Wilson Waweru struck a sensational hat-trick as Sligo Rovers safely progressed through to the last 16 of the Sports Direct FAI Cup, beating Cobh Wanderers at the Showgrounds. 

Waweru struck from play in each half and rounded off a good evening both personally and for his team when he slotted home an injury time penalty at the end of the game. 

Rovers manager John Russell was looking to advance the hosts through a round of the cup for the first time under his tenure and the first time for the club since 2020, when they reached the last four under previous boss Liam Buckley. 

It was the League of Ireland side who were well in charge throughout.

Ollie Denham went close nine minutes in when he nodded Will Fitzgerald’s corner inches wide of the target, seven minutes before the full-time outfit struck for the opener.

Ellis Chapman’s initial shot was saved by Power who could only spill the ball into the path of Waweru who was left with a simple finish, tapping home for his fourth goal of the year. 

The seriousness with which Rovers took this tie was evident by the fact that none of the starting eleven took part in Friday’s mid-season friendly with Everton. They manufactured further opportunities in the half through Chapman who went close twice in quick succession.  

The hosts ended the half with a Chapman header which bounced off the frame of the goal, Waweru knocking home the rebound only to be flagged offside. 

It was all Rovers again in the second period as Ed McGinty went the full 90 minutes untested. 

Waweru twice headed wide before Power held on to a speculative Reece Hutchinson drive, as Rovers switched to two up top in the hope of avoiding an uneasy finish to this tie. 

That tension lifted somewhat 15 minutes from time when Fitzgerald knocked Stephen Mallon’s cross to Waweru who slotted the ball past Power for his second of the evening. 

Waweru brought his goal total for the season to six in injury time. The Galway native sending Power the wrong way from the penalty spot after the same player was tripped by Conor Walsh inside the area. 

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Charlie Wiggett (Luke Pearce 67), Conor Malley, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson (Owen Elding 84); Niall Morahan, Conor Malley, Ellis Chapman (Jack Henry-Francis 76); Will Fitzgerald (Kyle McDonagh 84), Stephen Mallon; Wilson Waweru. 

Cobh Wanderers: Mark Power; David Curran, Conor Walsh, Eoin Hastings, David Stack (Darragh Heelan HT); Adam Hastings-Gilley (Kevin Foster-O’Reilly 37), Nathan O’Connell, Dylan McNamara, Stephen O’Leary (David Brennan 71); George Keating (Stuart O’Rourke 71), Oisin Dorgan (Loic Nguefang HT). 

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea

David Goulden

A youthful Sligo Rovers side pulled off a remarkable result against Everton’s first team as the Bit O’Red drew three goals a piece with the Premier League side at the Showgrounds. 

With limited first team experience in the match day squad, Rovers were more than a match for their opponents who featured a host of international stars including Republic of Ireland captain and former defender Seamus Coleman.

A goal from new boy Luke Pearce and a Kyle McDonagh strike had Rovers enjoying a deserved two goal lead at the break and although Mason Holgate pulled one back early in the second period, the hosts pushed on and extended the lead back to two when Kevin Muldoon had Sligo’s third just after the hour. 

The Toffees, who featured Premier League stars such as Ashley Young, Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled back two late goals through a Youssef Chermiti brace. 

Sligo Rovers: Conor Walsh (Kyle Gabbidon 70), JR Wilson, Kyle McDonagh, Gareth McElroy (Colin Mooney HT), David Jonathan, Jack Henry-Francis (Conor Cannon 65), Daire Patton (Callum Lynch 72), Kailin Barlow (Shane Malone HT), Kevin Muldoon (Jamie O’Malley 70), Owen Eldling, Luke Pearce (James Lukau 65).

