Sligo Rovers recovered from that seven goal defeat at Drogheda United in perfect fashion as they saw off Waterford at the Showgrounds. A goal in either half from Wilson Waweru and Simon Power saw the Bit O’Red pick up their first win in three and propelled Rovers into third, behind title chasers Derry City and Shelbourne. 

With just goal difference separating them and three points meaning the victor would elevate themselves to that European spot, both camps were aware of the value of a win. 

The hosts made one change from a chastening trashing in Louth eight nights previous, with 19-year-old Buncrana native Gareth McElroy handed his senior debut in the heart of the Sligo defence, in place of Charlie Wiggett. 

With four defeats in their previous five league outings and without manager Keith Long courtesy of suspension, the visitors made one switch from defeat to Derry last week. Connor Parsons replaced Grant Horton as the RSC side chased a much needed result on the road.

The travelling Blues should have been ahead after just 90 seconds. 

Rovers allowed former striker Padraig Amon through on goal. The Carlow man’s initial effort was repelled by Ed McGinty into the path of Christie Pattison who failed to make contact with the ball from four yards out. 

Sligo certianly didn’t look like a side coming off the back of a seven goal trouncing as they came up with some of their best football of the year. 

Key to this was winger Power who twice went close with efforts from out wide, while Ellis Chapman was able to lift the ball over Waterford goalkeeper Louis Jones on 12 minutes. Chapman was left despondent however as his effort dropped wide of Jones’ goal. 

Both sides had chances in quick succession close to the quarter hour. Power again went close from a wide angle, while Amond’s header from a Ryan Burke cross hung in the air before falling wide of McGinty’s posts seconds later.

Sligo opened the scoring on 18 minutes and went on to dominate the remainder of the half. Jones got a hand to a Connor Malley header from a Will Fitzgerald corner but could only bat the ball onto the foot of Waweru who rifled the ball to the roof of the net from close range. 

Power had a looping header taken off the Waterford line in added time at the end of the half. While McElroy had to get in front of Amond’s effort at the front post eight minutes into the second period. 

Waweru went close to Rovers’ second on 55. Jones produced a decent two-handed stop to deny the former Galway man’s header from a wonderful Power cross. 

Power himself threatened that second goal twice in the space of a few minutes. He first tested Jones from 25 yards, before firing over from the angle four minutes later. 

Debutant McElroy then nodded narrowly wide from a Power corner on 68 as Sligo again pressed although Pattison wasn’t too far away at the far end on the following attack, slipping a shot beyond McGinty’s post.

Power was finally rewarded for his impressive showing on 73 minutes when he nodded Fitzgerald’s ball into the bottom corner of Jones’ goal. 

The former Shamrock Rovers winger was then denied his brace. Malley forced the ball towards the Wicklow native who was stopped by Jones’ outstretched leg. 

The home support were sure Chapman had their third seven minutes from time when he picked up Fitzgerald’s through ball. Chapman had the hard work done when he rounded Jones but Waterford defender Kacper Radkowski somehow recovered in time to pull off a magnificent last ditch block to deny the former Cheltenham attacker. 

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan (Jack Henry-Francis 88), Connor Malley; Will Fitzgerald, Ellis Chapman, Simon Power (Stephen Mallon 77); Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce 64).

Waterford: Louis Jones; Darragh Power (Dean McMenamy HT), Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke; Barry Bagley, Sam Glenfield (Grant Horton HT), Rowan McDonald (Ben McCormack 81); Conor Parsons (Joseph Forde 71), Christie Pattisson (Gbemi Arubi 71); Padraig Amond. 

Referee: Paul Norton. 

Attendance: 2,432

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers suffered one of their heaviest defeats in several decades on Friday night as Drogheda United put seven past the Bit O’Red without reply at Weaver’s Park.

