Sligo Rovers continued their pre-season preparations ahead of the upcoming Premier Division season with a narrow defeat to Derry City at the Showgrounds. 

This was the Bit O’Red’s second outing of the year following last Saturday’s win over Athlone in the midlands. 

Rovers led early on through Owen Elding who again caught the eye when he finished a searching cross from new signing Ronan Manning after 13 minutes. 

Derry, who are expected to be amongst the title challengers once again this year levelled this friendly ten minutes from the break but only after Rovers keeper Conor Walsh had kept out a penalty. 

City’s lead only lasted 60 seconds. Elding had his brace with another superb finish on 36.

John Russell rang the changes at the break and Derry equalised soon after. 

While the Candystripes struck for the winner just after the hour. 

This was another valuable run out for Rovers ahead of the big kick-off on February 15th. Our next preseason game is penned in for this Saturday, January 25th against Galway United at Westport United’s grounds. 

Rovers: Conor Walsh, Oskar Van Hattum, John Mahon, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson, Ronan Manning, Connor Malley, Jad Hakiki, Cian Kavanagh, Owen Elding, Francely Lomboto.

Second half: Conor Walsh, Conor Reynolds, Gareth McElroy, David Jonathan, Kyle McDonagh, Shea Malone, Conor Cannon, Callum Lynch, Owen Elding (Oisin Kelly), Guilherme Rego Priosti (Daire Patton), Francely Lomboto (Rasheed Yeboah).

Sligo Rovers got their 2025 pre-season campaign underway on winning terms as they put five without reply past hosts Athlone Town at Lissywollen. 

The superb Jad Hakiki netted twice in the opening half on his first appearance in a Rovers shirt, after the lively Owen Elding had opened the scoring.

Three ahead at the break, substitutes Conor Cannon and Shae Malone added to the score during another impressive 45 minutes. 

Elding had the Bit O’Red in the lead after 13 minutes before new signing Hakiki had the first of his brace on 27 minutes, pulling off a super finish. The Dubliner had his second eight minutes later when he took a touch around the Town keeper before tapping home. 

Goalkeeper Conor Walsh was the only starting player to come out after the interval as manager John Russell made ten changes to his Rovers side at half time.

One of those subs, Cannon had Sligo’s fourth from a well worked set-piece just short of the break. While Malone netted Rovers fifth from close range six from time following persistent play from another new boy, Francely Lomboto. 

Rovers’ next pre-season outing comes on Tuesday, January 21st as we face Derry City at the Showgrounds at 2pm.

Sligo Rovers: Walsh; Van Hattum, Mahon, Denham, Hutchinson; Malley; Hakiki, Manning; Elding, Kavanagh, Fitzgerald. 

Subs used: Brush, Lomboto, O’Malley, McElroy, Morley, McDonagh, Yeboah, Reynolds, Cannon, Jonathan, Malone, Trialist 1.  

Sligo Rovers signed off on the 2024 season with a narrow two goal defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds.

Ex-Rovers man Aidan Keena opened the scoring shortly before half-time in this one, while substitute Roman Palmer settled the result for the visitors at the death. 

The result means Rovers finish the season in very respectable sixth place. 

The home side made one change from last week’s score draw with the Tribesmen. Centre half John Mahon was handed his first start just two days short of one year since his last start for the club following an achilles injury which kept him sidelined for the vast majority of the year. 

Pat’s likewise made the one switch. Jake Mulraney replacing Zach Elbouzedi from the narrow win over Derry City in Inchicore.

The occasion certainly didn’t have an end of season feel with both sides contributing to an entertaining pace to the game. 

The Saints looked like they might steal a march inside the opening 60 seconds, but Kian Leavy’s touch let him down when it looked like he was through on Ed McGinty’s goal. 

Three minutes later, Sligo’s Luke Pearce then spurned a great chance to open the scoring but fired wide from close range.

McGinty was on hand to keep the scores level shortly after when he kept out a Chris Forrester effort from the edge of the area. Forrester almost capitalising on the space offered to him by Ollie Denham who had strayed well out of position. 

McGinty’s opposite number Joseph Anang reacted to block a Fitzgerald snapshot from the angle on the half hour. While Rovers were forced into a change ten minutes from the interval when Simon Power was forced off with injury. 

Things deteriorated further for the hosts seven minutes from half-time when they fell behind to their former player. Jake Mulraney striding around Fitzgerald before laying a cross onto the forehead of Keena who nodded past McGinty for his fifth goal of the campaign and his second against his old club.

