Video

Details

Date Time League Season
12 March 2022 2:00 pm LOI Women's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Doyle delivers double as DLR win in Sligo

A Rachel Doyle double supplemented an early Avril Brierly goal to wrap up a tidy 3-0 win for DLR Waves against Sligo Rovers in The Showgrounds this afternoon.

A packed crowd watched on as Sligo played their first ever home WNL match and although they showed glimpses of promise through captain Emma Hansberry; the tenacious Aoife Brennan; and Katie Melly the experienced visitors came out on top.

Marking two wins on the bounce now for Waves, Brierly and Sarah McKevitt caused havoc for Rovers’ defensive line from the first whistle. Taking just three minutes for the former of whom to surpass Kirsten Sample in net.

In contrast many of Sligo’s first half chances surfaced from set plays, the closest of which came from Hansberry’s corner nearing the halfhour which ignited a frenzy in DLR’s box and nearly resulted in an own goal off Fiona Donnelly.

Nearing the break and in worrying signs for The Blues captain Fiona Donnelly was forced off with a leg injury and replaced by youngster Oleta Griffin, the teams then heading into the tunnel with the score-line 1-0 in the visitor’s favour.

In the second half both teams came out rile up and ready for action, Brennan with two early opportunities with Gemma McGuiness pulling the strings in midfield.

Things really went up a level however when the substitutions began to roll in as Hansberry, Amy Hyndman and Brennan came off for Pixie O’Hara, Paula McGrory and Sarah Keirnan. On the other hand Doyle made an appearance in for Katie Malone and Shauna Carroll, Brierly and Mooney made way for Kerri Letmon, Mia Dodd and Kate Mooney.

Doyle immediately made an impact with her shooting boots as she racked up a score while just moments on the pitch, adding to and securing her brace off a long range free kick closing in on full time.

In the next round Sligo travel away to Cork City, while DLR play Galway WFC in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Sligo Rovers

1Kristen Sample Goalkeeper
2Leah Kelly 3 Defender
4Emma Hansberry 14 Midfielder
5Orna O’Dowd Defender
6Amy Hyndman 18 Forward
7Gemma McGuinness Forward
8Lauren Boles Midfielder
9Emma Doherty Forward
11Aoife Brennan 21 Forward
12Amy Roddy Defender
13Katie Melly Midfielder
16Amy Mahon Goalkeeper
3Ruth Monaghan 2 Defender
10Erin Coyle Midfielder
14Kerri O’Hara 4 Defender
15Fiona Doherty Forward
18Paula McGrory 6 Forward
21Sarah Kiernan 11 Defender 75'
22Helen Monaghan Defender
23Ciara Henry Midfielder

DLR Waves

18Eve Badana Goalkeeper
2Nicole Keogh Defender
3Lynn Craven Defender
5Jessica Gleeson Defender
6Fiona Donnelly 30 Midfielder
10Katie Malone 7 Forward
13Aoife Brophy Defender
16Avril Brierley 20 Midfielder 3'
22Sophie Watters Midfielder
25Shauna Carroll 9 Midfielder
26Sarah McKevitt Forward
1Rugile Auskalnyte Goalkeeper
7Rachel Doyle 10 Midfielder 70', 76'
8Nadine Clare Midfielder
9Kerri Letmon 25 Forward
17Oleta Griffin 6 Defender
20Mia Dodd 16 Midfielder
21Jane McKevitt Midfielder
30Kate Mooney 6 Forward
  • 90'

    3 minutes added time as the 945 attendance is announced

  • 80'

    Doyle shot finds McKevitt at the back post but it comes off the woodwork

  • 77'

    Leah Kelly off, Ruth Monaghan on for Sligo. Yellow card for Sarah Keirnan

  • 76'

    Breirly off, Dodd on for DLR.

  • 76'

    Doyle again! Goal for DLR, in off a long range free kick

  • 75'

    Melly off, Doherty on for Sligo

  • 70'

    Doyle doubles DLR\'s lead after only being on the pitch a few moments. She got a head to it to drive the ball past Sample

  • 67'

    Brennan, Hyndman and Hansberry off for Sligo, Pixie O'Hara, Sarah Kiernan and Paula McGrory on. DLR also make changes as Carroll makes way for Letmon, Malone off and Doyle on

  • 65'

    Brennan gets a head to it which sends the potential record WNL crowd into a fit of clapping and cheering but Badana saves

  • 65'

    Emma Hansberry comes off for a short period, maybe carrying her niggle. Doherty in on goal sees a corner for Rovers

  • 60'

    Frenzy in the box as Rovers struggle to clear but DLR corner surfaces

  • 58'

    Calls for a penalty for DLR Waves as McKevitt goes down on the edge of the area after she fumbled the ball

  • 56'

    Keogh's break on the left wing sorted by Kelly

  • 55'

    Emma Doherty and Hansberry playing off each other but can't quite break through

  • 54'

    Brophy contained to the corner by Kate Melly. DLR get a free out of it though

  • 53'

    McKevitt marshalling DLR's midfield, aided by Katie Malone

  • 50'

    Real bite about the game now as both sides come out of the break riled up

  • 49'

