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Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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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.
Timeline
Ground
The Showgrounds |
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The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, Ireland |
3 minutes added time as the 945 attendance is announced
Doyle shot finds McKevitt at the back post but it comes off the woodwork
Leah Kelly off, Ruth Monaghan on for Sligo. Yellow card for Sarah Keirnan
Breirly off, Dodd on for DLR.
Doyle again! Goal for DLR, in off a long range free kick
Melly off, Doherty on for Sligo
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
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
Brennan gets a head to it which sends the potential record WNL crowd into a fit of clapping and cheering but Badana saves
Emma Hansberry comes off for a short period, maybe carrying her niggle. Doherty in on goal sees a corner for Rovers
Frenzy in the box as Rovers struggle to clear but DLR corner surfaces
Calls for a penalty for DLR Waves as McKevitt goes down on the edge of the area after she fumbled the ball
Keogh's break on the left wing sorted by Kelly
Emma Doherty and Hansberry playing off each other but can't quite break through
Brophy contained to the corner by Kate Melly. DLR get a free out of it though
McKevitt marshalling DLR's midfield, aided by Katie Malone
Real bite about the game now as both sides come out of the break riled up
Brennan header again, this time it's wide but Sligo gaining in momentum here
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
Avril Brierly with an attempt but it dribbles wide
3 minutes added time
Oleta Griffin comes in for the injured Gleeson. DLR's captain is forced to leave the field
Oleta Griffin comes in for the injured Gleeson. DLR's captain is forced to leave the field
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
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
Hansberry slots McGuinness into a good position but the ball results in Badana's hands
10 minutes until halftime! Sligo really pushing forward in numbers as of the last few minutes
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
McGuinness earns Sligo Rovers a corner
Stoppage in play as McGuiness gets some medical treatment
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
Katie Melly creates a lovely bit of space for her side tapping a back heal to Lauren Boles in the middle of the park
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
Carroll attempt is well wide
Sophie Watters heads an effort towards goal but Sample is the better of it
Shots from Hansberry and Brennan both blocked by DLR
Lauren Boles clears up in defence before Emma Doherty tries to set up Gemma McGuinness but DLR get a foot in
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
Katie Melly looking dangerous for Sligo as the Bit O'Red are claiming a foothold in the game
Brierly and Watters linking up meticulously for DLR Waves on the right wing
Sligo playing Emma Doherty through on the long ball early on
Shauna Carroll well tackled by Leah Kelly
Good passage from Sligo is interrupted when Gemma McGuiness and Emma Hansberry collide
Goal, Avril Brierly gets DLR off the mark
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