Rovers found themselves three down at half-time. Douglas James-Taylor, Andrew Quinn and Franzt Pierrot with Drogs’ goals. While Kailin Barlow had the visitor’s only shot of the game late in the half when his long range effort was tipped over the bar by United goalkeeper Luke Dennison.

The evening didn’t get any easier for the travelling support. Pierrot struck again early in the second half and this was followed up by further goals from Conor Kane, Elicha Ahui and Adam Foley.

Rovers’ will look to put what was a chastening night for the club behind them on Saturday 31st August when Waterford visit the Showgrounds, kick off 7.45pm. 

Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, David Webster (Jack Keaney, 75), James Bolger; Elicha Ahui (Aaron McNally, 85), Luke Heeney, Ryan Brennan (Gary Deegan, 75), Shane Farrell (Darragh Markey 41), Conor Kane; Frantz Pierrot, Douglas James-Taylor (Adam Foley, 75).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; John Ross Wilson, Ollie Denham, Charlie Wiggett (Jack Henry-Francis, 64), Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Conor Malley (Luke Pearce, 64), Ellis Chapman (Daire Patton, 71); Kailin Barlow (Simon Power, 64) Will Fitzgerald (Owen Elding, 63); Wilson Waweru.

Referee: Robert Harvey.

Sligo Rovers’ Wilson Waweru has been rewarded for his recent excellent form in front of goal having been awarded with the SSE Airtricity/SWI Player of the Month award for July.

Waweru has netted six times in his last six games, including his first senior hat-trick against Cobh Wanderers in the FAI Cup. To date, Waweru has scored eight goals in all competitions this year.

He is the first Rovers player to win the award since Aidan Keena back in 2022.

Second half goals from Luke O’Regan and Adam Wells saw UCD progress to the last eight of the FAI Cup at the expense of Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

On a frustrating night for the Bit O’Red, the first half offered little in terms of goal scoring chances, while Ed McGinty was largely untested. 

The second half produced more entertainment as both sides fashioned opportunities. 

Will Fitzgerald was inches away from giving Rovers the lead early in the second period when his volley struck the crossbar. While UCD’s Adam Verdon went close with an ambitious effort from inside his own half. 

Rovers sub Owen Elding was denied by a sensational stop from College ‘keeper Dara Kavanagh on 75 minutes, moments before UCD took the lead. O’Regan’s cross took a wicked change of direction, floating over McGinty’s head for the opener. 

While Wells settled the tie eight minutes from time when he tapped home at the far post from a corner. 

Rovers went close through Simon Power and Nando Pijnaker as the home side threw everything at it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Rovers’ 2024 cup run came to an end. 

The Bit O’Red’s next outing is a crucial league clash away to Drogheda United at Weavers’ Park on Friday August 23rd. 

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Ollie Denham (Wilson Waweru HT), Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Jack Henry-Francis, Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 83); Stephen Mallon (Owen Elding 59), Will Fitzgerald; Luke Pearce (Simon Power 72). 

UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Luke O’Regan, Niall Holohan (Alex Dunne 98), Eanna Clancy, Harry Curtis (Adam Wells 74); Sam Norval (Sean Brennan 64), Ronan Finn (Colin Bolton 96), Adam Verdon, Stephen Mohan (Hugh Parker 64); Michael Raggett (Donal Higgins 96), Jake Doyle. 

Referee: Damien McGraith

Attendance: 1,862. 

Sligo Rovers made it four wins from five in all competitions as they saw off league leaders Shelbourne at the Showgrounds. 

A win for Damien Duff’s side would have sent the Tolka outfit five points clear with a game extra to play. But the Bit O’Red had different plans as goals from Will Fitzgerald and Wilson Waweru either side of an Evan Caffrey strike gave Rovers their eleventh league win of the season, sending them level on points with third placed Waterford. 

Looking for their fifth home win on the spin, Rovers were forced into one change with Jack Henry-Francis handed his first start since his summer move on loan from Arsenal. The Londoner replacing Conor Malley who picked up a knock late on in the defeat to St Pat’s last Sunday. 

