- Rónán MacNamara
- Sun, Mar 13 2022
Rónán Macnamara reports from Dalymount Park
Bohemians and Athlone Town played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Dalymount Park as both sides registered their first points of the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League.
Erica Burke’s first half opener was cancelled out by Roisin Molloy just four minutes after the interval and neither side could find an elusive winner.
The horrendous weather conditions ultimately spoiled what promised to be a great occasion with the howling wind and driving rain leading to a chaotic game despite the best efforts of both sides trying to play passing football.
A healthy crowd braved the elements as Bohs played under the famous Dalymount lights that were first lit for a match against Arsenal in March 1962, but had the weather been less monsoon-like, the Jodi Stand would have accommodated more fans.
Bohs thought they had taken the lead after Athlone Town goalkeeper Niamh Coombes was bundled over the line after she caught Burke’s free kick which took a big swing with the wind.
The wind wreaked havoc all evening and was a huge factor in the opener for the hosts. Katie Burdis launched a free kick from just inside the Athlone Town half and rattled the crossbar. The ball fell to Burke who neatly slotted it away to break the deadlock.
The wind almost helped Bohemians double their advantage as Burdis’ sweeping corner evaded Coombe’s front post.
Dana Scheriff was the main threat for the visitors in the opening half and she took a nasty blow to the face after the ball was leathered at her. After a stoppage in play to treat her, Athlone sparked into life and had a penalty appeal turned down before getting into numerous threatening positions before the interval.
The midlands side continued their momentum into the second half and were deservedly level in the 49th minute after an excellently worked goal.
Scheriff twisted and turned towards the end line before picking out Roisin Molloy at the back stick with a delicate chip and she simply couldn’t miss from four yards out.
The second half overall was a much brighter affair as the torrential rain subsided.
The Gypsies captain Sinéad Taylor almost scored a spectacular goal just after the hour after she was played in behind the left of Athlone’s defence, she produced a rasping shot that must have had at least 12 yards of curl, but Coombes held on well.
It was Athlone’s turn to try their luck from long range with the gale at their backs as substitute Kelsey Munroe stung the palms of Rachael Kelly with a 40-yard free-kick before Emily Corbett went close from the edge of the box.
The visitors dominated the last 20 minutes of the game and were camped in the Bohemians half with the hosts struggling to play through the gale-force wind.
The torrential rain returned for the final five minutes, and Athlone almost snatched a late winner, Munroe’s corner caused panic in the Bohs area and after a goalmouth scramble the Phibsborough side cleared their lines.
Athlone kept pushing into added time and forced a series of corners, but the home defence stood strong.
Bohemians will be the happier of the two teams to hear Rachel Dyas’s full-time whistle having been confined to their final third for much of the second period, relying on some heroic defending to secure a hard-earned point.
Bohemians WFC: Rachael Kelly; Sinead Taylor, Fiona Ryan, Danielle Murray (Hannah Tobin-Jones 77), Katie Lovely, Isobel Finnegan (Ciara Maher 56), Katie Burdis (Ann Marie Byrne 65); Lisa Murphy, Chloe Darby; Erica Burke, Abbie Brophy.
Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Isabella Chambers, Aoife Robinson, Sadhbh Moran, Lara Phibbs, Abbie O'Hara.
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
Athlone Town WFC: Niamh Coombes; Kayleigh Shine (Kelsey Munroe 46); Muireann Devaney, Jessica Hennessy, Rita Lang, Roisin Molloy, Melissa O'Kane, Laurie Ryan (c); Emily Corbet (Kellie Brennan 82), Gillian Keenan, Dana Scheriff.
Subs not used: Bonnie McKiernan, Ciara O'Neill, Lucy Jane Grant.
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Rachel Dyas
extratime.com Player of the Match: Dana Scheriff (Athlone Town)
