Sligo Rovers can confirm that defender Reece Hutchinson has agreed a move to EFL League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra, effective from tomorrow, July 1st for an undisclosed fee. 

Hutchinson makes the move to the Mornflake Stadium following a two-and-a-half year stint at the Showgrounds. 

The talented full back initially signed on loan from Cheltenham Town in the lead up to the 2023 League of Ireland season. That move was made permanent later that year with Hutchinson going on to make 88 appearances for the Bit O’Red, scoring six times for the club. 

The Birmingham native played in all 36 league games last season and has featured in each of Rovers’ 22 games so far this year, scoring against Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Galway United. 

The club wishes Reece all the best in his future career and thanks him for his contribution to the club. 

Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm that we will host EFL League One side Mansfield Town at the Showgrounds on Tuesday, July 15th at 7.30pm.

This mid-season friendly takes place as part of Nigel Clough’s side’s preparations for the upcoming EFL season, which gets underway in early August and is part of the Stags’ four day visit to Ireland ahead of a planned training camp in Galway. The game between Mansfield and Rovers will be the English side’s only game in Ireland during the trip. 

The outing will provide John Russell’s side with game time in the lead up to our FAI Cup clash with Dundalk at Oriel Park on July 18th. 

Clough’s charges finished last season in 17th position and will look to push on in the coming year having achieved promotion to League One at the end of the 2023/24 season. Their squad features Irish goalkeeper Owen Mason, who is an underage international and Donegal born defender Stephen McLaughlin who is a former Derry City and Finn Harps attacking midfielder. 

Also plying their trade at Mansfield, is former England underage international Louis Reed, striker Will Evans and goalkeeper Liam Roberts who signed for the club in recent weeks. 

Looking ahead to hosting Mansfield, who are based out of the ‘One Call’ Stadium, Rovers boss Russell says the friendly will provide his players with the experience of pitting themselves against a team preparing for a season in a league with some big names.

“We’re looking forward to hosting Mansfield here”, Russell says. “We’ll be careful to choose the squad wisely as it’s between two big games against Derry and Dundalk but both sides will give the other a good game, I am sure. 

“Mansfield will be facing some really recognisable names like Bolton, Cardiff, Wigan, Barnsley and Bradford in League One in their upcoming season, so we’re pleased that they’ve chosen Sligo Rovers as an opponent. As with Celtic and Everton last year, it’s a testament to the players and indeed our facilities and what we can offer here in Sligo that they feel the Showgrounds is an ideal spot to prepare for competitive action.”

Tickets are on sale at https://t.co/FQquBLO5B7

Admission prices: Adult – €15. Concessions and children – €10. 

David Goulden 

Sligo Rovers were denied a third win in four games on Friday night at Dalymount Park as an injury time goal from Bohemians’ James Clarke rescued a point for the Gypsies after another stunning Owen Elding rocket had given the Bit O’Red the lead in the opening 45. 

A draw was likely a fair result after a 90 minutes in which Bohs hit man-of-the-match Sam Sargeant’s woodwork, while the goalkeeper himself pulled off a string of world-class stops to deny the home side.

Alan Reynolds’ charges did create chances in the first half, but found themselves out of form in front of goal. Ross Tierney scuppered a few early opportunities, while Colm Whelan pulled a shot wide of Sargeant’s post shortly after. 

The Rovers net minder kept an eye on an Adam McDonnell drive from the edge of the area to acrobatically push the ex-Sligo midfielder’s effort around his goal 20 minutes in, while Elding lit up Phibsboro with another awesome strike from distance seven minutes later.

35-yards out, the talented teen unleashed an unstoppable left footed drive, which didn’t give Bohs keeper Kacper Chorazka even the time to move or react as the ball arrowed into the top corner of the Bohs net. 

It was mostly Bohs in the second period and another catalogue of fine saves from Sargeant kept a battling Rovers ahead. 

The visitors ended this contest with a make-shift back four due to the withdrawal of Ollie Denham and Conor Reynolds and significant pressure from the Dubliners took its toll in injury time. 

In the fifth of seven added minutes, referee Declan Toland seemed to award Rovers a goal-kick only to change his mind and give a corner from which Clarke scored. 

Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan (Markuss Strods 85), Rob Cornwall (Leigh Kavanagh 90+1), Jordan Flores, John Mountney (Liam Smith h-t); Dawson Devoy; Dayle Rooney, Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley h-t), James Clarke, Ross Tierney; Collie Whelan (Rhys Brennan 60).

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Kyle McDonagh, Ollie Denham (Matt Wolfe 61), Conor Reynolds (Stephen mallon 86), Reece Hutchison; Daire Patton (Oskar van Hattum 86), Jake Doyle-Hayes; Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki, Will Fitzgerald; Wilson Waweru (Francely Lomboto 67).

Referee: Declan Toland

Bohemians are the opposition and Dalymount Park the destination for Sligo Rovers this Friday as the Bit O’Red head to Phibsboro to take on one of the Premier Division’s form teams.

This will be Rovers’ second trip to the same ground and their third game with Alan Reynolds’ men this season, with Bohs coming out on top in both of the previous games between the sides.

John Russell brings his team to the capital without captain John Mahon who serves a ban having been sent off in Monday’s dramatic Connacht derby win over Galway United. 

Gareth McElroy and Ronan Manning will also watch from the stands as they are yet to recover from recent knocks. 

New signings Seb Quirk and Paddy McClean will be unavailable for Friday but will be eligible for the game with Shamrock Rovers on July 5th. 

With three wins in their last five outings, the Gypsies’ recent league form is only bettered by table toppers Shamrock Rovers, who Bohs beat on Monday. While Rovers have shown steady form since the summer international break, beating Waterford and Galway at home and narrowly losing out to Drogheda last week.

Ahead of the game, Russell tells sligorovers.com how big of a challenge heading to Phibsboro is. However, he feels the players are in good stead on the back of those two home wins since the break.   

“I was really happy with how Monday went given that we had to switch things around in the second half after John was sent off. We asked our subs to do specific jobs and each one of them did exactly what we told them”, he says.

“It was a really chaotic game. It was end-to-end, with red cards, goal-line clearances, plenty of chances, both teams hit the post more than once and the players gave absolutely everything for us so a lot of energy was expended. But we’re happy with the fitness levels and we were delighted that our subs were able to rejuvenate us when they did. 

“We’re in the middle of a busy period and the players’ levels are good. Our form helps but the players can’t wait to get up to Dublin now and take on what is going to be a really tough game for us. 

“Every game and every ground has its own challenges. But at the moment, I think Dalymount is probably the toughest place to go given Bohs’ recent form. They’ve been very good, particularly at Dalymount but we’ve spoken since Tuesday morning about our game plan and we’re happy the players are well prepared. 

“We’re happy with our form since the break but it stands for nothing if we can’t keep it up and the challenge now is to do exactly that.”

David Goulden 

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell has praised the impact of his substitutions following Monday evening’s dramatic Connacht derby victory over Galway United at the Showgrounds.

Francely Lomboto netted a wonderfully improvised winner in the 73rd minute, nine minutes after the former Tribesman had replaced Wilson Waweru. 

Jad Hakiki had given the Bit O’Red a half-time lead when he ran on to a beautifully weighted Owen Elding through ball. The league’s top-scorer Moses Dyer, who was later sent off, levelled the tie for Galway early in an action-packed second period before that man Lomboto popped up for a glorious winner for Russell’s side. 

A delighted Russell was enthused by not only Lomboto’s contribution but also that of returning defender Ollie Denham who was back in the match day squad having missed the last 12 games with a hernia. 

Denham, who was introduced from the bench at the same time as Lomboto in the 64th minute, was heavily involved in some last-ditch defending as both he and Reece Hutchinson pulled off sensational goal-line clearances, while Galway twice struck Sam Sargeant’s woodwork in added time at the end of the game.

“I’m delighted our subs made such an impact”, Russell told LOITV at full-time. 

“Francely has made three of four chances for himself and Ollie has cleared a few off the line. He’s been out for a few weeks, but he’s come back in and has won every ball he’s contested for. He gave us that calmness at the back that led to us winning the game. We had bodies on the line at the end and got the ball clear. 

“Francely has been a real threat for us this season and he’s getting better and better. He’s played against his former club on Monday and was chomping to come in. I said to him to go get us a winner. The first strike is unbelievable and he stays on the move and that’s what we talk about, not to be standing still. 

