The academy enjoyed another hugely positive weekend, with every squad giving a strong account of themselves in the latest round of fixtures. There were standout performances across the board, as the teams showed resilience, quality and determination to secure important results. From hard-earned victories to encouraging displays, it was another weekend that highlighted the progress being made throughout the academy.

U20 | Derry City 2–3 Sligo Rovers

It was another impressive afternoon for the U20s as a Callum Lynch hat-trick inspired Rovers to a deserved victory away to Derry City on Saturday.

Buoyed by last week’s first win of the season, the lads travelled full of confidence and made a bright start, creating plenty of positive attacking opportunities.

The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute when 18-year-old Callum Lynch found the net. Just ten minutes later, Lynch doubled both his tally and Rovers’ lead with a composed finish beyond the City goalkeeper.

The hosts responded quickly, pulling a goal back from the penalty spot just four minutes later, but Rovers were soon handed a penalty of their own. There was only ever going to be one taker, and Lynch calmly converted to complete a first-half hat-trick right on the stroke of half-time.

The second half was a much tighter affair, with both sides defending far better than they had before the break. Aside from a Derry City consolation goal, chances were few and far between as Rovers stood firm to secure all three points.

The result lifts the boys into fourth place in the table, just one point off the top, as they continue their strong start to the campaign.

U17 | Longford Town 0–4 Sligo Rovers

It was an enjoyable Sunday afternoon at Bishopsgate for the boys as they produced one of their best performances of the season to move to the top of the league.

The lads were determined to make it back-to-back wins and made the perfect start when Ryan Cunningham opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Donnacha Malone soon added a second to put Rovers firmly in control.

The boys continued to dominate, creating chance after chance and keeping the pressure on the hosts. Their efforts were rewarded before the break with an own goal, before Gibbons added a fourth to send Rovers into half-time with a commanding 4-0 lead.

While the first half was full of attacking football, the second period was a much tighter contest. Both sides were more organised defensively, limiting the number of chances as the score remained unchanged.

The result sees the boys climb to the top of the table, where they remain unbeaten and full of confidence heading into the next round of fixtures.

U14 | Finn Harps 3–3 Sligo Rovers

The U14s travelled to Killygordon Academy Grounds on Sunday and continued the recent trend of entertaining games across the academy.

The boys made a bright start and took the lead when striker Gethins finished calmly past the Finn Harps goalkeeper. Ivers-Brehony doubled the advantage ten minutes later to put Rovers 2-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes.

The lads defended brilliantly for the remainder of the first half and went into the break with a deserved two-goal lead.

The second half, however, didn’t quite go to plan. Finn Harps fought their way back into the game with two well-taken goals to level the scores with 15 minutes remaining.

It never looked like finishing 2-2, with both teams throwing everything at it in search of a winner. Substitute Maye looked to have won it for Rovers when he powered home a header with just ten minutes to play.

Unfortunately, the hosts were awarded a penalty with only two minutes remaining, and it was calmly converted by the Harps striker to make it 3-3. The boys can be very pleased with a hard-earned point away from home after another committed performance.

WU17 | Finn Harps 3–0 Sligo Rovers

It wasn’t the result the girls were hoping for on a frustrating afternoon in Donegal.

After taking four points from their opening two games, the girls went into the match full of confidence but found themselves two goals behind at the break after the hosts struck twice in the first half.

Despite creating some good opportunities and producing some nice passages of play after the interval, the girls were unable to find a way back into the game as the hosts held on for the three points.

The result leaves Rovers sitting third in the table, just one point off top spot, with plenty still to play for in the weeks ahead.

Tom Lavery