Everton: (First half) Joao Virginia, Michael Keane, Dwight McNeil, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Neal Maupay, Adboulane Doucoure, Seamus Coleman, Idrissa Gana, Tyler Onyango, Elijah Campbell, Jenson Metcalfe. (Second half). Billy Crellin, Mason Holgate, IIliman Ndiya, Jack Harrison, Beto,  Ashley Young, Youssef Chermiti, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, Reece Welch, Roman Dixon. 

Referee: Paul McLaughlin 

Composed finishing along with a string of wonderful saves from goalkeeper Ed McGinty saw Sligo Rovers collect their third league win on the spin as the ten-man Bit O’Red beat Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Wilson Waweru rounded goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka to put Rovers ahead nine minutes from the break. And despite a harsh Stephen Mallon dismissal and facing a second half onslaught which saw large periods of the game played out in Rovers’ own half, the visitors held on courtesy of McGinty’s ninth clean sheet of the season and some wonderful last ditch defending from the Sligo rearguard.

Pandemonium ensued in the away end in the fifth minute of added time at the end of the game when Ellis Chapman made the most of a poorly struck Bohs set-piece. With Chorazka stranded well inside the visitors’ half, the former Cheltenham man let fly from all of 70 yards to secure another big win for John Russell’s men. 

The in-form McGinty began his evening by denying James Clarke early on and with Rovers finding their stride, they hit the lead on 36.

Mallon and Niall Morahan combined to find Chapman whose through ball was well weighted for Waweru. The former Galway man showed superior poise and composure to hold off the defender before rounding Chorazka and finishing to an empty net. 

Rovers’ joy was somewhat short lived when referee Marc Lynch decided to book Mallon for a second time before the break after the ex-Bohs winger had tugged the shirt of an opponent. 

A man down, the second period saw Alan Reynolds’ men come at Rovers in waves but time and time again, they were repelled. 

Former Rovers skipper Adam McDonnell flashed an effort wide of McGinty’s goal as Sligo forced the Dubliners into long-range efforts. While McGinty pulled off a great stop from Dayle Rooney’s set-piece. 

Clarke was next to be denied by the Oxford loanee when he diverted the attacker’s header from a Declan McDaid cross around his post. 

Bohs were lining up at this stage but each effort was stopped by either a late block or a heroic McGinty stop. Ross Tierney, Leigh Kavanagh and substitute Filip Piszczek were all kept at bay, while Reece Hutchinson cleared off his own goal line. 

Rovers could have settled the tie eleven minutes from the end but the ball seemed to take a bobble off the Dalymount surface as Simon Power struck it following a well worked counter. Power firing over from inside the area.

There was time for one more McGinty trick when he reacted in time to keep out a Cian Byrne header which looked destined to level proceedings. 

However, Chapman made sure the points were safely delivered all the way back up the N4 on 95 minutes when he went for broke from inside his own half after Chorazka had ventured forward in search of an equaliser. 

Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Martin Miller, Cian Byrne, Jordan Flores (Leigh Kavanagh HT), Paddy Kirk (Declan McDaid HT); Adam McDonnell (Archie Meekison 72), James Clarke (Alex Greive 63); Danny Grant (Filip Piszczek 63), Ross Tierney, Dayle Rooney; James Akintunde.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Charlie Wiggett, Nando Pijnaker, Oliver Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley (Simon Power HT), Ellis Chapman; Stephen Mallon, Wilson Waweru (Kailin Barlow 61), Will Fitzgerald.

Referee: Marc Lynch.

Attendance: 4,119.

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers delivered the latest blow to Shamrock Rovers’ hopes of a fifth title in a row as former Hoops winger Simon Power struck twice in the space of ten minutes to see off his old side.

Sprung from the bench, Power marked his return from injury with a glorious second half double to sentence the Dubliners to their second defeat on the bounce. While for Sligo, this was their first win in three.  

Seeking to close the ten point gap between themselves and the leading pair of Shels and Derry, Hoops boss Stephen Bradley made four changes from their defeat to St Pat’s. Leoh Pohls returned between the posts, while Gary O’Neill, Richie Towell and Conan Noonan all started having missed the defeat to St Pat’s before the summer break. 

