This weekend sees our Mens and Womens Under 17 & 19 teams all in action across Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Our Under 17 women travel to Dublin to take on DLR Waves at 3pm on The UCD Sports Campus. With the team already qualified for the League Semi-Final, a point will guarantee top spot in the group against the second placed Dubliners. The sides played out a highly entertaining three all draw in the return game at The Showgrounds.

At 2pm our Under 17 mens team host Cavan/Monaghan at The Sean Fallon Centre. The lads are third in the league table going into the game, with the visitors behind them on goal difference.

Qualification for the Semi-Finals are still up for grabs. A win for Rovers along with defeat for UCD against Finn Harps would see The Bit O’ Red leap frog the College into second place. If UCD draw, Rovers will need to win by three goals or more in order to advance.

On Sunday, our Under 19 Women’s team host Bohemian FC in the League Semi-Final. This promises to be a great occasion for the squad who will play at home on The Sean Fallon Centre at 2pm. The sides drew earlier in the season however Rovers picked up the three points as the away side unfortunately played an ineligble player on the day.

Rovers go into the game having topped the original group and finished off last weekend with a 3-2 win over Carlow/Kilkenny.

Admission is free and we encourage all supporters to come out and get behind the team.

Our Under 19 men’s team also play on Sunday at 2pm in a massive group game against St Patrick’s Athletic. The Saints are just returning from their UEFA Youth League defeat to Crvena Zvezda during the week. Rovers lost to Bohemian FC last time out and need a result to remain on top of the group going into the last two games. The game takes place in Tolka Rovers ground in Dublin.

We are delighted to announce that children’s birthday parties will be back in The Showgrounds from the end of the season.

Bookings are now being taken from November 26th.

Each party lasts for two hours, which includes a tour of the stadium, one hour of football with a senior player, hot food supplied by Supermacs, full use of our clubhouse and much much more!

The cost is €15 per child and a minimum of 10 children must attend.

For more information or to book a party, please email Shane@sligorovers.com.

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has met with Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins, with the €17m masterplan discussed and presented.

Sligo County Council chief executive Martin Lydon and chairman of the Bit O’ Red Higgins presented the plan to the Taoiseach and updated him on the background of the plans.

Higgins said: “In recent days we have spoken with Minister Catherine Martin and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. It is important to raise awareness of the masterplan as we look to bring it to fruition and we were delighted to speak with the Government officials on our vision for academy and senior football in the north-west

“We have been in dialogue with Sligo County Council who have been very supportive in these discussions. We will look to provide supporters with a further update when we can.

“As mentioned at the launch of the masterplan, this is not something we put on a shelf and wait for things to happen. We are seeking to bring elements of the plan to action as soon as possible.”

Both of our women’s teams took centre stage at the Showgrounds on Saturday and Sunday as our four male academy sides had the weekend off. Two fantastic days saw ten goals scored across two games, five in each, as Rovers won by the odd goal in both and booked their respective places in the Shield Semi-Finals.

After tasting defeat for the first time in seven games last time out, our WU17s bounced back to beat Greystones United 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Sean Fallon Centre. Having won 2-0 in Dublin three weeks ago, Rovers completed a league double over United to ensure qualification for the Semi-Finals with one game to spare. Orna Murphy struck first and Jessica Casey’s brace secured the three points and kept us top of the table by that same margin. We face DLR Waves (2^nd on 7pts) in the final group game next weekend needing just a draw to guarantee top spot while that result might not be enough for our opponents as they could yet be overtaken by Greystones or Athlone Town. Finishing first would mean home advantage for the Semi-Final so there’s plenty for us still to play for.

Twenty-Four hours later and it was the WU19s turn to celebrate. Goals from Sarah Kiernan, Kate Nugent and Helen Monaghan helped Rovers to a 3-2 win over Carlow/Kilkenny at the Sean Fallon Centre. It was our 5^th win in the 6^th and final group game and assured us of 1^st place as we finished three points clear of Donegal in second. The result also means Rovers will have the advantage of hosting the Semi-Final at the Showgrounds. Bohemians will be our opponents after they beat Bray 4-0 yesterday to take the runners-up spot in Group B. Hopefully the result will be the same as it was on June 27^th of this year when the sides last met in the First League phase, Rovers running out 3-0 winners on that occasion.

Richard Mullan

Sligo Rovers manager Liam Buckley has admitted reflection is needed ahead of the final six games of season as his side were well beaten in Tallaght Stadium on Friday.

The Bit O’ Red remain in third place but slumped after a 2-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers last night in a game where the home side dominated. 

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Buckley said: “It was definitely a bad night at the office. In fairness to Shamrock Rovers, they will be league champions for a reason, they’re the best team in the league and passed it very well tonight. 

“They’ve outplayed us in the first half by a mile. In the second half I thought we came into it a small bit better but nothing to warrant anything out of the game. They were worthy winners.”

The Bit O’ Red squad was disrupted for the game – as it has been for large parts of the difficult run in the second half of the season, with Robbie McCourt forced out early on last night.

Greg Bolger has one game left on a suspension while Shane Blaney could make the game with Harps on Saturday as he returns to training this week.

