Treaty United extend unbeaten league run in hard fought draw with Sligo

TREATY United extended their unbeaten start to the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier League season when securing a 0-0 draw with Sligo Rovers in a tense affair at the Markets Field on Saturday evening.

Dominic Foley's Treaty United side sit in fifth place in the league table, but with a game in hand on the four sides above them in the table. 

Treaty started brightly on Saturday in what was a high-tempo first half.  The Limerick-based side almost took the lead early on as Hannah Saidi forced her way through to give Cara Griffin a chance at goal. However, she was unable to hit the target with two consecutive attempts on goal from inside the box.  

Visitors Sligo set up in a rigid shape to try keep the Treaty frontline at bay. However, Treaty kept finding chances with both Saidi and Katie Lawlee going close as the game approached approached half-time. 

However, it was Sligo who came closest to breaking the deadlock before the break after Eimear Lafferty played the ball back along the goal line with a cross to the back post. Both teams would’ve been content going down the tunnel all square given the chances. 

Treaty opened the second half with an early goalmouth scramble that led to two chances for Saidi which she couldn’t manage to convert. Sligo then ramped up the pressure and took control of the game, pinning the ladies in blue in their half for the majority of the second half. 

Zoe McGlynn missed a glorious chance to put Sligo ahead when the ball fell to her in the box. However, with just the keeper to beat, McGlynn she was denied by last-ditch defending.

McGrory was the first player to test Treaty 'keeper Anne-Marie Ulliac when her shot from just inside the box was tipped over.

The same player came within inches of putting Sligo in front after her header from point-blank range flashed narrowly wide from an excellent opportunity to open the scoring

Substitute Cara King then had the ball in the net with 10 minutes to go, however the linesman adjudged her to be offside as she blasted her shot into the top corner.

Treaty responded with a rush of attacking play in the final minutes of the game, but couldn’t break the deadlock before the referee blew for full time. 

Treaty travel to Bohemians on Saturday, April 27, while Sligo Rovers host Cork City. 

TREATY UNITED: Ulliac; McInerney, Van Dolder, White (Capt), Kyle; Griffin, Friesen, Saidi; Martin, O’Toole, Lawlee  SUBS: Kate O’Donovan for Erin Van Dolder (46) Fiana Bradley for Hannah Saidi (80).

SLIGO ROVERS: Hardy; Munroe, Hansberry (Capt), Crompton (Replaced by Keeva Flynn), Devaney; Doherty, McGlynn, McGrory, Loughrey, Lafferty, Kiernan. SUBS: Jodie Loughrey for Sarah Kiernan (55),  Cara King for Paula McGrory (76).