Sligo boss John Russell was boosted by the return of authoritative centre half Nando Pijnaker and skilful winger Power to the match day squad. Pijnaker started having missed the last 13 games due to a rib injury, while Power made the bench against his old employers following his return from a groin issue. Pijnaker was one of two changes with Wilson Waweru the second swap, replacing Kailin Barlow who started the defeat to Dundalk at Oriel Park two weeks ago. 

A riveting first half produced a catalogue of chances at either end. 

Both Towell and Graham Burke went close in the opening ten minutes as the visitors impressed early on. Towell’s full-volley fizzed past Ed McGinty’s post as the Sligo defence stood still in expectation of an offside flag. While Burke dragged an effort across goal after Pijanker’s last ditch block on Johnny Kenny deflected the ball towards Burke. 

Sligo winger Fabrice Hartmann is due to return to parent club RB Leipzig next week and on his final appearance for the club, he forced Hoops net minder Pohls into a smart save with his feet following Hartmann’s placed effort from the angle.

The hosts had their own purple patch mid-way through the second half. Ellis Chapman’s speculative effort skimmed Pohls crossbar on 13 minutes. While Will Fitzgerald went close twice in quick succession nine minutes later. 

Facing his boyhood club, Kenny looked like he would continue his recent goal-scoring spree on 24 minutes. The Riverstown native taking a Gary O’Neill through ball into his stride but could only drag his placed shot wide of McGinty’s goal.

The leaping Hartmann again tested Pohls before the interval with a header from a Fitzgerald cross to finish off a frantic opening 45. While McGinty saved Ollie Denham’s blushes early in the second half when the latter made a mess of an attempted back-pass allowing Kenny to take possession. McGinty had different ideas however as he spread himself wide to deny the Celtic loanee. 

Pohls got a finger-tip to Hartmann’s drive from 30 yards after the German had turned inside just short of the hour.  

Struggling to create much at this stage, Bradley sent on both Aaron McEneff and Jack Byrne while the experienced Aaron Greene was introduced shortly after. But it was a move from the Sligo bench that changed this game.

Substitute Power was less than four minutes on the pitch when he foraged a way to the end line before smacking a low drive beyond Pohls who probably should have done better in his attempts to keep out the Wicklow man.  

There was nothing the floundering Pohls could do about Power’s second seven from time. Power skipping his way past a Hoops defender before sending a sumptuous, twisting effort with the outside of his boot past the helpless keeper.  

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Nando Pijnaker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Ellis Chapman (Kalin Barlow 70), Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Will Fitzgerald (Owen Elding 94), Fabrice Hartmann (Simon Power 70); Wilson Waweru (Stefan Radosavljevic 78). 

Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Josh Honahan, Roberto Lopes, Darragh Nugent; Richie Towell (Trevor Clarke 77), Markus Poom; Gary O’Neill (Sean Hoare 77), Dylan Watts (Aaron McEneff 67), Conan Noonan (Jack Byrne 67) ; Graham Burke (Aaron Greene 77); Johnny Kenny. 

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea

Attendance: 3,187

Sligo Rovers go into the mid-season break on the back of a narrow one goal defeat to Dundalk at Oriel Park. 

Daryl Horgan struck for the game’s only goal in the second half as Rovers were beaten for the second game running. 

The Bit O’Red did have chances. Ellis Chapman tested Lilywhites goalkeeper Sean Molloy on 20 minutes, the closest the visitors came to finding the net in this one.

Horgan struck for what proved to be the winner on 54 minutes. Ryan O’Kane’s counter run and pass inside finding former Rovers and Ireland winger Horgan who tucked the ball beyond Ed McGinty.

Rovers face into a two week break now, with our next game coming on Friday 28th June against Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds. Kick-off 7.45pm. 

