Kerry FC will visit the Showgrounds for the first time after Sligo Rovers were paired with the First Division side in the third round of the Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup.

The draw took place on RTE Radio One on Tuesday evening and was conducted by former League of Ireland players Stuart Byrne and Conor McCormack.

This will be the second time in two seasons that the sides will face each other. Kerry beat Rovers after extra-time in a dramatic quarter-final tie at Mounthawk Park last September. 

Kerry currently sit eighth in the First Division table and progressed past Shelbourne in the last round. 

The tie is due to take place at the Showgrounds on the week ending August 16th. 

Sligo Rovers will be included in Tuesday’s draw for the third round of this year’s Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup, after the Bit O’Red comfortably saw off junior side Janesboro at Pearse Stadium on the outskirts of Limerick City on Saturday evening. 

Luke Pearse hit a brace, his first goals since returning to Sligo recently, while Sean McHale and Archie Meekison also got on the scoresheet for thre run-away victors. 

Rovers now join the likes of Shamrock Rovers, St Pat’s and Bohs in the hat for the third round draw which takes place live on RTE Radio One on Tuesday evening. 

The five time cup winners hit the lead after less than two minutes in this one. Jeannot Esua and Archie Meekison combining as the Cameroonian full back delivered the perfect ball for Pearse to dive onto and nod past Aaron O’Sullivan in the Janesboro goal. 

Sam Sargeant performed a small miracle when he somehow kept out an opportunity for the hosts a few minutes later. The Londoner stretching into the top corner of his goal to push away a header from a set piece which looked like it would beat the Rovers number one. 

One became two on the half hour as Rovers, marshalled from the sideline by Ryan Casey, effectively put the game to bed.

A Janesboro defender managed to clear an Esua cross from under his crossbar, but the home side were unable to manage as Meekison arrived to volley into the bottom corner. 

Half-time sub Jamie McGonigle struck the crossbar early in the second period in the sunshine, before Sean McHale made it three with his second goal for the club.

Pearse rounded off a good afternoon for Sligo when he grabbed his second of the day just after the hour. 

Rovers’ next game is a crucial Premier Division clash with Drogheda United at the Showgrounds this Saturday, kick-off 7.45pm. 

Rovers: Sargeant; Esua (McDonagh 58), Denham, McHale (McGonigle HT), Stewart (Harkin 58); Quirk, McHugh (McManus HT); Meekison, O’Kane (Nolan HT); Pearce; Kavanagh.

David Goulden

Photo: Donal Egan 

Sligo Rovers’ FAI Cup journey begins this Saturday as our men’s side travel to Pearse Stadium in Limerick to take on local district league side Janesboro in the second round of this year’s men’s competition.

Kick-off at the Colbert Avenue venue is 4.30pm as the Bit O’Red hope to make a mark on the 106th edition of a competition the club has proudly won five times. 

The sides were paired together in the draw, which was conducted earlier this month, after Janesboro overcame Tipperary town side St Michael’s after extra-time at Cooke Park.

Rovers will be managed on the day by Ryan Casey following John Russell’s exit from the club earlier this week. 

In team news and as of Friday morning, Jad Hakiki, Kevin Zefi and Conor Reynolds are injured and therefore miss out. 

Midfield pair Daire Patton and Ciaron Harkin will be given late fitness tests. 

Seb Quirk will be available but will miss next week’s league meeting with Drogheda having been sent off in Galway last week. 

Rovers face the novelty of playing two games in as many weeks at different grounds with the same name but in different locations.

Casey knows that being the League of Ireland side places Sligo as natural favourites for this game and says the players have shown a ‘business as usual’ attitude following recent developments. 

“It’s been a week of a few changes but we move on. The players have prepped well and we’re looking forward to going to Limerick and hopefully getting through to the next round”, he tells sligorovers.com. 

“Everyone knows how close the FAI Cup is historically to the club and we’d love to get the ball rolling on another good run.

“I’d expect Janesboro to have a nothing to lose attitude. Limerick junior football is traditionally strong and we expect a test, certainly.

