Sligo Rovers were narrowly beaten on the opening night of the new Premier Division season as Waterford came away from the Showgrounds with all three points. 

A frustrating start from the Bit O’Red allowed the Blues take a two goal lead at half-time courtesy of Rowan McDonald and Tommy Lonergan. 

Owen Elding’s first goal for the club gave Rovers some hope but a Cian Kavanagh penalty miss and Conan Noonan’s eventual winner moments later decided this game. Jad Hakiki did net a late goal for Rovers who were by far the better side in the second period.  

There were positives for Rovers including a handful of debuts and a real battling second half showing. There was a also a first game as club captain for AbbVie academy graduate John Mahon.

Restricted mostly to efforts from range, Rovers manufactured the opening chance through Elding whose shot was easily held by Waterford net minder Stephen McMullan. 

The visitors hit the lead on 13 minutes when McDonald sent a well struck curler around the reach of Sam Sargeant on his Rovers debut. 

The Munster side then doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute.

A move straight from the set-piece playbook, Noonan’s free-kick from the left was headed back across the face of goal by McDonald. Lonergan leaping highest to finish past Sargeant for a goal on his debut.

Desperately requiring some sort of reprieve, Elding gave an improved Rovers that much needed shot in the arm when he halved the deficit five minutes into the second period. Will Fitzgerald forced his way inside the area before squaring for the teenager who fired home for his first senior goal. 

A crazy few minutes saw Rovers then miss a penalty before Waterford had their third despite Rovers being well on top.

McMullen pulled off a magnificent save to deny Cian Kavanagh from 12 yards after Fitzgerald was fouled inside the area. While on the counter, Padraig Amond supplied Noonan who calmly slotted the ball beyond Sargeant with 59 minutes gone. 

Rovers threw it all at their opponents and ended the game with five times as many shots on goal as their rivals only for John Russell’s men to find McMullan in fine form. 

Debutant Hakiki had offered Sligo some hope on 82 minutes when his thunderous drive from the angle clipped the crossbar on its way past a stunned McMullan. 

The Sligo siege was rebuked on several occasions, resulting in Ryan Burke taking an Elding bullet off his own line after Fitzgerald had hit the crossbar on the approach.  

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Oskar Van Hattum, Ollie Denham, John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Conor Malley (Jake Doyle-Hayes 87), Matty Wolfe (Francely Lomboto 65); Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki, Will Fitzgerald; Cian Kavanagh. 

Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Andy Boyle, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski; Navajo Bakboord (Darragh Leahy 72), Ryan Burke; Rowan McDonald (Dean McMenamy 53), Ben McCormack, Conan Noonan (Maarten Pouwels 83); Tommy Lonergan (Kyle White 83), Padraig Amond. 

Referee: Damien MacGraith. 

Attendance: 3,612. 

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers signed off on pre-season 2025 with a commanding four goal win over neighbours Finn Harps at the Showgrounds. 

Conor Malley scored early on as Rovers led at the break, while further strikes from substitutes Gareth McElroy and Francely Lomboto and goal from Cian Kavanagh just past the hour rounded off a busy winter schedule for the Bit O’Red ahead of Saturday’s league kick-off.

Malley had Rovers ahead after just eight minutes, while McElroy doubled our lead two minutes into the second half. The Donegal man finishing off a Ronan Manning set-piece.

Lomboto clinched number three with a well worked goal and smart finish. While the Galway man turned provider for Kavanagh’s goal when Lomoboto squared for the former Pat’s man to finish to an empty net. 

The game rounds off Rovers’ pre-season schedule ahead of the much anticipated opening game of the 2025 Premier Division season against Waterford at the Showgrounds on Saturday, February 15th. Kick-off is 7.45pm. Tickets are available at this link: https://www.sligorovers.com/season-tickets/

Rovers: Sargeant, Van Hattum, Mahon, Denham, Hutchinson, Wolfe, Malley, Fitzgerald, Elding, Hakiki, Kavanagh.

