Centre halves Ollie Denham and Sean McHale are available for selection once again as Sligo Rovers men’s senior team are at home for the first time in four weeks as we face Shelbourne at the Showgrounds, this Saturday.
Kick-off in Sligo is 7.45pm as the Bit O’Red go in search of a first win four following consecutive losses to Bohs, Waterford and St Pat’s respectively.
Rovers will look for a victory over the Drumcondra side since 2024 and this will be the third time the sides meet this season.
The Dubliners beat Rovers at the Showgrounds back in March thanks to a Daniel Kelly goal just after the hour. While John Russell’s men took a well merited point from Tolka Park following a stalemate at the same ground just last month.
Denham returns from suspension having been sent off in Waterford, while McHale was restricted from lining out at Richmond Park last Friday due to the terms of his loan from Pat’s. He also returns for selection.
Russell will be without a few players through injury but there were encouraging updates on both Seb Quirk and Archie Meekison. Both players are well ahead of schedule on their individual recovery plans and may be fit enough to make the bench this weekend.
Both Mai Traore and Shane Blaney will return to their parent clubs after the Shels game following the expiration of their loan periods.
This will be Shels’ first game without former manager Joey O’Brien since he left the club on Thursday and Russell knows to expect a bounce under interim boss Lorcan Fitzgerald.
“They’ve obviously made the switch in terms of management but we can expect the same tough challenge.
“They have some extremely talented players and have a lot of experience given that they still have lads who were there two years ago when they won the league. It’s going to be another big game for us and we’re looking forward to it, in front of our own fans.”
Despite having suffered late heartache late on in Dublin last week, Russell was encouraged by his team’s showing and has asked them to keep levels high ahead of Saturday’s tie.
“Yes, it stung losing a game that late. But we were the better team in the first half. We played some of the best football we’ve played this year. We deserved something from it.
“We were brave in and out of possession and created loads. Second half, we had to soak up pressure and try to hit them on the break. But eventually the pressure told, unfortunately. But for 92 minutes, we were superb. We played on the front foot and showed what we could do.
“We take a lot of confidence from that game and look to bring it into this one.”
David Goulden