“It’s a Saturday afternoon kick-off, a huge game and we hope that we have plenty travelling with us to see us through.” 

David Goulden

New signings Jamie McGonigle and Luke Pearce are eligible for the Bit O’Red as Sligo Rovers head to what is the unfamiliar surroundings of Pearse Stadium in Salthill, for this evening’s meeting with Galway United.

Kick-off at the home of Galway GAA is 5pm.

This vital Premier Division game will be staged in Salthill due to work being undertaken by the Galway FA on the Eamonn Deacy Park pitch.

Striker McGonigle is in line for his debut, while Pearce is available for selection following his return to the club after both players’ international clearances were granted. News that will come as a huge boost to Rovers boss John Russell.

Today’s tie will be the third meeting of the clubs in 2026 and this will be the 102nd Connacht derby.

John Caulfield’s men have the better of the results between us this term, with two wins from two as the Bit O’Red go in search of a victory which would close the gap to Galway to a single point. 

Long term injured duo Jad Hakiki and Conor Reynolds again miss out, as does Kevin Zefi as of Friday morning.

Ciaron Harkin has returned to fitness and should be available, although Daire Patton misses out due to suspension.

“We still have two or three lads unavailable, but we’re certainly heading to Galway with a few more options than we’ve had for the majority of the season”, Russell told sligorovers.com earlier in the week.

“Ciaron is back in contention. Seb Quirk, Archie Meekison are all getting stronger and we will hopefully have both Jamie (McGonigle) and Luke with us too. I was really impressed with Jamie O’Donnell’s debut last week too, so it’s great to have more options.”

This clash has the added intrigue of being played on a surface unfamiliar to League of Ireland football. 

Russell is looking forward to the occasion against his home town club. However, he is fully familiar with the type of test his team will face as Rovers look for a first win in six against a United side searching for their fifth ‘home’ win of the campaign. 

“It will be interesting going there. We’ll see what the crowd is like, the atmosphere, the quality of the pitch”, he continues.  

“But regardless of where the game’s played, we have a job to do.” 

David Goulden

David Goulden at the Showgrounds 

Match Day Sponsor: Vintage Reds.

Match Ball Sponsor: Amcor Flexibles, Finisklin. 

Shamrock Rovers displayed their strength in depth as they emptied their bench at half-time to turn the tide against Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Friday.

One down at half-time courtesy of Will Fitzgerald’s fifth goal of the season, Stephen Bradley introduced four changes at the break including Irish internationals Jack Byrne and Graham Burke, both of whom netted one each to secure the points for Shams.

However, another huge talking point in this game and arguably the pivotal moment was referee Paul McLaughlin’s decision to dismiss Rovers midfielder Daire Patton early in the second half. McLaughlin decided that the Sligo native had denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity when he tangled with Dylan Watts as he looked to take control of a pass from goalkeeper Sam Sargeant. 

The decision was heavily criticised by Rovers boss John Russell post-match with numerical miss-match certainly playing its part as the visitors created the majority of the chances from here on in. 

Russell made two adjustments in personnel from our draw with Shelbourne the week previous.  

Archie Meekison, recently recovered from knee surgery, took his place in a starting eleven for the first time since mid-May. While Cian Kavanagh made his first start in three. Recent acquisition, 16-year-old striker Jamie O’Donnell was named on the bench. 

Departing for Malta for their Champions League clash with Floriana on Monday morning, Stephen Bradley made two switches from the Dubliners’ comfortable victory over Galway last week. Defender Adam Matthews and Dylan Watts coming in as they aimed to push further ahead in their bid for a sixth title in seven seasons. 

Their goalkeeper and former Sligo net minder Ed McGinty had to bat away a Sean McHale header from a Ryan O’Kane corner on six minutes following a brief period of chaos in front of the Republic of Ireland underage international. While Adam Brennan, a star feature of the win over Galway, went close for the away side shortly before Sligo went in front. 