The Rovers boss has looked at the basic areas of improvement.

“From our point of view with six games to go, we have to play better ourselves, especially with the run in of games we have. We still have our eye on Europe along with Derry, Bohs and everyone else for that matter. But we’ll need to play better than we did tonight. 

“We have to be fundamentally play better. If we don’t we wont deserve to get (a European place).

“The quality in our play has dropped off. We have been down different players, every week we’re down some. Greg Bolger is missing this evening, Robbie McCourt started the game but he had a neck issue and didn’t hold out. Every week it seems to be the case where we’re down players and the squad is fairly tight. That said, I do expect them to play better to be honest.”

Rovers play three of the teams in the top half of the table to close the season, while the next three matches are teams at the bottom.

Form tables give a different story to the league in this competitive season and Buckley knows his side are in the mix.

Looking back on the run, he defended the players and said he believes they have the desire to secure the points needed for Europe.

“This will go right through to the death, to the final three games of the season, where for us we’re at home to Bohs, away to Pat’s and away to Derry. They’re all going to be critical games.

“They (the players) all want it. They’re all trying. The quality needs to be far better, it needed to be far better this evening and for the last few weeks to be honest. We haven’t done enough except for a couple of games when we got a couple of wins a while back. 

“That quality of play hasn’t been good enough and we have to change that. We do need to reflect on where we’re at and see where we go from there.”

The next match for the Bit O’ Red has been rescheduled.

Sligo Rovers will travel Finn Harps next Saturday 23rd October, moved forward from the Bank Holiday fixture. Kick-off will be 8pm.

Two Sligo Rovers home matches have also been rescheduled.

The SSE Airtricity Premier Division match with Drogheda United will now take place a day earlier and will be on Friday 29 October at 7.45pm in The Showgrounds.

Tickets will be available at cash turnstiles for all fans.

The postponed match with Longford Town will now take place on Monday 1 November at 7.45pm.

Tickets will also be available at cash turnstiles.

Season pack holders should bring their book to turnstiles with no pre-booking needed.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin has today visited The Showgrounds as Sligo Rovers work on plans to form a senior women’s team with a view to joining the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League from the 2022 season.

Minister Martin met with club officials – chairman Tommy Higgins, vice-chairman Andy Dodd and assistant secretary Mark Cummins.

Minister Martin was also briefed on the progress of academy football at Sligo Rovers by head of academy Conor O’Grady and on opportunities a senior women’s team could bring to women in the region.

A masterplan unveiled last year to show a proposed €17m redevelopment of the club’s facilities was presented on by chairman Higgins to the Minister as well as a walkthrough of the current facilities in Sligo.

As Sligo Rovers await news on their application to join the Women’s National League, IT Sligo have partnered with their local club to set up a scholarship team where female players who join Sligo will receive sponsored third-level education as a benefit of playing League of Ireland football.

Minister Martin said: “Today’s visit to The Showgrounds allowed me to see first hand the potential of League of Ireland clubs like Sligo Rovers and what they are delivering for sport overall in the country.

“I was particularly encouraged by the plans to join the Women’s National League. The FAI have shown they want to grow the women’s game on and off-the-pitch and there must be parity for men and women on the opportunities they receive in the game.

“Sligo have a huge catchment area with a large support base and I have no doubt they will be a huge asset to the ever-improving Women’s National League. Furthermore, tying in education with sport is a wonderful initiative and I must commend IT Sligo and Sligo Rovers for providing sportswomen with such a wonderful scheme.”

Minister Martin also spoke about the work done by League of Ireland clubs in developing future Irish internationals.

The Bit O’ Red had Irish underage internationals call-ups at men’s Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level this month and over half of their senior men’s squad has graduated from the club’s academy.

The Irish Under-17 team which enjoyed great success in the last week in European Championship qualifiers was largely make up of Irish-based players as well as some in Europe.

Stephen Kenny’s exciting young Republic of Ireland team are filled with former LOI players and the victories over Azerbaijan and Qatar in the last week has brought a wave of optimism.

It is hoped Sligo Rovers are now coaching future stars – with links already to the current team.

She stated: “We’ve seen first hand that schoolboy and League of Ireland clubs are developing the future of the Irish national team.

“Chiedozie Ogbene, Gavin Bazunu and Jamie McGrath were three outstanding performers for Ireland last week – all of whom came through the underage systems in Ireland in recent years.

“The experienced players still in the squad such as James McClean and Seamus Coleman started their careers in the League of Ireland over a decade ago and how proud Derry City and of course Sligo Rovers must be.

“I am heartened to see the potential already being acted upon here and the volunteer coaches and staff are quite clearly working tirelessly to give young footballers every opportunity.

“It shows me that there is enormous potential for the League of Ireland and it must be supported in order for it to grow.”

The event was also attended by local representatives from Sligo-Leitrim, including Frank Feighan TD of Fine Gael, Martin Kenny TD of Sinn Fein, Marc MacSharry TD of Fianna Fail and Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Paul Taylor, as well as an endorsement from Marian Harkin TD.

