David Goulden at the Showgrounds 

Match night sponsor: Belfry Bar, Sligo.

Ball sponsor: Flynn’s Bar, Carrick-on-Shannon. 

Sligo Rovers’ 2026 season came to an end with a four goal draw with Derry City at the Showgrounds in what was the one hundredth league game between the sides.

Goals from captain Gareth McElroy and winger Ryan O’Kane on his first start since August, had the Bit O’Red ahead at the lead.

But a brace from Derry’s debutant teenager Terence Doherty saw the Candystripes wrestle their way back into this game against ten man Rovers who lost Kayine Woolery to a red card early in the second period. The former Tranmere winger shown red after he reacted to Brooklyn Lyons-Foster’s challenge. 

The result means Rovers end the season on an 18 game winless run as manager Darren Purse’s search for a first league win goes into next season.  

With an FAI Cup final to come next weekend, City interim boss Mark Connolly made ten changes from the side who overcame Dundalk last week.

Goalkeeper Brian Maher was the only survivor from that game and after team-mate Gavin Whyte had fired wide early on, it was Maher who was called to action after ten minutes to claim Kyle McDonagh’s header from an Archie Meekison cross. 

The visitors did find a gap in the Rovers rearguard on the quarter hour, but Sligo stopper Liam Hughes was able to get in front of Tyler Smith’s effort. 

Connolly’s first game in temporary charge of the Brandywell side was a no-fuss win over Sligo back in August. His charges fell behind on 25 minutes when former Derry trainee McElroy registered his second goal of the season, after his initial header from a Luke Young free-kick was deflected back into the path of the Burnfoot native by Lyons-Foster. 

One became two for Rovers seven minutes from the break.

Woolery’s initial shot was parried by Maher, straight to O’Kane who unleashed a powerful but composed volleyed finish from close range. 

Sligo were reduced to ten men just three minutes into the second half when Woolery got involved with Lyons-Foster. 

The subsequent man disadvantage invited inevitable pressure on Rovers.

Sub Ollie Denham pulled off a last ditch tackle to deny Doherty finishing a Kevin Dos Santos cross on his first start for Derry on 69 minutes 

Derry sub Liam Boyce flashed a shot across goal five minutes later before debutant Doherty halved the lead on 77 minutes when he finished a Whyte cross from his right. 

The teen Doherty had his second four minutes later when he turned home a Liam Kelly assist. 

Sligo Rovers: Liam Hughes; Seb Quirk, Sean Stewart (Ollie Denham HT), Gareth McElroy, Kyle McDonagh; Daire Patton (Reuben Gillespie 79), Luke Young; Jack Shorrock (Cian Kavanagh 56), Archie Meekison, Ryan O’Kane (James McManus 68); Kaiyne Woolery. 

Derry City: Brian Maher (Thomas Norcott HT); Conor Barr, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Christy Grogan (Jamie Stott 41); Callum Downey, Kevin Dos Santon; James Olayinka (Liam Kelly 51), Gavin Whyte, Darragh Markey (Yoann Prigent 71); Terence Doherty; Tyler Smith (Liam Boyce 71).  

Referee: Declan Toland. 

Attendance: 1,534.