Dundalk: Sean Molloy; Archie Davies, Zak Johnson, Andy Boyle, Zak Bradshaw; Hayden Muller, Paul Doyle, Robbie Benson (John Mountney 72); Ryan O’Kane (Eoin Kenny 77), Cameron Elliott (Sam Durrant 78), Daryl Horgan.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Charlie Wiggett, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley (Stefan Radosavljevic 87); Fabrice Hartmann, Ellis Chapman, Will Fitzgerald (Owen Elding 62); Kailin Barlow (Wilson Waweru 62).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

A heavily depleted Sligo Rovers suffered their first defeat in four games as they were beaten by Waterford at the RSC.

Without nine members of the first team squad through injury, an international call-up and state exams, the Bit O’Red were unable to name a full bench.

Former Rovers man Padraig Amond netted twice, while goals for Connor Parsons and Ben McCormack supplemented the result for the Blues. Wilson Waweru struck a magnificent mid-air volley for Sligo’s consolation.

Without John Mahon, Nando Pijnaker, Simon Power and Conor Reynolds because of injuries and Stefan Radosavljevic due to a call up to the Faroe Islands’ squad, John Russell was also missing four players due to the leaving certificate. Namely Daire Patton, Kyle McDonagh, David Jonathan and Aiden Gabbidon.

Restricted by the personnel available to him, Russell made one change from the win over Drogheda. Owen Elding coming in for the afore mentioned Radosavljevic.

Despite the arduous cross-country journey to the south east, it was the visitors who started this game the stronger. Fabrice Hartmann in particular causing issues for Sam Sargeant’s defence early on.

 Waterford opened the scoring 24 minutes in. Ben McCormack firing an effort into the ground as the ball bounced over the unfortunate Ed McGinty.

Two became three on the hour when Grant Horton’s ball forward was met by Parsons who arrowed the ball past the diving McGinty after the goalkeeper had pulled off a number of superb saves to keep Rovers in this game.

Amond had his first and the hosts’ third on 67 when he slotted home from the spot.

Waweru pulled one back with a stunning volley but Amond confirmed the result late on when he headed home a McCormack cross.

Rovers’ next game comes on Thursday June 13th, Oriel Park the venue as we take on Dundalk at 7.45pm.

Waterford: Sam Sargeant; Darragh Power, Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald (Niall O’Keeffe 73), Ben McCormack (Gbemi Arubi 89), Padraig Amond, Connor Parsons (Connor Evans 89), Darragh Leahy (Ryan Burke 81), Kacper Radkowski, Christie Pattisson, Dean McMenamy (Robbie McCourt 81).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; John Ross Wilson, Reece Hutchinson, Ellis Chapman, Charlie Wiggett, Niall Morahan, Fabrice Hartmann, Oliver Denham, Conor O’Malley, Kailin Barlow (Wilson Waweru 73), Owen Elding (Will Fitzgerald 63).

Referee: Neil Doyle

Two first half goals saw St Patrick’s Athletic pick up their first points of the season against Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Ronan Hale handed Pat’s the advantage on 26 minutes, while Chris Forrester doubled the lead ten minutes later for a Saints side who finished the game with ten men. Oliver Younger dismissed for a second yellow card mid-way through the second period.  

Having made four changes from their opening night defeat to Waterford, it was the visitors who threatened first.

Sligo did cause the Saints one or two early moments of worry, but once Pat’s settled, they were in control.

Hale saw his improvised effort take a touch off a Rovers defender after he hooked the ball goalwards from the left. This heralded some stiff pressure from Stephen O’Donnell’s side who hit the lead on 26 minutes.

Darragh Noone’s loose pass was pounced upon by Hale who unleashed a stunning drive from 20 yards past Ed McGinty.

Forrester was off target with an audacious effort from a set piece from a similar range on the half hour.

He was involved again on 35 minutes.

The attacker muscling Niall Morahan off the ball before linking up with James Doona who was denied by McGinty. The goalkeeper grabbing the ball from the feet of Doona as he prepared to shoot.

