Avenir Sports Women's All-Island Cup wrap: Holders Galway United start title defence with win

Galway United got their Avenir Sports Women's All-Island Cup title defence off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Women's Premier Division rivals Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Galway won last year's inaugural tournament, which brings together the 11 Women's LOI clubs and five teams from Northern Ireland, after beating Cliftonville in the final last July.

And coming off back-to-back wins in their opening two league games this year, Phil Trill's side carried that early season form into the 2024 All-Island Cup group stage campaign with goals in each half from Rola Olusola proving enough to see off Sligo in Group D.

Reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions Peamount United had to share the spoils with Belfast's Linfield in their Group A opener at PRL Park with Louise Masterson scoring a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw for the Dubliners.

Ellen Dolan had given the home side a first-half lead before Linfield turned the game on its head in the second half.