Athlone Town at Athlone Town Stadium last Saturday.

Despite an evenly-matched first-half and a second-half dominated by Rovers, Athlone’s quick double-salvo before the break courtesy of Ciara O’Neill and Chloe Singleton earned them the win. Ex-Athlone midfielder Muireann Devaney pulled a goal back for Rovers but it finished 2-1 to the hosts.

Rovers boss Tommy Hewitt made three changes from the team which drew with Treaty United the previous weekend. Bonnie McKiernan took over from Amber Hardy in goal, Jodie Loughrey came in for Zoe McGlynn and Ciara Henry replaced Paula McGrory. Academy prospect Rachel McGoldrick was on the bench for the first time. McGoldrick, also a talented Ladies Footballer, captained the Sligo LGFA U-16s in an All-Ireland ‘B’ final last year.

Gurteen native Roisin Molloy started for Athlone and, as always, was a standout performer. Ex-Rovers players Casey Howe and Amy Mahon were among Athlone’s replacements.

Usually a notoriously difficult fixture for Rovers since entering the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, the opening 10 minutes were encouraging. Rovers saw a lot of the ball as Emma Doherty, Jodie Loughrey and Keri Loughrey caused problems.

Athlone had the game’s first real chance. A ball from Bonnie McKiernan to Jodie Loughrey was miscontrolled by the winger. She was dispossessed by Kate Slevin who tested McKiernan with a fine shot from range which she was able to parry away.

Chances in the first-half were few and far between. Rovers grew in stature in the middle of the park, with Muireann Devaney and Emma Hansberry winning plenty of their respective battles, while Roisin Molloy emerged as Athlone’s best hope of unlocking the Bit O’Red defence.

Athlone looked destined to score seven minutes before the break when a cross into the box landed kindly for Gillian Keenan but she could not find a way past Bonnie McKiernan who was in inspired form.

A spell of pressure from Athlone yielded a goal when Maddie Gibson lofted a corner to the far post where Ciara O’Neill found the back of the net with an easy header. She had the goal at her mercy when Bonnie McKiernan appeared to misjudge the flight of the

The number of games without a win for the Rovers senior women’s team so far this year.