Dublin is the destination for Sligo Rovers this Friday, more specifically Drumcondra and Tolka Park as the Bit O’Red face champions Shelbourne for the second time this season, kick-off 7.45pm.
Rovers go into this game on the back of a tremendous win in last Friday’s Connacht derby over Galway United as we look to make it back-to-back-wins for the first time this year.
Rovers will face last year’s league winners without centre half Ollie Denham who looks set to continue his stint on the sidelines until approximately the end of June, a sports hernia injury keeps him out. While this game comes just a little too early for Oskar Van Hattum who should be available for the visit of St Patrick’s Athletic to the Showgrounds on May 30th.
Midfielder Ronan Manning’s fitness will be assessed in the lead up to the game.
Tolka Park was a venue in which Rovers were unbeaten last season. A 2-1 win in May 2024 was followed up by a scoreless draw against Damien Duff’s outfit in late September that year. Shels did have the better of things in the sides’ first meeting this season. Reece Hutchinson replied to goals from Kerr McInroy and John Martin late in the opening half, but Rovers were unable to find a leveller in the second period.
Rovers remain at the foot of the Premier Division ladder, level on points with Cork City and just one goal worse off. Avoiding defeat in Dublin on Friday could lift Rovers off the bottom depending on how Cork get on against Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Speaking to sligorovers.com ahead of Friday’s game, Sligo boss John Russell acknowledged the magnitude of Friday’s task and is hoping another big crowd follows his side up the N4 as Rovers face a Shels side with just one win in their last five.
“I was really proud of the boys coming away from Galway as we spoke at length all last week about how tough a game it was going to be and what we needed to do. Our big players showed up for us and we’re looking for more against Shels.
“But once Saturday morning came, the full focus was on Friday. We did really well in Galway but we must follow it up now with another good show in Dublin. I’m repeating myself every week maybe, but we have huge belief in this group of players and they know if they keep working hard and can be consistent in their actions, then they’ll be rewarded.
“It doesn’t come any tougher now than Shels away. They have strength everywhere and have a big enough squad to probably cover each position twice over. But we’ll take confidence from last week’s win.
“Our supporters have gone through a lot in recent months. They’re out selling tickets to fund the club on a Thursday night and then they’re back to work the next morning, then travelling long journeys to Dublin, Waterford and Galway on a Friday before going back out and raising money for the club again the Saturday. There’s no set of fans in this country as dedicated as Sligo Rovers’ so it was great to be able to give them that win last week. But we have to follow it up with more good nights now.
“They made a huge noise in Galway and the boys played off that when things got tough. We’re hoping for another big crowd behind that goal again in Tolka on Friday. We know we can lift ourselves away from that bottom spot and that’s the carrot we’re chasing.”
David Goulden