Subs used: Walsh, McElroy, Priosti, McDonagh, Cannon, Reynolds, Patton, Lomboto, Lintott, Manning. 

There were five individual goal scorers at MacSharry Park as Sligo Rovers beat a Sligo/Leitrim XI by six goals to one in the Bit O’Red’s penultimate pre-season outing ahead of next weekend’s Premier Division kick-off.

Owen Elding, Francely Lomboto, Guilherme Priosti, Callum Lynch and Rasheed Yeboah each found the net for Rovers, while an own goal added to the League of Ireland men’s side of the scoreline.

A determined Sligo/Leitrim pulled a goal back in the second period courtesy of an impressive strike from Kenny Ogun. 

Rovers’ final pre-season game takes place against Finn Harps at the Showgrounds, this Saturday. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Rovers: Walsh, Lintott, Denham, Mahon, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Malley, Wolfe, Hakiki, Elding, Lomboto.

Subs used: Sargeant, Priosti, McDonagh, Patton, Malone, McElroy, Mallon, Lynch, Yeboah, Jonathan, Van Hattum, O’Malley, Nolan. 

With the 2025 Premier Division kick-off just two weeks away, Sligo Rovers continued their preparations with pre-season friendly games at both Markets Field and Bishopstown.

The first of these two games saw the Bit O’Red take on First Division side Treaty United in Limerick on Friday night.

An experimental Rovers starting eleven went ahead in this one on 22 minutes when winter signing Francely Lomboto finished off a quick attack from the visitors.

Treaty levelled the game eight minutes into the second half when Rovers’ Premier Division winner Lee Lynch set up an unnamed trialist for the leveller.

Lynch then went on to score the winner in the 71st minute.

With game time ahead of the Waterford game on February 15th the most important aspect of this visit to Munster, Rovers had a speedy turn-around with kick-off at Bishopstown arriving just 16 hours after the full-time whistle in Limerick.

Jad Hakiki, Cian Kavanagh and Owen Elding netted Rovers’ goals in a competitive game which finished 6-3 in Cork’s favour.

Rovers’ next game is our penultimate pre-season fixture. A Sligo/Leitrim XI are our opponents at MacSharry Park on Tuesday night, February 4th, kick-off 7pm.

Rovers XI V Treaty: Walsh, Van Hattum, Mahon, Cannon, Reynolds, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Wolfe, Patton, Manning, Lomboto. 

Subs: Sargeant, Lintott, Hakiki, McDonagh, Malley, Jonathan, Edling, McElroy, Malone. 

Rovers XI V Cork: Sargeant, Lintott, Denham, McElroy, McDonagh, Malone, Malley, Hakiki, Mallon, Kavanagh, Elding. 

Subs: Walsh, Jonathan, Priosti.  

Goalkeeper Conor Walsh netted the winning penalty as Sligo Rovers beat Galway United in a shoot-out in our third pre-season friendly of 2025.

Played in memory of former Westport United player Adam Mulchrone at Abbbvie United Park, the home of the Mayo League outfit, the sides finished 90 minutes level at two goals a piece.

A penalty competition decided the outcome with net minder Walsh stepping up to slot home the decisive kick on the turf of his own hometown club. 

Galway took the lead in the rain after 29 minutes through Tubbercurry’s Sean Kerrigan. But the Bit O’Red pulled one back before the break courtesy of Cian Kavanagh who scored again in the second period, this time from the penalty spot after the referee had spotted a handball in the opposition’s penalty area. 

Galway striker Stephen Walsh leveled the tie with six to go on to bring the game to a shoot-out which Rovers won 6-5.

Our next friendly is away to Treaty United on Friday January 31st.

Rovers: Sergeant; Lintott, Mahon, Denham, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Malley, Wolfe, Hakiki, Van Hattum, Kavanagh.

Subs used: Walsh, Jonathan, Elding, Nolan, Priosti, McDonagh, Patton, Reynolds, Canon, Lomboto, O’Malley, Mallon, Manning. 

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