    Brennan header again, this time it's wide but Sligo gaining in momentum here

  • 47'

    Brennan gets a looping shot on target for Sligo

  • Halftime. DLR head into the break 1-0 to the good. Hansberry has been phenomenal for Sligo with glimpses of brilliance too from Melly and Doherty as well as Sample in net. DLR still on top thanks to some great forward momentum with Breirley and McKevitt in particular

  • 47'

    Avril Brierly with an attempt but it dribbles wide

  • 45'

    3 minutes added time

  • 43'

    Oleta Griffin comes in for the injured Gleeson. DLR's captain is forced to leave the field

  • 43'

    Oleta Griffin comes in for the injured Gleeson. DLR's captain is forced to leave the field

  • 41'

    Freekick to DLR at the left corner. Gleeson taken down in the box and there are calls for a penalty but it's not given. Referee comes back to allow her to receive treatment

  • 39'

    Brilliant solo run by Sarah McKevitt leads her all the way to a shot on goal but Sample gets a touch to it for the corner

  • 34'

    Hansberry slots McGuinness into a good position but the ball results in Badana's hands

  • 34'

    10 minutes until halftime! Sligo really pushing forward in numbers as of the last few minutes

  • 28'

    Big chance for Sligo there as Hansberry's corner has a cut-throat delivery and it nearly goes in by default off Fiona Donnelly. Badana clears though eventually

  • 28'

    McGuinness earns Sligo Rovers a corner

  • 27'

    Stoppage in play as McGuiness gets some medical treatment

  • 24'

    McKevitt causing chaos on Sligo's right wing. Sample meets her cross but it's picked up by Brierly but Sligo survive the shots thanks to good defensive work from Hansberry

  • 22'

    Katie Melly creates a lovely bit of space for her side tapping a back heal to Lauren Boles in the middle of the park

  • 20'

    Close call their for Sligo as Sample's pass out from the back is touched by Malone and falls to Breirley but she can't get the subsequent shot on target

  • 20'

    Carroll attempt is well wide

  • 19'

    Sophie Watters heads an effort towards goal but Sample is the better of it

  • 17'

    Shots from Hansberry and Brennan both blocked by DLR

  • 15'

    Lauren Boles clears up in defence before Emma Doherty tries to set up Gemma McGuinness but DLR get a foot in

  • 12'

    Aoife Brennan with a slick touches affords Sligo a ball through to Emma Doherty and while there was a race between herself and Badana to get to it the keeper made it just in time

  • 11'

    Katie Melly looking dangerous for Sligo as the Bit O'Red are claiming a foothold in the game

  • 10'

    Brierly and Watters linking up meticulously for DLR Waves on the right wing

  • 7'

    Sligo playing Emma Doherty through on the long ball early on

  • 6'

    Shauna Carroll well tackled by Leah Kelly

  • 5'

    Good passage from Sligo is interrupted when Gemma McGuiness and Emma Hansberry collide

  • 3'

    Goal, Avril Brierly gets DLR off the mark

  • 1'

    Early chance for DLR caught well by Sample

  • Underway at the Showgrounds!

  • The teams are in, just over 20 minutes until kick off

  • Around an hour until kick off and conditions are ample for a game! Dry and mild with only a slight breeze

  • Star signing Lynn Craven is also confident approaching the match, although understands there is no “easy game” in the league. “It will be a tough one so we just have to bring the performance from last week into this one” she told the FinalWhistle.ie Women’s National League podcast. “We have heard that Sligo are expecting a big crowd and I think that will really help them on the day so it’s not going to be easy because that can play as an extra man.”

  • Speaking ahead of the “great occasion” manager Steve Feeney is optimistic his team have taken learning’s from their first outing. “We are only a couple of months into this journey and will continue to work hard to improve throughout the season” he says. “I know all their friends and families will be here as well as lots of supporters so we’re all looking forward to it. That said though, we have a job to do and we will be fully focused on the game.” “DLR Waves have been a quality side and having played them in pre-season we know what to expect from them. I know we can put on a good performance and get a positive result.”

  • Despite coming off the wrong side of a 6-0 result against Peamount United in PLR Park last week there is some positive news for Rovers too heading into today’s fixture as former league stalwart Emma Hansberry returns from injury, as do Pixie O’ Hara, Jessica Casey and Emma Doherty.

  • DLR made a splash on the opening weekend when they put five past a young Treaty side, with Lynn Craven, Kerri Letmon, Avril Brierley all getting on the scoresheet and a Joy Ralph brace putting the icing on the cake in the latter stages.

  • Attempting to make history on the double as they strive for a record league crowd, The Bit O’Red will have to exceed the current standing bar of 1,007 spectators that attended Cork City versus Treaty United at Turner’s Cross last season.

  • Sligo Rovers undergo their first ever home match in the WNL this afternoon, hosting DLR Waves at the Showgrounds from 2pm. My name is Alanna Cunnane and I'll be bringing you today's match commentary live from the grounds

Ground

The Showgrounds
The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, Ireland

Alanna is currently pursuing her studies in journalism at Dublin City University and writes regularly for her local media outlets in Sligo.