Meekison’s endeavour on the right wing won possession back for Rovers as the Hoops again failed to impress defensively. His cross was allowed to bounce by Fitzgerald who had time and space to meet the ball on the half volley before blasting past a sprawled McGinty and into the corner of the net for the Limerick man’s fifth goal of the year. 

One of three full Irish internationals in the Shamrock Rovers match day squad, Enda Stevens tested Sargeant with a drive from 18 yards without success. While Brennan skied his next chance when John McGovern laid Jake Mulraney’s cross into the path of the starlet. 

McGovern should have restored parity on the half-time whistle but the Newry man allowed Brennan’s cross creep through his legs with the goal at his mercy.

Frustrated by what they saw, the Hoops made no less than four substitutions at the break and the move paid dividends straight away. 

Sargeant had repelled substitute Burke’s initial effort but couldn’t keep out fellow change Byrne’s resulting shot. 

The evening took a further turn for the worse for John Russell’s men on 52 when Patton was controversially red carded for a challenge on Watts. McLaughlin went straight to his back pocket to issue Patton’s red, but replays suggest the official may have been hasty in his decision making.  

Shams’ Matt Healy lashed a shot off the crossbar, Michael Noonan headed wide at the back post, while Sargeant’s superb reactions saw him fist away a Brennan header moments later as last year’s FAI Cup winners continued to knock on the door. 

Cruelly for Rovers, it didn’t take anything special from their opponents to find the combination for the winner which arrived with eight left. 

Sargeant, one of Rovers’ top performers this term, made a hugely uncharacteristic mistake as he allowed Burke’s innocuous looking shot slip through his grasp.

The hosts did push for an equaliser with the hard working Carl McHugh going close with two headed efforts towards the end of the game. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Jeannot Esua (Kyle McDonagh 88), Gareth McElroy, Sean McHale, Sean Stewart; Carl McHugh, Daire Patton; Will Fitzgerald, Archie Meekison (Seb Quirk 67), Ryan O’Kane; Cian Kavanagh (Jamie O’Donnell 78). 

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Adam Matthews, Enda Stevens (Cory O’Sullivan HT), Lee Grace; Jake Mulraney, Adam Brennan; Connor Malley (Jack Byrne HT), Matt Healy; Dylan Watts (Maleace Asamoah 59); John McGovern (Michael Noonan HT), Aaron Greene (Graham Burke 45).  

Referee: Paul McLaughlin. 

Attendance: 2,451.

Shamrock Rovers are tonight’s visitors to the Showgrounds as Sligo Rovers’ men’s senior team take on last year’s Premier Division champions, this evening, Friday at 7.45pm.

Supporters are asked to note the change of game day. This game was moved from Saturday due to Rovers facilitating the Hoops’ Champions League qualifier against Floriana on Tuesday next. 

Match day sponsor for tonight’s ‘clash of the Rovers’ are supporters group Vintage Reds, while the match ball is kindly sponsored by Amcor Flexibles, Finisklin. 

This will be the third game between the sides this season as Rovers seek a first win in five, the last of which came against the Tallaght side in late May. 

Stephen Bradley’s outfit beat Sligo at the Showgrounds back in March. While that late win in Dublin last month arrived courtesy of a memorable late strike from Carl McHugh after Jeannot Esua (pictured) had levelled things following a Sean McHale own goal, which opened Shams’ lead early on. 

In team news, and as of Friday morning, Rovers remain without long term injured Jad Hakiki and Conor Reynolds. 

Ciaron Harkin is also injured. 

Kevin Zefi is likely to miss out for the same reason, while James McManus faces a late fitness test although John Russell is confident the Bohs loanee will make it.

Seb Quirk should be fit to take part in this game if so required after he made the bench against Shelbourne last week. Midfielder Quirk hasn’t featured since picking up a hamstring injury in a stalemate with Derry two months ago. 

Archie Meekison was brought in late on in last week’s game, as he continues his recovery from knee surgery, another boost for Russell.

“Seb was one of the best players in the league before he picked up his injury”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.

“He was consistently putting in great performances for us in the middle and we’re delighted he’s back ahead of schedule. Initially, we’d feared it’d be late July before he came back so it’s a big addition to our group to have him back. It’ll take him a little while to get back up to speed but we’re a stronger side now he’s back again.”