McGinty kept Rovers from sinking further when he flashed a wrist at Brandon Kavanagh’s shot on 43 minutes as Stephen Kenny’s charges ended the half on top. 

Three minutes into the second period, Pearce went close again. Sligo skipper Niall Morahan picked out the former Southampton man with a sublime through ball, but Pearce was repelled by a great save down to his right from Anang. 

Rovers had plenty of possesion in opening 20 or so minutes of the second half but couldn’t unlock a stubborn Pat’s defence.

Anang did grab a Fitzgerald header from an Owen Elding cross on 73, while the Ghanian got behind Elding’s shot on the turn 30 seconds later as Sligo began to push for the leveler.

Substitute Palmer settled the score on 90 minutes when he slotted the ball under McGinty.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson (Daire Patton 79), John Mahon (Kyle McDonagh 60), Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Jack Henry-Francis, Niall Morahan; Simon Power (Owen Elding 35), Connor Malley, Will Fitzgerald; Luke Pearce. 

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Ryan McLaughlin (Carl Sjoberg 79), Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester; Jake Mulraney (Romal Palmer 66), Kian Leavy (Zach Elbouzedi 58), Brandon Kavanagh (Jason McClelland 79); Aidan Keena (Cian Kavanagh 79). 

Referee: Rob Harvey.

Attendance: 3,620.

Sligo Rovers twice led but were twice pegged back by a stubborn Galway United as the sides played out an absorbing Connacht derby at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Luke Pearce scored his second league goal of the season to put Rovers ahead after 34 minutes, the visitors leading at the break.

Former Bit O’Red midfielder Jimmy Keohane leveled the game just shy of the hour before Simon Power headed Sligo back into the lead.

The second half was played mainly in the Rovers half and the United pressure told again seven minutes from time when substitute Stephen Walsh grabbed Galway’s second. 

The result means fifth place is the highest position Rovers can finish in ahead of next Friday’s final game of the season against St Pat’s.

Rovers started this one the better of the two sides although Ed McGinty did have to make a save to deny an early United effort. 

John Russell’s men went ahead when Will Fitzgerald glanced a Power cross from the right towards Pearce who was on hand to head home. 

Rovers easily dealt with Galway for the remainder of the half and limited them to opportunities from range. Although Francely Lomboto did strike McGinty’s post with one of those efforts. 

John Caulfield adjusted the hosts’ approach and Rovers struggled at times to deal with the Tribesmen’s direct style of play in the second period. 

Their equaliser came just before the hour when Keohane headed home from close range.

Undeterred, Rovers struck back 90 seconds later. Power rising majestically to divert Reece Hutchinson’s cross beyond the helpless Brendan Clarke.

Rovers lost both starting centre halves Gareth McElroy and Ollie Denham to knocks. John Mahon, playing his first competitive game in almost one year to the day and Charlie Wiggett, both sprung from the bench, finished the game in front of McGinty. 

Galway targeted Rovers from set-pieces and long throws and their efforts paid off when Walsh, again with a header, equalised to share the spoils. 

Galway United: Clarke; Brouder, Hurley, Hickey, Borden (McCormack 45); Burns (Donelon 45), Lomboto (Walsh 69), Keohane, Horgan (Esua 45), McCarthy (O’Sullivan 80); Buckley.

Sligo Rovers: McGinty; Wilson, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Morahan; Pearce (Elding 62), Denham (Mahon 76), Henry-Francis, Power, Malley (Chapman 62); McElroy (Wiggett 89).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan.

An injury hit Sligo Rovers were beaten by Bohemians at the Showgrounds, ending the Bit O’Red’s magnificent run of seven league wins in a row on home soil. 

Goals from Dawson Devoy and Archie Meekison were enough for a disciplined Bohs who are now seven points clear of Drogheda and therefore cannot be caught by the ninth placed Boynesiders with two games to go. 

The result also hit Rovers’ outside chances of European qualification, as they now sit five points off fourth place with two games to go. 

Missing a handful of attacking players courtesy of both injury and suspension, Rovers were forced into two changes with Kailin Barlow and Owen Elding replacing Ellis Chapman and Luke Pearce from the score draw against Derry last Monday. 

Knowing a second win in Sligo this season would assure their top flight status for yet another year, Bohs made just the one change in personnel from their loss to St Pat’s. Martin Miller returned in place of the suspended Ross Tierney who was sent off against the Saints. 