The hosts were also without manager John Russell who watched the game from a small press box in the Treacy Avenue stand. The Galway man was serving the first of his three match ban following a red card handed to him by referee Rob Hennessy in injury time in that game against the Saints. 

The visitors began life without top-scorer Will Jarvis who returned to parent club Hull City this week, following a shock recall to the Tigers. Damien Duff made three changes to his outfit which played out that less than inspiring scoreless draw with Derry City on Monday last. Jarvis, Shane Griffin and John Martin stepping out in place of Caffrey, Ali Coote and Paddy Barrett. 

Shels started this one on the front foot with an early Harry Wood set piece deflected wide by the Rovers wall. While Caffrey hacked an effort from the edge of the area six minutes in. 

Shels’ goalkeeper Conor Kearns showed some rustiness early on when he was sloppy in coming to deal with a JR Wilson set-piece on 18 minutes. The ball falling to Henry-Francis who fired Rovers’ first warning shot of the night narrowly over. 

Rovers then made the most of poor judgement in the Shels rearguard on 24 minutes. Sam Bone’s pass across the face of his own goal was easily cut out by Fitzgerald who steadied himself before finding the bottom corner of Kearns’ goal. 

Paddy Barrett’s innocuous header from a Wood free-kick was easily held by McGinty before the break, while Henry-Francis again threatened early in the second period. The Irish underage international sweeping an effort on the half volley over the bar from 19 yards. 

The Drumcondra men levelled proceedings in dubious circumstances on 56. 

There was more than a hint of offside when Caffrey ran free of the last Sligo man to pick up Wood’s through ball. Referee David Dunne and his assistant Shane O’Brien on that side, saw nothing wrong with the timing of the run however as Caffrey kept his cool to slot past the oncoming McGinty. 

Parity lasted just ten minutes. Kearns and a handful of his defenders somehow managed to keep out substitute Luke Pearce’s initial drive at goal, but could do little about the quick reactions of Waweru who fired into the net on the follow up from five yards out for his eighth goal of the year. 

Duff reacted to this set-back by introducing Martin, Rayhaan Tulloch and Matty Smith from his reserves all at once as the Dubliners pressed high. But the closest Shels came to a second was two minutes from time when Liam Burt hammered well over from the angle during a tense finish.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Nando Pijnaker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Jack Henry-Francis (Luke Pearce 63), Niall Morahan, Ellis Chapman; Will Fitzgerald, Stephen Mallon (Owen Elding 72); Wilson Waweru (Kailin Barlow 81).

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon, Sam Bone (John Martin 73), Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge (Tyrieke Wilson 63); Mark Coyle, JJ Lunney; Harry Wood (Mark Isong 87), Ali Coote (Rayhaan Tulloch 73), Evan Caffrey (Matty Smith 73); Liam Burt. 

Referee: David Dunne. 

Attendance: 3,056

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers can confirm the club has contacted the Football Association of Ireland over the officiating in yesterday’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division game with St Patrick’s Athletic. 

Referees and match officials are integral to our game at all levels and as a club we feel it is vital we keep the principle of respect and cooperation.   

While we maintain that outlook, the club has expressed our frustrations around decisions made during yesterday’s match and the potential impact of such events on our season. 

We now move on and prepare for our next game with Shelbourne.

St Patrick’s Athletic scored a late, late injury time winner as Sligo Rovers’ Premier Division winning run came to an end at Richmond Park in controversial circumstances. 

A stunning, long range strike from Connor Malley had Rovers in the lead on 22 minutes, before former Red Aidan Keena levelled the game from the penalty spot four minutes later, after the Saints were awarded a dubious spot-kick. 

Rovers went ahead again shortly after the break when Ellis Chapman nodded Will Fitzgerald’s cross past Pat’s net minder Joseph Anang.Brandon Kavanagh restored parity on 65 minutes with a strike from distance. 