“The keeper pulls off a great save from the resulting header and Francely reacts again to get the finish. 

“We were happy at half-time to come in ahead but we knew we had more in us. To concede from a free-kick so early in the second half, we have to do better. 

“We have to give credit to the players though. When it went to 10 v 10, we were patient in our build up. The substitutions really made the impact we needed. Time and time again, this group keep coming back. Our resolve was incredible.” 

David Goulden 

David Goulden at the Showgrounds 

Francely Lomboto struck a glorious winner for Sligo Rovers against his old club as the Bit O’Red beat Galway United at the Showgrounds. 

Both sides had men sent-off in a hectic second half which saw Galway strike the Sligo woodwork twice in added time, while the Tribesmen also had three efforts cleared off the Rovers goal-line throughout the tie. 

Jad Hakiki had given Rovers the lead before the break, before the league’s top scorer Moses Dyer leveled the game early in the second half. 

Dyer was then sent off after a flash-point between himself and Sligo captain John Mahon before Lomboto hit the winner on 73 minutes. 

Galway’s typical direct style saw them provide the opening chances from set-pieces. 

Patrick Hickey’s volley was repelled by Sligo stopper Sam Sargeant early on after a long-throw in from Ed McCarthy, while Sargeant tipped over a Cian Byrne free-kick shortly after. 

The majority of the half’s action arrived late on. 

The Rovers rearguard remained unbreached as the sides went in at the break, but the visitor’s were left puzzled as to how they didn’t go ahead 60 seconds from the interval. 

Both McCarthy and David Hurley had chances cleared off the Sligo line by Mahon and Kyle McDonagh. Sargeant then pulled off a wonderful reaction save to keep Hurley at bay to round off a chaotic 30 seconds of football, after a poor pass from the Sligo goalkeeper had offered Galway the opportunity. 

Russell’s men finished the half the happier. Owen Elding provided a sumptuous through ball for Hakiki who added a cultured finish, placing his effort beyond Evan Watts in the United nets.   

Home smiles turned to frowns 90 seconds after the re-start. Dyer rose to guide Byrne’s free-kick beyond Sargeant for his tenth league goal of the season. 

Both camps were reduced to ten on 53 minutes when Mahon and Dyer clashed after the Rovers skipper had hit the Kiwi with a late challenge in front of the dugouts. 

Lomboto then scored an audacious winner against his former employees after another crazy scrap inside the Galway area. Lomboto initially struck the bottom of the post, before Hakiki had a shot saved by Watts. Lomboto then struck the post once more before the ball then landed back to the Galway native who had the presence of mind to back-heel the ball between the legs of the stunned Watts. 

Rovers repelled a rampant Galway late on, but held on for the bragging rights in this Connacht derby. Ollie Denham took a Hickey header off his own goal-line, while both Rob Slevin and Malcolm Shaw struck the Sligo woodwork in added time.  

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Kyle McDonagh (Oskar Van Hattum 64), John Mahon, Conor Reynolds (Daire Patton 85), Reece Hutchinson; Matty Wolfe (Ollie Denham 64), Jake Doyle-Hayes; Will Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki (Stephen Mallon 85), Owen Elding; Wilson Waweru (Francely Lomboto 64).

Galway United: Evan Watts; Jeannot Esua, Rob Slevin, Garry Buckley, Greg Cunningham (Bobby Burns HT); Vincent Borden (Conor McCormack HT), Cian Byrne (Stephen Walsh 83); David Hurley (Killan Brouder 74), Ed McCarthy (Malcolm Shaw 74); Pat Hickey, Moses Dyer.  

Referee: Neil Doyle. 

Attendance: 2,457. 

Sligo Rovers have the opportunity to quickly make amends for a disappointing one goal defeat to Drogheda United on Friday night as the Bit O’Red take on Galway United in the Connacht Derby on Monday. 

Less than 72 hours after that narrow defeat, in which Rovers created enough opportunities to win three football matches, John Russell’s side are set to take on their provincial rivals at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

This will be the third such derby of 2025. Galway beat Rovers in the first meeting between the teams back in April, United’s first league win in Sligo since the mid-90s.

Rovers then returned the favour last month as Reece Hutchinson struck for the game’s only goal, Sligo recording an impressive win at Eamon Deacy Park.