In front of the biggest attendance this year, Rovers were chasing down eight league wins at home in a row for the first time this century. Skipper Niall Morahan had the game’s first opportunity seven minutes in when Ollie Denham nodded Will Fitzgerald’s corner back across the face of goal for Morahan who was unable to get a clean contact with his header which sailed narrowly wide. 

Arguably Rovers’ outstanding performer this term, goalkeeper Ed McGinty pulled off what is now a trademark reaction save to deny James Clarke from five yards. The Oxford loanee somehow got a hand to Clarke’s point blank effort from a Dawson Devoy cross. 

On his centenary appearance, Sligo’s Will Fitzgerald fizzed a drive across the bow of Kacper Chorazka’s goal on 22 minutes, moments before the Gypsies hit the front. 

Clarke’s work forced the ball through to Devoy who created enough space for himself to fire into the corner of McGinty’s net from ten yards out. 

Lifted by this, Bohs had a short period of dominance but it was the hosts who ended the half the stronger. 

Elding did well to lay JR Wilson’s cross into the path of Simon Power, but the Wicklow man was slightly behind Elding’s assist as he could only wrap the ball the wrong side of Chorazka’s far post. While the Pole had to use both hands to push Fitzgerald’s lusciously struck half-volley over his crossbar 60 seconds from the interval.  

The Dubliners spurned a great chance to extend their lead on 63 minutes when Dayle Rooney blazed over after Denham got the ball stuck under his feet. 

Elding should have had Sligo level on 76 minutes but shot wide with the goal at his mercy. The group of Bohs defenders in close proximity did enough to put off the teenager. 

Russell’s side were to regret this six minutes later when Connor Malley conceded play in midfield. Devoy was allowed travel unchallenged before finding Meekison whose neatly struck effort flew past McGinty. 

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Niall Morahan, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchison; Jack Henry-Francis, Conor Malley; Will Fitzgerald, Kailin Barlow (Stefan Radosavljevic 67), Owen Elding; Simon Power.  

Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Martin Miller, Jake Carroll, Cian Byrne, Paddy Kirk; Adam McDonnell (Danny Grant 78), Jordan Flores; Archie Meekison (Jevon Mills 92), Dawson Devoy, Dayle Rooney; James Clarke (Alexander Greive 84). 

Referee: Rob Harvey

Attendance: 3,436

David Goulden

Ten-man Sligo Rovers were unlucky not to take all three points at the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Monday evening.

A stunning Connor Malley strike in the first half had Rovers in a more than deserved lead against Derry City, however an unfortunate Reece Hutchinson own goal allowed the hosts slip back into this game.

Rovers were up against it for the last quarter of this tie when Luke Pearce was shown a second yellow card following a challenge on City goalkeeper Brian Maher. However, John Russell’s side remained a constant threat and looked the most likely to claim a winner which never arrived. 

The draw sees Rovers keep pace with the sides near the summit of the league, sitting just six points off leaders Shels. 

The away side hit the front on 34 minutes when man of the match Jack Henry-Francis teed up Malley for a sumptuous long range strike into the corner of Maher’s goal. 

Derry emptied their talented bench at the interval in an attempt to wrangle a way back into this one and were handed an equaliser on 53 when a mix-up between Hutchinson and Ed McGinty saw the former turn the ball into his own net. 

Now also up against a buoyed home support, Rovers steadied the ship with a few super saves from McGinty.

While both Will Fitzgerald and Ellis Chapman fashioned chances at the far end as Derry held on. 

Pearce was shown a second yellow on 75 for what looked like an innocuous challenge on Maher. 

Despite the disadvantage, it was a determined Rovers who looked most likely to produce a winner.

Fitzgerald fired narrowly over from an Owen Elding cross with seven to go. 

Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Andre Wisdom (Colm Whelan, Ciaran Coll; Sadou Diallo (Sean Robertson 85), Adam O’Reilly (Patrick McEleney HT), Will Patching (Jacob Davenport HT); Michael Duffy, Pat Hoban (Daniel Mullen 36), Paul McMullan

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty, John Ross Wilson, Niall Morahan, Oliver Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Jack Henry-Francis, Connor Malley; Ellis Chapman (Owen Elding 73); Simon Power, Luke Pearce, Will Fitzgerald.

Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin)

There was cup final heartbreak for Sligo Rovers as they were beaten by UCD after extra time in the EA Sports Men’s U20 Enda McGuill Cup final. 

Centre half Gareth McElroy headed Rovers into the lead early on, but the Students, playing at their own home ground found an equaliser through Cathal McCarthy, forcing the game to extra-time. 