Shamrock Rovers come to Sligo on the back of just one defeat in their last five, having seen off Galway in Tallaght last week.

Russell knows to expect a big test against the league leaders and current title favourites and doesn’t expect their focus to be anywhere else on Friday night.

“You would imagine they’ll have a few games in Europe coming up given that they should have enough to beat Floriana”, he continues. 

“But no matter the team they’ll put out, they’ll be looking to maintain their points difference at the top. Even if they were to rest a few, they’re still formidable.

“But I’ve seen enough from us particularly in stages against Pat’s and Shels that proves we have it in us to get something Friday night.” 

David Goulden

David Goulden at the Showgrounds 

Match Day Sponsor: North West Credit Union.

Match Ball Sponsor: National Learning Network, Sligo.

Paddy Barrett struck a 95th minute leveller as Shelbourne denied Sligo Rovers what would have been a crucial three points following late drama at the Showgrounds.

Two up courtesy of first Rovers goals for Mai Traore and Daire Patton, the Bit O’Red saw Shels dig their way back into this one when Ali Coote sensationally halved Rovers’ lead nine minutes from time with a vicious strike from distance. 

Throwing everything at Rovers to the death, Shels pulled out their late equaliser when Barrett fired past Sam Sargeant in the fifth minute of added time, Rovers dropping points late on for the second week running. 

The result leaves Rovers three points ahead of bottom side Waterford and just two off Drogheda in eighth.

John Russell made just the one change from late defeat to Pat’s last week with Sean McHale returning in place of Kyle McDonagh. Striker Traore started for what was his last game for the club, with the Guinean due to report back to parent club Notts County next week. Midfielders Seb Quirk and Archie Meekison made the bench as they both continue their return to full fitness. 

Shels’ interim boss Lorcan Fitzgerald elected for three personnel switches from the derby defeat to Bohs on Monday. Rodrigo Freitas, Zeno Rossi and Coote coming in as Shels looked to pick up a first win in three. 

For what was their first game without the departed O’Brien in the dugout since the beginning of the 2021 season, the visitors did show early intention without anything to show for it. 

Freitas’ early effort which was easily dealt with by Sargeant, the closest they came before Rovers got settled. 

Traore was only inches off a Will Fitzgerald cross as Sligo began to question the Shels rearguard. 

The same man was involved again 90 seconds later when Traore inadvertently laid a Fitzgerald ball into the path of Patton, who was foiled by Wessell Speel in the Shels nets. 

Traore turned on the style as he finally found the net just short of the half hour. 

The impressive Carl McHugh did the hard work as he closed down a Barrett attempted clearance, the ball looping into the air. Traore trapped the ball as it fell from the sky, executing a superb placed effort, which sailed beyond Speel from the edge of the Shels area.  

Rattled by this, the Dubliners showed vulnerability at the back as Traore struck the bottom of Speel’s post amid unsure defending from a Fitzgerald corner. 

Talisman Harry Wood pulled a routine save from Sargeant in the late stages of the second period as Sligo continued to frustrate their guests.  

There was further grief for the Drumcondra outfit on 55 minutes when Patton arrived late to smuggle Sean Stewart’s drilled cross beyond Speel for his first goal for his boyhood club. 

Shels had Sligo pinned back for the majority of the remaining minutes. 

Sargeant was able to pluck a header from Wood from the air, while the Rovers net-minder somehow kept out a Frietas header from a Milan Mbeng assist from point blank range. 

The press paid off nine from time when Coote let rip from 25 yards, whipping an unstoppable drive past Sargeant and into the top corner for his second of the year. 

Shels fired the lot at Rovers late on. Sub Ollie Denham managed to head the ball away from under his own crossbar with seconds of normal time to go. While Cian Kavanagh took a Speel volley off his own line on 94, leading to the corner that resulted in Barrett’s climatic equaliser. 

Next up for Rovers is a league clash with Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds this coming Friday, kick-off 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Jeannot Esua, Sean McHale, Gareth McElroy, Sean Stewart (Ollie Denham 69); James McManus (Kevin Zefi 79), Carl McHugh; Will Fitzgerald, Daire Pattton, Ryan O’Kane (Archie Meekison 83); Mai Traore (Cian Kavanagh 69). 

Shelbourne: Wessel Speel;  Kameron Ledwidge, Paddy Barrett, Zeno Rossi (Odhran Casey 62);  Milan Mbeng (Sean Moore 75), Dan Kelly (Will Jarvis 75); Ellis Chapman (Jack Henry-Francis 62), Evan Caffrey, Harry Wood; Ali Coote (Joey Wuna 82); Rodrigo Freitas. 

Referee: Rob Hennessy. 

Attendance: 2,089.

Match Day Sponsor: North West Credit Union.

Match Ball Sponsor: National Learning Network, Sligo.

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

John Russell says his Sligo Rovers side will take confidence from a really impressive performance at Richmond Park despite late heartbreak for the Bit O’Red against a strong St Patrick’s Athletic.

Rovers were the better of the two sides in the first half and created opportunities through Daire Patton, Gareth McElroy and Mai Traore, the latter of whom enjoyed what were some of his best moments in Rovers gear to date. 

However, the Saints did have the majority of the opportunities in the second period and won this game courtesy of goals in the third and fifth minute of added time at the death. And although defeat was harsh on Rovers whose stellar effort wasn’t rewarded, the hosts were value for their victory. 

Despite again being without his full complement, Russell was greatly enthused by his side’s showing and praised his players’ reaction to the previous week’s pasting in Waterford. 

“We’re gutted to concede two late goals”, he reflected. 

“I felt we were brave both in and out of possession and were excellent to a man. I thought it wouldn’t have flattered us had we been two up at half-time. Daire and Mai both had great chances and we might have had a penalty had things gone our way. We put plenty of pressure on their goal and we were happy with the performance. 

“We soaked up a lot of pressure in the second half and had a few chances on the break. We are performance driven and the group have shown an unbelievable response from last week. We’ve come up to face a really strong Pat’s who are chasing for a title. It would have been easy for us to sit back and sit in, but we were brave and passed the ball through them. That’s where our chances came from.”

After two weekends on the east coast, Rovers now look forward to a duo of games on home soil against Shels and Shamrock Rovers. 

Russell believes he saw enough in Inchicore on Friday night to suggest his team has it in them to pick up results. 

“For 92 minutes, we were brilliant but I’m hoping we can see out the game after that and unfortunately we just didn’t have enough”, he said. 

“We executed our game plan so well and we have to take confidence from that going into two big games at home. Anyone here tonight would say we were unlucky not to come away with something.” 

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers’ men’s senior side go to Richmond Park this (Friday) evening as the Bit O’Red take on St Patrick’s Athletic looking to keep up our recent unbeaten record in Dublin. 

Kick-off in Inchicore is 7.45pm as Rovers seek to extend our run without defeat in the capital to four after wins this season at Dalymount Park and Tallaght Stadium, along with a draw at Tolka Park against Shels.

John Russell’s side are again without a number of first team players, although defender Sean Stewart and midfielder Carl McHugh are expected to return from injury. 

Ollie Denham is suspended having been sent off in Waterford last week. While Sean McHale, on loan from the Saints, is ineligible. 

Pat’s home form has been quite formidable this season, with seven wins from their ten games by the Camac. This includes a 4-1 win over Rovers back in early April.

“They’re a very tough side to play, particularly in front of their own fans, on their own patch”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.

“If you give them any space or chances, they’ll punish you so we need everyone on top form if we’re to have a chance in this one.

“We’re still short a few players and Sean and Ollie won’t be available so that means we need to shuffle the pack again. We’ve had time to prepare and set a game plan. We know it’ll be tough, they’re very strong and I’d expect them to be there or thereabouts come October. 

“We’re asking the players for a much better performance than last week. We need to show personality, apply our ideas to the game and take our opportunities when they arrive.”

David Goulden