Both sides struck the other’s woodwork in the lead up to a dramatic finish. 

The Bit O’Red looked like they would take a well earned point from Dublin, before referee Rob Hennessy decided he had spotted an infringement between Chapman and Pat’s Luke Turner who seemed to throw himself to the floor inside Ed McGinty’s penalty area.

Kavanagh slotted home from the spot in the ninth of five added minutes, to see Rovers beaten for the first time in five games in all competitions.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Axel Sjoberg, Joe Redmond, Luke Turner, Al-Amin Kazeem (Anto Breslin 60); Chris Forrester (Mason Melia 67), Jamie Lennon; Kian Leavy, Romal Palmer (Brandon Kavanagh 60), Jake Mulraney (Aaron Bolger 77); Aidan Keena (Zack Elbousedi 67).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; John Ross Wilson, Oliver Denham, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan (Jack Henry-Francis 86); Stephen Mallon (Owen Elding 86), Ellis Chapman, Connor Malley (Kailin Barlow 90+7), Will Fitzgerald; Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce 77).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.

Sligo Rovers jumped into fourth spot in the Premier Division after goals from Wilson Waweru and Luke Pearce on his league debut, saw the Bit O’Red beat neighbours Galway United at the Showgrounds. 

Waweru fired home a glorious first half volley to give Rovers the lead in this Connacht derby and despite United throwing everything at it, Rovers stood their ground before securing the spoils in injury time at the end of the game courtesy of Pearce whilst also keeping their tenth league clean sheet of the season. 

Seeking their first win league win in Sligo since early 1996, it was a high-pressing Galway who bossed this meeting of the provincial neighbours in the very early stages. 

Featuring six former Sligo players in their match day squad, the visitors went close through an Ed McCarthy first time volley from the edge of the area three minutes in. While Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty had to shift his weight in time to catch an opportunistic Stephen Walsh header on nine minutes. 

Chasing a fifth win in a row on all fronts, Rovers settled into this game and came up with the best of the chances for the remainder of the half. 

Ellis Chapman struck Brendan Clarke’s crossbar with a header from an Ollie Denham flick-on just short of the quarter hour. While there was a quick Sligo counter on 17 minutes when Simon Power’s header bounced narrowly wide of the target after a sharp Rovers attack made its way diagonally across the pitch through Waweru and Malley. 

Waweru struck his fifth in three games just past the half hour. The former Galway man struck a perfectly caught, first-time volley from the edge of the box which left Clarke rooted to the spot.

The hosts should have doubled their tally seven minutes from the interval, but Chapman fluffed his lines whilst one-on-one with Clarke. 

The First Division champions started the second period as the first, pushing Sligo back although to no avail despite plenty of possession. Karl O’Sullivan, another ex-Rovers man fired over from 18 yards, the closest Galway came to leveling proceedings at that stage of the contest. 

McGinty pulled off a smart, one-handed save from a Patrick Hickey header 12 minutes from time to keep the home side in the lead. Indeed, Sligo might have settled the game 90 seconds later but net-minder Clarke closed down substitute Pearce at the edge of his own area to keep out the league debutant. 

The Cardiff loanee was not to be denied in the fifth minute of added time when slotted past Clarke from the angle.   

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Charlie Wiggett (Jack Henry-Francis 65), Nando Pijanker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley, Ellis Chapman; Will Fitzgerald, Simon Power (Owen Elding 69); Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce 79). 

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Jeannot Essua (Junior 82), Killian Brouder, Garry Buckley, Robert Burns (Greg Cunningham 71); Jimmy Keohane, Conor McCormack (David Hurley 82); Karl O’Sullivan (Vincent Borden 54), Ed McCarthy (Francely Lomboto 71); Stephen Walsh, Patrick Hickey. 

Referee: Gavin Colfer. 

Attendance: 2,976

David Goulden

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