Rovers had what surely would have been the winner chalked off two minutes from time when the referee’s assistant on the stand side of the Bowl flagged Daire Patton offside, after he had run on to a through ball from Niall Kenny. Subsequent television replays however show Patton to have timed his run to perfection. 

The defining moment of the tie arrived five minutes into extra time when Roy Lawlor fired home Colin Bolton’s cross from out wide. 

UCD: Dara Kavanagh, Harry Whelan, Mark Flood (Lorcan Moore, 101), Niall Holohan (Don O’Toole, 46), Cathal McCarthy, Colin Bolton, Oran McLaughlin (Kyle Donoghue, 78), Callum Wynne (Jamie Ryan, 78), Roy Lawlor, Stephen Mohan (Hugh Parker, 46), Max Mason (Matthew Alonge, 46).

Sligo Rovers: Kyle Gabbidon, Colm Mooney, Gareth McElroy, Conor Cannon, Kyle McDonagh (Oisin Kelly, 95), Kevin Muldoon (James Lukau, 95), Daire Patton, Shea Malone, Thomas Morley (David Jonathan, 113), Michael Clifford (Niall Kenny, 62), Rasheed Yeboah (Luke Mavrak, 71).

Referee: John Walsh.

Ed McGinty registered his twelfth clean sheet of the season at Tolka Park as Sligo Rovers brought home a deserved point following an entertaining stalemate with league leaders Shels in Drumcondra. 

The Bit O’Red made two changes from the win over Dundalk six nights previous, with Jack Henry-Francis and Luke Pearce replacing Gareth McElroy and the injured Wilson Waweru respectively.

Shels arguably had the better of the play in the opening half but never really opened up Rovers for any sustained period, thanks to Ollie Denham and Niall Morahan who excelled at centre half. While Henry-Fracis put in his best performance since arriving on loan from Arsenal. 

Shels’ John Martin shook McGinty’s post in the first half, while the league’s top goalkeeper kept out Ali Coote with a smart stop with his legs after Harry Wood had spotted Coote’s exploratory run.

Unfortunate not to pick up the man of the match award from the Virgin TV studios, Denham was denied by a stunning finger-tip save from Shelbourne goalkeeper Conor Kearns who got across to keep out the former Cardiff man’s header. While Rovers’ Will Fitzgerald saw an effort whistle past the post soon after. 

With results in both the Shams and Derry games going their way, title-chasing Shels went direct in search of a winner but Rovers held on with reasonable comfort to earn a well deserved point on their final trip to Dublin this year. 

Rovers’ next league game is a visit to the Brandywell on 14th October as the Bit O’Red take on another title challenger, this time Derry City. This game follows the sold-out mid-season friendly with Glasgow Celtic at the Showgrounds on October 9th. 

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Patrick Barrett, Shane Griffin, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; Alistair Coote (Burt 70), Mark Coyle, John O’Sullivan (Caffrey 62), Harry Wood (Smith 82); Sean Boyd, John Martin (O’Brien 62).

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson, John Ross Wilson; Ellis Chapman, William Fitzgerald, Jack Henry Francis, Connor Malley, Niall Morahan, Simon Power (McDonagh 88); Luke Pearce ( Barlow 78). 

David Goulden

Second half goals from Wilson Waweru and Ellis Chapman turned this game on its head as Sligo Rovers beat Dundalk at the Showgrounds.

Robbie Benson had given the Lilywhites the lead courtesy of a controversial first half penalty. But a battling Rovers fought back to record their seventh straight league win on home soil and were aided by a winderful last-gasp save from goalkeeper Ed McGinty.

The win sees the Bit O’Red move into fourth, level on points with Shamrock Rovers who occupy the final automatic European qualification spot. 

Dundalk’s cause was further hampered in the second half by the dismissal of defender Hayden Cann 15 minutes from time. 

The night was capped off by the news that the club had raised a record €130,300 in this year’s annual draw. 

On the pitch and despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.

Rovers boss John Russell welcomed club captain Niall Morahan back to the starting eleven after the Leitrim man had missed last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers through suspension. Morahan Sligo’s only change from that defeat at Tallaght Stadium.

The visitors for their part also made the one switch, Jad Hakiki replacing Scott McGill who had started the recent loss to Waterford. 

Despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.

Winger Daryl Horgan bent an effort over the Sligo crossbar from inside the area six minutes in, while Will Fitzgerald’s shot flashed past the far post at the opposite end three minutes later. 