Russell will be without the services of centre half Gareth McElroy for this one. The Donegal man was forced off after just 36 minutes of last Friday’s game at Lambe and Sullivan Park when he collided with the hoardings behind Sam Sargeant’s goal in an effort to clear the danger from his own penalty area. 

Midfielders Matty Wolfe and Ronan Manning’s fitness will be assessed on Sunday and early morning, while there is good news for Russell who expects defender Ollie Denham to be fit enough to play some part in match day proceedings.

New signings Seb Quirk and Paddy McClean are unavailable until July 1st.

Dejected but hugely optimistic following that undeserved loss in Louth, Russell was impressed with his players’ determination despite conceding after just four minutes in Drogheda. He is also looking for his attacking players to capitalise on opportunities that will come their way.  

“It was probably the best we’ve played in Drogheda since I’ve been here”, he tells sligorovers.com. “Some of our combination and build up play was superb. We missed a few sitters, there’s no getting away from that and another night we are coming back to Sligo with three points. So to not come away with even one was hugely disappointing and frustrating. 

“But we have quality and I’ve said it before, as the season goes on, we always get better and improve. When you get nine or ten new players, it always takes time and you’ve also got to consider that the way we play, we need good surfaces to play our football on and play at speed, one touch stuff. The pitches are getting better now and that suits us.

“But it’s all about getting three points on the board each week. Against Waterford, we didn’t play particularly well but we managed to win. And then on Friday, we are the better team and we come away with nothing. 

“Drogheda are in good form up there and I was pleased we didn’t let heads drop and kept pushing. We need to keep that momentum running into this game on Monday, right from minute one. 

“Galway had a big, big win over Pat’s on Friday and they’ll be coming here looking for another win, we know that. Galway provides a different challenge and we’ll come at this one with a game plan specifically designed to deal with them and also to maximise our strengths.” 

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers somehow came away empty handed from Lambe and Sullivan Park as the Bit O’Red were beaten by Drogheda United on Friday evening. 

Douglas James-Taylor netted this game’s only goal as early as minute four and although Kevin Doherty’s side could have been out of sight at the interval, it was Rovers who utterly dominated this second half without finding a way past Drogheda goalkeeper Luke Dennison. 

Both sides created a hatful of chances in a hugely competitive first half, the fact that only one goal was scored before the interval provided the biggest surprise of the half.

James-Taylor fired Drogs into the lead in the fourth minute when he picked out the bottom corner of Sam Sargeant’s net. 

Both Wilson Waweru and Owen Elding had chances to level but fired straight at Dennison in the United nets as Rovers spent their fair share of time in attack mode in this opening 45. . 

A head injury sustained by Gareth McElroy somewhat halted Sligo’s momentum, forcing John Russell into his first change of the night when Kyle McDonagh was introduced from the bench just past the half hour. 

The hosts had the better of the late first-half chances. Reece Hutchinson’s heroic last ditch tackle on James-Taylor denied the loanee striker after Andrew Quinn was allowed to roam almost the length of the Rovers half of the field. 

While Ryan Brennan went close from a corner before Conor Kane shook Sargeant’s goal frame with a rasper from range in added time. 

An eager second half start from the Showgrounds side saw Dennison execute a superb reaction save to deny a Will Fitzgerald volley as Rovers looked to restore terms as early as possible. 

Jad Hakiki then struck the bottom of the Drogheda post on 64 when Dennison spilled Elding’s cross straight onto the foot of the Dubliner. Hakiki found a way past the defender in front of him, but failed to tuck his shot to the right side of the post as Rovers pressed further. 

While the same player showed quick feet to dance his way around two challenges only to narrowly fire over the crossbar 4 minutes later. 

Rovers continued to dominate.

Substitutes Oskar Van Hattum and Cian Kavanagh linked up on 73 but the latter could only nod the former’s cross nonchalantly past the Drogheda post. 

Kavanagh worked Dennison again eight minutes from time when again he was assisted by Van Hattum. But the former Derry man couldn’t find the power to beat the American keeper on the turn.  

Kavanagh was involved once more in the 90th minute but couldn’t keep his header down after excellent work from Hutchinson and Fitzgerald down the Rovers left. 