The Dubliners doubled their advantage nine minutes from the break.

Recent recruits Robbie Benson and Billy King were involved on the left as the latter found Forrester, who seized the opportunity, picking out the bottom corner on the turn from ten yards.

Pat’s almost had their third four minutes into the second half. A lapse in concentration from Kyle Callan-McFadden allowed King the chance to finish from close range. McGinty sparing his team-mate’s blushes as he spread himself, getting a stud to King’s placed attempt.

Forrester was next to go close just before the hour. McGinty scrambling to keep hold of the former Aberdeen man’s attempted lob as Pat’s looked to put this game to bed early on.

The home support were offered a glimmer of hope when Pat’s were reduced to ten on 68. Younger shown his second yellow after he tangled with substitute Jesse Devers.

The numerical advantage didn’t pay off however as the Inchicore side saw out the remainder of the game without much fuss. There was a late chance for Devers, but the Mayo man couldn’t come up with the touch he needed to half the deficit.  

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Teemu Penningkangas, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Will Seymore; Darragh Noone, Johnny Dunleavy (Scott Lynch 90); Niall Morahan, David Cawley, Garry Buckley; Ronan Murray (Jesse Devers HT); Ronan Coughlan.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Rory Feely, Luke McNally, Oliver Younger, Ian Bermingham; Lee Desmond; Robbie Benson, Chris Forrester (Jamie Lennon 70); James Doona (Dean Clarke 58), Billy King; Ronan Hale (Martin Rennie 78).  

Referee:  Neil Doyle

Attendance: 2,145

Sligo Rovers finished off the 2019 season with defeat to Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

The Bit O’Red took the lead 31 minutes in when Daryl Fordyce pounced on Kris Twardek’s cross, poking the ball past James Talbot for Rovers’ opener.

The visitors were impressive throughout but Bohs leveled the game after both Fordyce and Lewis Banks had chances to double Rovers’ lead.

Danny Mandroiu’s free-kick knocking the post before sneaking past Luke McNicholas just before the hour.

Bohs had their winner on 81 minutes when Derek Pender converted from the spot.

Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johnny Dunleavy, Danny Kane, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Kyle McFadden, Niall Morahan; Kris Twardek, Ronan Murray (Niall Watson 63), Regan Donelon; Daryl Fordyce.

Derry City require just a draw on Tuesday night against St Pat’s to confirm their European spot for 2020 after they beat Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Lewis Banks had handed Rovers the lead thirteen minutes in, but City recovered and levelled the game courtesy of Jamie McDonagh before an Ed McGinty mistake gifted Barry McNamee Derry’s second before half-time. 

The result means the Candystripes need just a point from the visit of the Saints next week, to secure continental football for next season.

Still chasing that third spot, City were on top in the opening half but fell behind to Banks’ first goal for the home side.

David Cawley latching on to Ronan Coughlan’s through ball, before Cawley pulled the ball back for the unmarked Banks to fire home.

Derry heads didn’t drop however and McDonagh struck the woodwork with a fine bending effort after skilfully pulling the ball past John Mahon. While Eoin Toal screwed his volley wide shortly before City had their leveller.

The ball falling to McDonagh at the edge of the area as the ex-Sligo man blasted a left footed volley past McGinty for his fourth of the season and his second against his former employers this year.

McGinty pulled off a fine stop from a close range McNamee effort on 36 minutes as Declan Devine’s charges pushed for the lead.

The Rovers net minder was at fault however six minutes later, when Derry had their second. McNamee guiding the beleaguered goalkeeper’s attempted clearance past McGinty at the first attempt.

Sligo’s Daryl Fordyce wasn’t too far away with an effort in added time at the end of the half. While the same man couldn’t get the power he needed behind his close range header when City failed to clear Cawley’s corner shortly after the re-start.