The visitors had the lead on 24 minutes in controversial circumstances when referee Marc Lynch ruled that the ball had hit Connor Malley’s arm. A decision which enraged the home bench who argued both that the ball had hit Malley’s shoulder and that the former Dundalk man was outside the box when the incident happened.

Unfazed by the surrounding fuss, Benson knocked his spot kick beyond McGinty, although the on-loan net minder did get a touch to the ball. 

Rovers did manufacture chances in this period. Unmarked at the far post, Ollie Denham headed Simon Power’s set piece over Ross Munro’s crossbar on the half hour. While Power’s swerving drive from 35 yards out moved in the air before it smacked back off Munro’s post. 

The lively Horgan twice threatened before the break. His effort clipped Gareth McElroy on its way past McGinty’s post while the Galway man pulled an excellent save from Sligo stopper late in the first half. 

Chasing that seventh straight league win on home turf, Russell’s men almost leveled the game on 55 minutes only for a superb block from Munro who denied Fitzgerald from close range. 

The hosts restored parity on 69 when despite facing away from goal, Waweru managed to head Power’s cross from the left beyond the scrambling Munro for his tenth goal of the year. 

Waweru’s night was brought to a halt minutes later when he was stretchered off with what looked like an achilles injury but spiritis were lifted once more when Rovers hit the lead with 15 to go. 

A jaded looking Cann pushed sub Luke Pearce to the floor as the Cardiff loanee ran through on goal. Referee Lynch showed little hesitation in awarding the penalty and sending the stricken Cann to the stands. Chapman was then on target from the resulting penalty for his ninth goal of the season. 

Dundalk threw their lot at Rovers during the final moments. A world-class save from McGinty kept out a Robbie Mahon header from just yards out, while the same man kept out Jamie Gullan in the dying moments of those added minutes.  

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Conor Malley (Luke Pearce 62); Will Fitzgerald, Ellis Chapman, Simon Power; Wilson Waweru (Kailin Barlow 74). 

Dundalk: Ross Munro; Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney; Aodh Dervin, Jad Hakikii (Dara Keane 71), Robbie Benson (Norman Garbett 84); Daryl Horgan (Robbie Mahon 84), Ryan O’Kane (Bobby Faulkner 77); Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan 71). 

Referee: Marc Lynch. 

Attendance: 2,754. 

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers suffered a four goal defeat to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening. A brace each from former Rovers striker Johnny Kenny and defender Sean Hoare added gloss to a scoreline that reflected rather harshly on the Bit O’Red’s performance. Rovers played out the majority of the second period without the full quota of players after Jack Henry-Francis was dismissed for two yellow cards. 

Kenny’s first goal had Shams in the lead on 18 minutes, while the Riverstown native had his second two minutes before the break. 

The half-time scoreline didn’t tell the full story for Rovers who forced the hosts into plenty of mistakes at the back.

Hoops goalkeeper Leon Pohls was fortunate not to see red when he smashed into Simon Power outside his own area after making a total mess of an attempted clearance. Not for the first time against Sligo this term, Pohls was spared red for an error and a subsequent foul on winger Power when referee Kevin O’Sullivan deemed the German to have had cover from returning defenders. The lenient Cork official instead opted to show yellow. 

Rovers were again on the short end of a questionable refereeing decision when Wilson Waweru went down inside the area. The striker was then shoved to the floor by Hoare right in front of referee O’Sullivan who saw nothing of the incident. 

John Russell’s men began the second half the better team, but O’Sullivan made an already tough assignment even more difficult when having booked Henry-Francis for his first tackle of the game, then showed the Arsenal loanee the same colour again for his second challenge of the night. 

Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty pulled off a string of fantastic saves, but Shams overloaded the visitors when they had their third and fourth goals on 54 and 83. 

Shamrock Rovers FC: Leon Pohls; Sean Hoare, Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary; Darragh Burns (Neil Farrugia, 45’), Dylan Watts (Markus Poom, 69’), Gary O’Neill, Jack Byrne, Trevor Clarke (Joshua Honohan, 45’); Danny Mandroiu (Conan Noonan, 69’), Johnny Kenny (Marc McNulty, 61’)

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Oliver Denham, Gareth McElroy 5, Reece Hutchinson; Connor Malley (Kailin Barlow, 75’), Jack Henry-Francis; Simon Power (Stephen Mallon, 75’), Ellis Chapman, William Fitzgerald (Kyle McDonagh, 89’); Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce, 69’)

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork)