The latest International window sees The Republic of Ireland competing at many age groups since Thursday with Rovers’ having five players representing their country in important European Qualifiers.

On Thursday, at Turners Cross in Cork, Ireland Under 17’s defeated Andorra 5-0 with Conor Walsh playing 90 minutes in goal. Walsh recently signed his first professional contract with the club and continues to impress on the international stage. Under 17 defender Daniel Kelly, fresh from his goal against Finn Harps last weekend, was among the substitutes. The pair will again be available for selection tomorrow evening as Ireland host North Macedonia at 7pm at the same venue. The team also host Poland three days later in their final game of the window.

Johnny Kenny, Niall Morahan and Luke McNicholas (on loan at Cliftonville FC) are part of the Ireland Under 21 squad who travel to Montenegro today ahead of Tuesday’s European Qualifier in Podgorica. The side defeated Luxembourg 2-0 yesterday at Tallaght Stadium. Former Rovers academy graduate Liam Kerrigan, currently at UCD, started the game and impressed as he helped earn his side a first half penalty. Kenny was also included in Tom Mohan’s Ireland Under 19 squad for a training camp in Spain this week, however his Under 21 call up means he will travel to Montenegro instead.

Tuesday’s game kicks off at 4.30pm.

Our 500 Club Committee have held the monthly members 500 Club draw for August and September with €2,800 handed out between twenty supporters.

The 500 Club continues to be one of our most important fundraisers with over 500 supporters making monthly contributions.

To join The 500 Club you can visit https://srfcdirect.com/fundraising/500-club/ or by emailing michaelclancy04@gmail.com with your name and contact details.

         August Winners:

€500 – Michael McTiernan, Oakfield Crescent

€100 – John Kavanagh, Hazelwood

€100 – Padraig McKeown, Howth Road, Dublin

€100 – Seamus Breslin, Knock, Co. Mayo

€100 – Mary McGowan, Marymount, Sligo

€100 – Shane Martin, Park Rd, Monaghan

€100 – Keith Patterson, Carney, Co. Sligo

€100 – Seamus Gallagher, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo

€100 – Raymond Shorthall, Kells, Co. Meath

€100 – Dermot O’ Hara, Calry, Sligo

        September winners

€500 – Michael Phelan, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo

€100 – Joe Gallagher, Gallagher Parade, Sligo

€100 – John Needham, Hazelwood, Sligo

€100 – Mark Heraghty, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

€100 – Con Cullen, Surrey, England

€100 – Sean Feeney, Stradbally, Co. Laois

€100 – Marcus White, First Sea Road, Sligo

€100 – David Taylor, Dunally, Co. Sligo

€100 – Ultan Mulvihill, First Sea Road, Sligo

€100 – Christy Murphy, Drum, Kilsellagh, Sligo

We would like to thank The 500 Club Committee for their continued hard work and support of the club and to all 500 Club members for their participation in this important fundraiser.

There are five academy games taking place this weekend, with three on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Up first are our Under 14’s who finish their season at home to Longford Town at 12 Noon at The Sean Fallon Centre. The team have made great strides since the beginning of the season and found their form during the summer and will be happy with their season overall.

At 2pm on the same venue, The Under 17 women’s team host Greystones, having won the return fixture a fortnight ago in Wicklow. The girls are in a great position in the table and know that a win here will set up the end of the season nicely.

At 5pm, in Balldonnell, Dublin, Our Under 17 men’s team face UCD. The team currently lie in second position in the group and will be looking to pick up all three points in a tough away fixture. Daniel Kelly misses the game as he is on international duty.

On Sunday, our Under 15 team wrap up their season against Longford Town at 2pm on the Sean Fallon Centre All Weather pitch. The lads have had another steady season and can be proud of their efforts ahead of the end of season break.

At the same time there is a crucial clash in St Aidans College, Dublin as our Under 19 men’s team face a tough test away to Bohemian FC. The lads are currently 5 points clear at the top of the table with 4 games remaining. Conor Walsh is on international duty in Cork and will miss the game.

Our Under 19 women have a weekend off as they prepare for their end of season games in the coming weeks.

There were just the three fixtures down for decision at the weekend with our Under 17 men and both Under 19 sides in action across Friday and Sunday.

Ryan Casey’s Under 17 men’s side welcomed north west neighbours Finn Harps on Friday night under the lights at The Sean Fallon Centre. The game was evenly contested with Daniel Kelly scoring for The Bit O’ Red to earn a draw. Kelly now joins up with the Ireland Under 17 squad in Cork this week for three European Qualifiers against Andorra, North Macedonia and Poland.

Our Under 19 sides kicked off together at 2pm on Sunday, with the men’s team playing Galway United at home. Seamas Keogh and Josh Mulrennan, who continues his fine scoring form were on target for Rovers who remain top of the group after the halfway point. Next up for Declan Boyle’s men is a tough trip to Bohemian FC on Sunday in Dublin.

Darragh Healy and Scott Lynch took their Women’s Under 19 side to Greystones and ran out convincing winners on a 6-2 scoreline. This result leaves Rovers 3 points clear on top of the group after five games. The final group game takes place at home against Carlow/Kilkenny in a couple of weeks.