Sligo Rovers wish to thank Minister Martin and all officials for visiting The Showgrounds today.

It will be a quiet weekend on the pitch this week as just two fixtures take place at The Sean Fallon Centre on Saturday and Sunday.

There are no men’s fixtures this weekend so both women’s teams are in action, with The Under 17’s hosting Greystones at 2pm on Saturday.

The girls are in first place in the group table with three games remaining. Victory here would set them up well going into the last two matches. The visitors are currently in second spot.

On Sunday at 2pm, our Under 19 women’s team host Carlow/Kilkenny on the astro.

Our Under 19’s are also currently in top spot, with a point guaranteeing that position as this is the final group match. The visitors are in third spot behind Donegal on goal difference.

In other news, Under 19 men’s defender Peter Maguire has been named as Player of the Month for September. Peter featured in wins over Cork City, Cobh Ramblers, Shelbourne and UCD as he and his team mates are in top spot in The Under 19 Elite group.

Sligo Rovers return to action on Friday night in Tallaght Stadium as the Bit O’ Red play match 30 in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division season.

A 1-1 draw against Waterford FC moved the Bit O’ Red to 46 points two weeks ago. 

Derry City remain four points behind Rovers, with Bohemians a point further back with a game in hand.

As the race for Europe hots up, this game will be the fourth and final meeting of the season with the Hoops.

There has been one win each, as well as a draw, both victories coming on a 1-0 scoreline.

In team news, Greg Bolger (two games) and Niall Morahan (one game) serve suspensions. Shane Blaney is set for a return to training next week. There are no other injury concerns.

Liam Buckley said: “We put in a decent performance last time in Tallaght and the game in Sligo a few weeks ago was very close which Shamrock Rovers edged.

“They’re a top quality side, they’re looking to retain the title and are in a great position to do so and they’re top of the league for a reason.

“We took three points in the away fixture, a draw in The Showgrounds, a narrow defeat in a game Shamrock Rovers played quite well in, so we know we’re capable of getting a result and we go there with that in mind.

“The second half against Waterford, we were a little bit disappointed because we didn’t do enough to win the game. Waterford a good side with the form they’ve shown in the second half of the season, they’ve proven very difficult to beat.

“We have known for the last two weeks that we’d be without Greg and Niall for this fixture. They’re brilliant midfielders but we do have a squad with lots of quality in it and we’ve kept in mind the changes we’d have to make as we’ve prepared for this game. Shane Blaney is going to return to training next week so he’s very close.

“Nothing has changed from our end in terms of our ambitions, in terms of our overall goals, and in terms of the quality we have within our group.

“We know teams are trying to chase us down, we have that lead with seven games to go and the number of rivals is only increasing. It’s no surprise with the way the league is and we’re in the better position compared to last season. We’ve got to dig in and show what got us this far in the season.”

On Saturday afternoon, our U14 ‘s finished their season in style by beating Longford Town 4-0 at the Sean Fallon Centre. Conor Langan (twice) and Cillian O’Neill were once again on the scoresheet to add to a strike from Johnny Mcguinn. Rovers went into the game needing a win to guarantee 3^rd place in the group but, unfortunately, results elsewhere went against the boys denying them a spot in the Quarter Finals as a best placed team. A slow start to the summer saw the team fail to win any of their first five games but performances and results improved tremendously to the point that they finished the season with a record of four wins and two draws from the final eight games.

Later that day at the same venue our WU17’s suffered defeat for the first time in their own Shield group, going down 2-0 to Athlone Town. The result could have gone either way but the girls can still take solace in the fact that they remain top of the table after four rounds. A draw between Greystones and DLR Waves means Rovers remain two points clear of the former and three ahead of the latter with two rounds of games to play.

Their U17 male counterparts were in action on Saturday evening also, travelling to Baldonnell to take on UCD. It was another tight game where Rovers were once again unlucky to be beaten, this time by just the odd goal in three, Michael Clifford with the consolation. UCD therefore leapfrog Rovers into 2^nd place with one game remaining and two points between the teams. The final round of fixtures take place on October 23^rd when Rovers host Cavan/Monaghan in a must-win game. UCD travel to Donegal that day to take on Finn Harps and we will need a favour from our neighbours if we are to make the Semi-Finals.

Sunday afternoon and the Sean Fallon Centre saw our U15 side completely mirror the U14’s from the day prior. Another 4-0 win for Rovers, once again against Longford Town, but unfortunately for the second day running it wasn’t going to be enough to qualify for the Quarter Finals. Cillian McGing scored his first ever league double for Sligo Rovers as Daire Patton and regular goalscorer Gary Farren completed the scoring as the U15’s campaign came to a close.

Finally, it was a tough trip to Dublin for the U19’s as they were beaten for the first time in the Elite league this season. Josh Mulrennan scored once again but Bohemians 3-1 victory at St. Aidan’s CBS ended the last unbeaten record in the league and helped the hosts close the gap to Rovers at the top to just two points. Derry City beat Shelbourne and moved 2^nd just one point behind Rovers with four rounds of fixtures to play in what should be a really exciting run-in.

Richard Mullan