Regan Donelon almost profited from Kris Twardek’s over-cooked cross ten minutes into the second half as Rovers began the second half on the front foot. The full back’s first time volley at the far post sailing well beyond Peter Cherrie’s back post.

Both sides didn’t create much for a sustained period thereafter as this game suffered from a bout of end of season syndrome.

Grant Gillespie couldn’t find the far corner after he turned inside with 13 minutes of the second half remaining.

While McGinty managed to gather McDonagh’s corner at the second attempt, with Greg Sloggett in close proximity moments later.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Danny Kane (Sam Warde 88), Kyle McFadden, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Kris Twardek, David Cawley (Johnny Dunleavy 80), Daryl Fordyce, Niall Morahan, Regan Donelon (Brian Morley 84); Ronan Coughlan.

Derry City: Peter Cherrie; Grant Gillespie, Ally Gilchrist, Eoin Toal; Jamie McDonagh, Ciaran Coll; Barry McNamee (Michael McCrudden 92), Gregg Sloggett, Ciaron Harkin; David Parkhouse (Darren McCauley 89), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (Aidy Delap 94).

Referee: Paul Tuite.

Attendance: 1,909.  

Neither side could produce a winner as both Rovers, Sligo and Shamrock played out an entertaining stalemate at the Showgrounds.

Neither of these sides had much to play for but produced an absorbing encounter in what was Sligo’s penultimate game in front of their own support this year.

Kris Twardek had Alan Mannus at full stretch seven minutes in, while Regan Donelon’s effort from distance flashed past the Hoops goal from the resulting corner.

Ed McGinty was untroubled with Shams’ first effort on goal courtesy of Aaron McEneff on 17 minutes.

There was another nervous moment for the visitors when Twardek sent his low effort fizzing across Mannus’ goal mouth.

Preparing for their first FAI cup final since they were beaten by Sligo nine years ago, the Hoops began to pose a threat through the likes of Aaron Greene, Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff.

Greene was involved in their next chance. The winger finding Graham Cummins at the back post, but John Mahon did enough to force the ex-Cork striker to volley wide at the first attempt.

Mannus then spilled Danny Kane’s close range header before the danger was cleared by the Hoops rearguard. McGinty relying on Lewis Banks to do likewise at the other end moments later after he let Ethan Boyle’s shot between his arms.

Mannus pulled off a wonderful stop to deny David Cawley’s 35 yard free-kick which looked destined for the top corner. Sam Warde had the ball in the net from the resulting corner, but the midfielder’s joy was short lived when he caught in an offside position.

Even without a recognised striker in their match day squad, Sligo continued to create and should have been ahead just short of the hour.

Twardek released Banks down the right before the latter found man-of-the-match Niall Morahan. The Leitrim teen couldn’t add the required power to his shot from seven yards, with Mannus able to deal with the danger. 

It was then the visitor’s turn to turn up a goal scoring opportunity.

Mahon’s slip allowed Ronan Finn through on goal, but McGinty closed the angle in time to deny skipper Finn in the one-on-one.

Greene then came within a lick of paint of finding the opener.

Sligo might have had a penalty with twelve to go when Regan Donelon was sent flying by a robust challenge. And with the home supporters still protesting the decision not to award the spot kick, Greene then struck the outside of McGinty’s post on the counter with the keeper looking beat.

There were late chances at either end. Brandon Kavanagh fired narrowly wide on the volley while Boyle had to divert Cawley’s side-footer past Mannus’ post.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Kyle McFadden, John Mahon, Danny Kane; Sam Warde (Johnny Dunleavy 92); Kris Twardek, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Regan Donelon (Brian Morley 81); Daryl Fordyce.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Ethan Boyle, Roberto Lopes, Daniel Lafferty (Dylan Watts 81), Sean Kavanagh; Ronan Finn, Gary O’Neill, Aaron McEneff; Jack Byrne (Brandon Kavanagh 69); Aaron Greene, Graham Cummins (Graham Burke 63). 

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 1,829.