Rovers have the chance to get back to winning ways this Monday night, with a huge Connacht derby set for the Showgrounds. Kick-off 7.45pm. 

Sligo Rovers will look to make it two wins from two following the summer international break as the Bit O’Red head to Sullivan and Lambe Park to take on Drogheda United this Friday, kick-off 7.45pm.

This will be the third time these two teams will face each other this term, with Drogs taking four points from Rovers so far this year. Kevin Doherty’s side beat Rovers in Louth back in February, on what was the second weekend of the season. While Rovers rallied in staging an impressive comeback at the Showgrounds in early May. Two down, an Owen Elding goal was followed by a James Bolger own goal as Rovers leveled the game with two goals in five minutes. 

Rovers go into this game without midfield pair Matty Wolfe and Ronan Manning. Wolfe was injured in the lead up to last Saturday’s win over Waterford in Sligo. While Galway native Manning picked up a knock early on in that vital win.

Centre half Ollie Denham is expected back from a sports hernia injury shortly and may make the match day squad either on Friday or for Monday’s game with Galway United. 

New signing Seb Quirk is unavailable until July 1st.

On the game, manager John Russell tells sligorovers.com how important it was to re-start the season with a win, but says he has reminded his team to move on quickly. 

“We face a really tough game on Friday but we’re in good form and in a good frame of mind following the win over Waterford”, he says. 

“It was a huge result for us and one we asked for from the players. We finished the first half of the season on a low, being beaten by Pat’s so it was so important we started this second period of the year with a good result. 

“We created a few chances in the first half and did really well to hold on to the lead after we scored. It was bodies on the line stuff at stages towards the end and that’s what you want to see from your players when you’re under pressure. Every man giving everything for his team-mate and we need that again on Friday. 

“We have conceded too many goals this season, so to keep the clean sheet was huge for us as we spoke at length about being meaner at the back.

“There’s a long way to go this season and we made sure the players’ feet were kept on the ground this week. This is going to be a really tough game for us as Drogheda is a really tough place to go. They create a brilliant atmosphere up there and you need big players and big voices to get through that. On the back of last week’s win, we’re really looking forward to this one.” 

David Goulden 

League of Ireland Premier Division action returns to the Showgrounds this Saturday following the short international summer break as Sligo Rovers host Waterford, kick-off 7.45pm. 

The game marks the beginning of the third round of fixtures and the commencement of the second half of the season.

This will be the third time the Bit O’Red and the Blues go toe-to-toe this term, with both sides tasting victory over each other in the previous two meetings. 

Waterford, then led by Keith Long, overcame Rovers in Sligo on the opening night of the season while John Russell’s men hammered the Munster side in what was Long’s final game in charge at the RSC, back in April. Goals from Gareth McElroy, Owen Elding, Cian Kavanagh and Francely Lomboto earned Rovers their biggest win of the season to date.

Now managed by former Rovers duo John Coleman and Danny Ventre, the Blues have been in decent form, picking up eight points from their last five. While Rovers have gathered just the three.

In team news, Ollie Denham is Rovers’ only injury concern in the lead up to Saturday’s contest. The centre-half continues to struggle with a sports hernia injury but is expected to return to training next week. It is hoped Denham will be fit enough for selection by the end of the month. 

Speaking ahead of the game, Rovers manager John Russell acknowledged how difficult the first half of the season was. But he is encouraged by some of what he has seen and feels there is much, much more to come from his young squad. 

He told sligorovers.com: “The players have enjoyed their short breaks and have come back in great shape knowing what is ahead of us. It was important that the lads were able to switch off for a brief period and enjoy time with family and friends before returning fully focused earlier this week. They are refreshed and ready to face Waterford and what’s ahead in the coming weeks. 

“Obviously, we completed the first half of the season in a position we do not want to be in. That is why myself and the staff here have been working through the summer break as the planning went on in an effort to try and lift us from our current position. 

“We sent the players away after the defeat to Pat’s and asked them all to reflect on how things have gone the last few months. A few haven’t reached their potential, while some of the lads, particularly our younger ones have done really, really well considering the difficult circumstances. 

“But we are all working extremely hard to turn this around and I think if we continue to do so, we absolutely will lift ourselves away from where we are in the table.”  

David Goulden