League Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Sligo Rovers

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

The Hoops made heavy weather of their game against Sligo Rovers on Saturday afternoon and coughed up an equaliser four minutes from time to draw 1-1 against bottom side Sligo Rovers.

Áine O’Gorman had scored five minutes into the match but the Bit O’ Red managed to stay in the game and they claimed a point even if they couldn't find their first win of the season.

It had taken till September for Collie O’Neill’s side to secure their first victory of the league campaign with it coming last week after the 5-1 win over Bohemians. With bottom placed and winless Sligo Rovers the visitors on Saturday afternoon, the Hoops were seeking to make it three league wins in a row for the first time since last October but it wasn't to be.

With nothing to play for the home side and it being the second visit of a Sligo Rovers side in 24 hours after Stephen Bradley’s side won 4-0 last night, the game lacked drama but had plenty of endeavour. Plus as always the vocal Amanda Budden in the Hoops goal had her encouraging words echoing around Tallaght Stadium.

The keeper was well positioned mid-way through the half to claim Emma Hansberry’s shot. The Sligo Rovers skipper let fly from distance but Budden made no mistake to catch and hold onto the driven effort. That was better than she had done a minute earlier when she couldn’t claim cleanly an Anna McDaniel cross from the left.

Fiona Owens was on hand to clear the ball from inside the six yard box for the Hoops.

The home side had taken the lead in just the fifth minute from an early corner. Stephanie Zambra had got a touch from the set piece that fell to the captain and O’Gorman made no mistake lifting her left foot effort over Bonnie McKiernan and into the back of the net.

Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill had gone with a flat back four with Savannah McCarthy slotting in at the centre in place of Jessica Hennessy who made the move to Nottingham Forest during the week.

Sean Óg Campbell made two switches at the break as they looked to get back in the game but his side failed to put any real pressure on the team from Tallaght in the second half but by not conceeding a second it gave them the chance to at lest claim a point.

Mc Kiernan did well to touch away a Hoops cross with Joy Ralph lurking at the back post. The home side had a couple of quick fire O’Gorman corners from the left and the second one, hit to the back post, was headed against the back post by Scarlett Herron.

In the final ten minutes O’Gorman was denied her second by a brave save from McKiernan and when the ball came out to Ralph her shot just whisked over the Bit O’ Red crossbar.

The Hoops were made pay for not finishing off the visitors and when Ralph went in the book in the 86th minute, McKiernan’s long ball came through to Keir Loughrey who beat Budden with a low shot to earn the Bit O’Red just their fourth point of the season.

The Hoops throughout the season have had a habit of conceding late on and it has cost them once again as they remain in the mid-table.

Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden; Fiona Owens, Savannah McCarthy, Maria Reynolds, Lia O’Leary; Scarlett Herron, Aoife Kelly  (Melissa O'Kane 71); Aine O'Gorman, Stephanie Zambra (Katie O'Reilly 71), Ella Kelly (Jaime Thompson 81); Joy Ralph.
Subs not used: Summer Lawless, Shauna Fox, Lauren Kelly, Emily Corbet.
Booked: Joy Ralph (86).

Sligo Rovers: Bonnie McKiernan; Kate Nugent, Kelsey Munroe (Alice Lillie 46), Keeva Flynn; Cara King, Muireann Devaney, Emma Hansberry, © (Eimear Lafferty 65), Keri Loughrey; Rachel McGoldrick (Jessica Casey 65), Paula McGrory (Katie Melly 46), Anna McDaniel (Rosie Burke 83).
Subs not used: Amber Hardy, Lauren Devaney, Leah Kelly, Rebecca Doddy.
Booked: Rachel McGoldrick (53), Anna McDaniel (76).

Referee: Kate O’Brien
Attendance: 154 
extratime.com Player of the Match: Maria Reynolds (Shamrock Rovers)