IT Sligo make it six of the best
Ladies are at top of their game
IT SLIGO WOMENS soccer team won the Premier League for the sixth time in the College’s history, with an emphatic victory over University College Dublin in the Eamon Deasy Stadium, Galway, last Tuesday.
Sligo, who were beaten in a penalty shoot out in the final of the Intervarsities tournament recently, were clearly determined not to let this one slip away.
And their hunger and desire was evident from the kick-off as they set about taking a firm grip on the contest.
It took them just three minutes to stamp their authority on the exchanges as Deirdre Doherty, fresh from international duty, blasted them in front, firing a cracking shot to the roof of the net from the edge of the box. Intent on making their early superiority count on the scoreboard, the Sligo girls continued to press and almost added a second goal minutes later. Aileen Gilroy did well to get her shot away but the effort came back into play off the upright.
On the 15 minute mark Deirdre Doherty went on a run from just outside the IT Sligo penalty area. She passed to Emma Hansberry who in turn hit a great pass for Deirdre Doherty to run on to. This time Doherty finished with a right footed shot to the net.
It was all Sligo now as their swift, attacking play had the UCD defence in all sorts of bother.
The Dubliners had barely time to recover from Doherty’s goal when Sligo struck again in the 18th minute. On this ocasion, it was Geraldine McLoughlin who inflicted the demage, dribbling past three players on the edge of the box before sidefooting the ball home Worse was to follow for UCD as Gilroy got through for Sligo’s fourth goal two minutes before the break.
Doherty came close to adding another goal with two fine strikes early in the second-half. The first was well saved by the UCD keeper and the second was just over the crossbar. UCD finally began to threaten the IT Sligo goal in the second half and Roisin McCafferty was obliged to bring off an excellent save. But UCD finally scored after 63 minutes, a fine effort bySophie Pratt. Both teams had further chances with Deirdre Doherty and Geraldine McLoughin having goal attempts for IT Sligo. On the 78th minute Aileen Gilroy again hit the woodwork. And so Sligo ran out deserving winners to claim their sixth Premier League. Only University of Limerick - with seven titles - have won more Premier Leagues than IT Sligo. IT SLIGO: Roisin McCafferty(Captain); Kathryn Sullivan, Nicole Fowley, Maria Harrington, Amy Roddy; Geraldine McLoughlin, Deirdre Doherty, Emma Hansberry, Colleen Cavanagh; Aileen Gilroy, Aoife Brennan. Subs Used: Enya Clarke, Ina Butler, Colleen Kearney. Subs Unused: Louise O' Connor, Edel Corrigan, Giulia Leggio
Kim Flood and Caoimhe Barrett, who were ever present for IT Sligo this season, both missed the final through injury.