Emma Doherty and Casey Howe each struck five goals, which along with a late effort from Amy Hyndman as Sligo Rovers defeat Bongaee United 11-0 in the opening round of the FAI Senior Cup.

Bonagee entered the tie hoping to cause an upset against a Sligo side, who resided tenth on their sophomore season in the Women’s Premier Division.

Yet visiting hopes of claiming a sizeable scalp suffered a great blow only two minutes in as home forward, Emma Doherty rammed home a close-range finish to open the scoring.

It quickly went from bad to worse for the Letterkenny side, Casey Howe doubling Sligo’s lead in the eighth minute to leave the underdogs, already, with a mountain to climb.

Sligo showed no signs of relenting either as they made it 3-0 inside twenty minutes, Doherty drilling home her second of the day, doubtless the forward now determined to complete her hattrick.

Howe though was also on a mission and just before the half hour mark, added number four, her second goal of the day, joining teammate Doherty in the endeavours to take home the match ball.

Just two minutes later, and Doherty had her trio of goals completed to take Sligo to five, an inspirational display from the two Sligo strikers in the opening thirty minutes.

A pair of substitutions made over the interval did nothing to disrupt Sligo’s flow, Doherty taking her individual tally to an incredible four, just three minutes after the resumption!

Doherty made it seventh heaven for Sligo with her fifth goal of the afternoon, in the fiftieth minute, an unstoppable performance from her as her side kept their foot firmly to the attacking throttle.

Howe also reached the hat trick territory, netting her third nine minutes later to send an already elated Showgrounds even happier.

Another double substitution saw Doherty depart, surely to the relief of Bonagee’s backline, who commendably, looked a lot more assured in the closing stages. 

Three late goals, two from Howe and one from substitute Amy Hyndman, in the final ten minutes, saw Sligo finish with a swagger, a stylish way to commence their Cup campaign, hitting double figures. 

It’s a return to league action next on the agenda as Sligo host Wexford Youths in Sligo, the match set for the Saturday evening slot (7:35pm KO).