Aine O'Gorman struck a dramatic 93rd minute winner at the Showgrounds as Shamrock Rovers got their return to the League of Ireland off to a winning start against a battling Sligo Rovers.
Competing in their first Women’s Premier Division game in nine years since their return to the top table, the Hoops hit the lead early on through Shauna Fox. The Bit O’Red looked like they would pick up a well-earned point when captain Emma Hansberry struck from a set-piece just short of the hour.
But O’Gorman’s late goal in front of a crowd of over 750, saw the Dublin Rovers across the line when she nodded home Lia O’Leary’s cross at the back post.
Although their first appearance in senior football since 2014, the Tallaght side are expected to be one of the main rivals for Shelbourne's crown following a winter which saw them hand pick a number of household names from their league rivals.
Irish internationals O’Gorman, Stephanie Zambra, Alannah McEvoy and Abbie Larkin have all been added to a strong Hoops squad, each making their debuts in the north west.
Sligo go into their second season in League of Ireland football looking to push on from last year’s eighth placed finish. Key to this will be the form of marquee signing and Northern Irish international Casey Howe, who manager Steve Feeney gave a first appearance to.
While there were first starts for prospects Alice Lille and Keela Scanlon, who were both given their first starts.
As would be expected of a side with such experience, the Hoops controlled the majority of this first half, although the host would have been encouraged by a resolute first-half showing.
Zambra, ever available at the edge of the Sligo area, dragged an early effort wide five minutes in. Three minutes later, the visitors had their lead.
Just yards from goal, Fox somehow managed to miss the target from close range. But her blushes were spared when possession fell to her seconds later after McEvoy’s strike was rebuked by Amy Mahon between the Bit O’Red sticks. Fox firing home from close range.
The same woman almost had her brace on 25 minutes but was unfortunate to see her controlled header crash back off Mahon’s crossbar from a Zambra corner.
Melissa O’Kane was next to go close for the Tallaght women but Mahon was able to throw her cap on the former Athlone star’s weak shot.
Zambra skied two more drives from range before the break, as the hosts held on. Sligo’s Katie Melly and Shamrock Rovers’ McEvoy then created openings early in the second period. Melly was foiled by a superb challenge from the recovering O’Kane, while McEvoy could only finish into the side netting.
The Connacht side were then rewarded for their endeavour on 58 minutes when they levelled the game.
Skipper Hansberry’s set piece from 25 yards took a big deflection off the Shamrock Rovers wall, deceiving the already committed Amanda Budden in the Hoops goal as the ball found its way past the Cork native. The free-kick awarded after Emma Doherty was pushed in the back by goal-scorer Fox.
Net-minder Mahon again came to Sligo’s rescue on 68 when she fell at Larkin’s feet to claim the ball one-on-one with the 17-year-old after O’Gorman had slipped the attacker through on goal.
Collie O’Neill’s charges almost profited from a Mahon slip soon after when the Charlestown native spilled substitute Jaime Thompson’s speculative effort. Sligo’s defence reacting in time to clear the danger.
The hosts looked like they were going to hold on for an admirable draw, but O’Gorman was on hand to break Sligo hearts in the third of the four added minutes.
Sligo Rovers: Amy Mahon, Leah Kelly (Keri Loughrey 71), Emma Hansberry, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Casey Howe (Helen Monaghan 87), Amy Roddy, Katie Melly (Jodie Loughrey 65), Keela Scanlon, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie.
Shamrock Rovers: Amanda Budden, Shauna Fox, Jessica Hennessy, Abbie Larkin, Aoife Kelly, Alannah McEvoy, Stephanie Zambra (Jaime Thompson 63), Lia O’Leary, Aine O’Gorman, Orlaith O’Mahony, Melissa O’Kane (Jessica Gargan 78).
Referee: Alan Carey.
