Rovers beaten in final game of All-Island Cup

Sligo Rovers finished off their 2024 Avenir Sports All-Island Cup campaign with a defeat to Northern Irish side Glentoran at The Showgrounds on Sunday evening.

Rovers were well in the game at the halfway point, with the visitors leading 2-1, but Glentoran kept plugging away and added three further goals in the second half to ensure that Rovers finished bottom of Group D in the All-Island Cup.

Both of these sides had lost their opening two games in the campaign, with Athlone Town and Galway United already through to the knockout stages of the competition before the final round of games.

Rovers’ league campaign has been a difficult one so far, and manager Tommy Hewitt would have come into this game hopeful that his side could pick up win in order to build some confidence and momentum to carry into their league campaign.

Hewitt made three changes from the side that drew with Bohemians in the Women’s Premier Division the following week.

Alice Lillie, Kate Nugent and Lauren Devaney all started in place of Zoe McGlynn, Amy Roddy and Cara King.

The visitors were well in control of the opening stages and went close within minutes as Demi Vance pulled her shot wide of Bonnie McKiernan’s goal.

Glentoran were looking the most likely to score, as they continued to put pressure on Rovers.

And they took the lead after 18 minutes. Demi Vance, who was causing a lot of problems for Rovers early on, saw her shot blocked before coming into the path of Kerry Beattie who finished past McKiernan for 1-0.

Rovers, to their credit, battled hard to try and level the game.

Katie Melly’s effort was blocked for a corner around the 30 minute mark as Rovers looked for an equaliser.

And Rovers got their goal in the 40th minute.

The Bit O’Red broke quickly with Sarah Kiernan finding Muireann Devaney, the former Athlone Town midfielder getting her shot past Ashleigh McKinnon in the Glentoran goals to make it one apiece.

It looked like the sides would go into the break level, but Glentoran were not messing around.

Just before half-time, Rovers failed to clear a cross and Kelly Bailie was on hand to put her side ahead at the half way point as she controlled the ball and switched it to her right boot before shooting.

It was a sickening time to concede for Tommy Hewitt’s side who were now trailing at the break despite their best efforts.

Hewitt shuffled the pack somewhat at half-time, and brought on Ciara Henry and Cara King in place of Nugent and Lauren Devaney.

The early stages of the second-half were fairly even, but Glens extended their lead even further just before the hour mark.

A fantastic cross-field ball came to Vance who was charging down on goal.

And the Northern Ireland international got power behind her shot, beating McKiernan who was stretching to try and keep it out.

At 3-1, Glentoran looked pretty safe, but they weren’t finished yet.

Chloe McCarron made it 4-1 on 77 minutes when she used all her skills to set up the shot for herself, sending it into the corner of the net.

If it wasn’t game over before then, it was now.

And with nine minutes left on the clock, Joely Andrews made it 5-1.

And so Rovers’ All-Island campaign finished with three defeats in three games, and the Bit O’Red were bottom of their group.

Attention turns back to the league now as Tommy Hewitt prepares to host his former club Athlone Town at The Showgrounds this Saturday evening in the Women’s Premier Division. Kick-off at The Showgrounds is 7pm. Sligo Rovers: Bonnie McKiernan; Sarah Kiernan, Kelsey Munroe (Amy Roddy, 75), Keeva Flynn, Kate Nugent (Ciara Henry, 46), Eimear Lafferty, Muireann Devaney, Katie Melly (Rebecca Doddy, 65), Keri Loughrey (Leah Kelly, 65), Alice Lillie, Lauren Devaney (Cara King, 46)..

Glentoran: Ashleigh McKinnon, Jessica Foy, Nadene Caldwell (Amy Kerr, 75), Demi Vance, Emily Wilson (Rachel McIntyre, 75), Aimee Neal (Rachel Rogan, 64), Joely Andrews, Kerry Beattie (Kascie Weir, 82), Kelly Bailie, Jenna McKearney (Sofie Keenan, 75), Chloe McCarron.

Attention turns back to the league now as Tommy Hewitt prepares to take on his former side Athlone.