Cork City 0-3 Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers returned to winning ways in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division with a 3-0 win over the league’s bottom side Cork City at Turners Cross on Saturday afternoon.

Emma Duffy and Gracie Dunaway (x2) were the goalscorers as Rovers bounced back from a three-game winless run after defeats to Waterford and Athlone Town which followed a 1-1 draw against Galway United.

Gavin Hughes’ charges are sixth in the league table, level on points with Treaty United with 17 games played.

Rovers have five league games remaining, and they take on Shelbourne at home on Saturday evening in the weekend’s live game on TG4.

Rovers were dominant on Saturday in Turners Cross, and had City under pressure early on as they created plenty of opportunities.

Cara Jordan fired over the bar after Sabrina Hillyer’s ball wasn’t dealt with by the City rearguard.

Just 11 minutes had elapsed when the Bit O’Red went ahead after a short corner which came to Emma Duffy on the edge of the box.

Duffy’s fine strike hit the top corner from distance as Rovers deservedly went ahead from a fine set piece.

It was 2-0 as the clock hit 23 minutes following yet another lovely move from the Bit O’Red.

Cara Jordan’s surging run had the City defence scrambling, and the American picked out the run of Alice Lillie down the left hand side.

Lillie spotted the movement of the unmarked Dunaway inside the box, who was on hand to tap into the net despite the best efforts of Una Foyle as Rovers put daylight between the two teams.

Ella Karolak’s free kick was headed over by the unmarked Alanna Doherty as Rovers looked to extend their lead, with Bonnie McKiernan in the Rovers goals a spectator for large parts of this game.

She did have to make a save on 49 minutes when Ellie O’Brien went for goal from the edge of the box.

Dunaway made it 3-0 just before the hour mark when City failed to clear a corner, and the American was on hand to fire her shot in from the edge of the box.

Rovers had plenty of chances throughout the afternoon to ensure an even more comfortable victory, but came away with that 3-0 win and a well deserved three points as they look to continue their push for a top four finish with just five league games remaining.

Shamrock Rovers currently sit in fourth place, just two points ahead of both Rovers and Treaty United.

Cork City: U Foyle, H Mackin, E O’Brien, H O’Hagan, S Berezowski (S Redmond, 80), E Mangan, L Homan (P O’Shea, 66), Z Finnerty, Y Go, L O’Leary-Callender, A Mendez (A McCarthy, 46).

Sligo Rovers: Bonnie McKiernan (E Malone, 83), A Hallinan (L Kelly, 80), A Doherty, S Hillyer, E Karolak, C Jordan, E Duffy (S McCaffrey, 66), G Dunaway, O Rushe, G Dionicio (K Glynn, 83), A McDaniel (M McIntyre, 46).

Referee: I O’Keeffe.