It’s a big week for some of our Academy players who join up with their respective Republic of Ireland teams. Under 17 & 19 players Conor Walsh & Daniel Kelly join up with the Under 17’s in Cork while academy graduates Niall Morahan & Johnny Kenny will travel to Montenegro with The Under 21 squad. Best of luck lads.

This Saturday’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division match with Longford Town has been postponed to international call-ups.

Rovers have two underage call-ups in the window.

The match will be refixed for a later date.

The Bit O’ Red are back in action against Shamrock Rovers on Friday 15 October in Tallaght Stadium.

Sligo Rovers return to action on Saturday night in The Showgrounds as Waterford FC visit in the SSE Airtricity League. Kick-off is 7.45pm,

The team will meet, on the pitch, for a third time this season and the first in Sligo as the earlier home meeting was not played due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Waterford squad. Rovers were awarded a 3-0 win in that fixture.

Rovers claimed 2-1 victory in the first away match but the Blues secured the points in the other match in a 1-0 success.

Match ticket are available at turnstiles for all supporters with no pre-booking needed.

Rovers were hit with a number of absentees last week as Garry Buckley, Greg Bolger, Robbie McCourt, David Cawley and Shane Blaney were ruled out for the game in Dundalk.

Buckley returns from a one-match ban while Bolger and McCourt have trained this week and look set to be available, but Blaney is still out with a foot problem.

Cawley and John Mahon will serve suspensions on Saturday so they miss out.

Manager Liam Buckley said: “We were disappointed with how things went last week. I do think the scoreline flattered Dundalk somewhat but it wasn’t enough from our point of view over the course of the 90 minutes.

“We were down a couple of players late in the week and that certainly didn’t help as we had to juggle a few things around. We lost the game and we move on from it.

“It will happen, you’re not going to win every game, particularly with the way the league has panned out this season. Ultimately what matters is how you respond, how consistently you can find results over the year, and I can see the players are looking forward to this week’s game.  

“Waterford are a good side, desperate for points like every other side in the league, and they’ve won six out of their last nine league games and qualified for the FAI Cup semi-finals. The matches they did lose were narrow defeats away to Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic, so it tells you how they’ve been doing in the last few months.

“We’re not setting targets because I think it’s entirely unpredictable how the rest of the league season will turn out. It’s the old expression of one game at a time but it really has to be that way because one result makes a difference. Our approach all season has been to battle for every result we get and that every three points is the same.

“We were the rising team last year, getting better as the season went on, and got into the top four on the final day of the season. I know there are teams out there looking to emulate what we did last season.

“This season we’ve given ourselves a better platform. We feel we have improved as a group, we’re right in the mix battling it out for that European finish. It would be fantastic to get it over the line but it’s going to be a fight to the wire to get there and there is any number of teams chasing it.

“As we look to Saturday, it’s a home game with the great support we get here and we did pick up a couple of wins last month. We would like to replicate that if we can.

“John and David will serve suspensions but we do have Robbie, Greg and Garry back with us. The game will come too soon for Shane and he’s working hard to be back soon.  

“As much as it will be a challenging six weeks from now to the end of the season, it’s also an exciting one as well and we’ll go into this game looking for the result and performance that we desire.”

There are three games down for decision at Academy level this weekend, with our Under 17 men and Under 19 men and women all in action.

Tonight, Friday sees our Under 17 men host Finn Harps at The Sean Fallon Centre at 7.30pm. The lads lost to Shelbourne last Saturday but are still in a good position in the group table.

On Sunday afternoon, our Under 19 women’s team travel to Woodlands to take on Greystones at 2pm. The girls picked up a rare defeat last Sunday in Donegal and will be looking to bounce back this time around in another tricky away game.

At the same time, at The Sean Fallon Centre, our in form Under 19 mens side host Galway United. This will be a crucial match as the lads sit on top of the group table and will be hoping to maintain that position with victory over the Tribesmen.

Admission to all our home games are free and we encourage all Bit O’ Red supporters to get out and show support to our teams.

The Chilean Ambassador to Ireland Her Excellency Carla Serazzi  visited Sligo on Tuesday to lay a wreath at the O’Higgins  monument in Stephen Street Car Park. Bernardo O’Higgins is regarded as the founding father of Chile and is the son of Sligo native Ambrose, a Spanish officer who was Governor of Chile and Viceroy of Peru.

The name of Bernardo O Higgins lives on in Chile through the football team that bears his name.  It is a connection recognised and valued by Sligo Rovers., and the Ambassador called to the Showgrounds to unveil a new plaque at the Outdoor Museum presenting the story of the O’Higgins Club.

The Ambassador was presented with a copy of Sligo Rovers Official History, and made a presentation to Chairman Tommy Higgins on behalf of the O’Higgins Club.

We are delighted to announce the details of our 2021 Halloween Camp, which will take place in The Showgrounds from Monday October 25^th until Friday October 29^th.

Following on from the success of this year’s Summer Camps, it is expected that our Halloween Camp will sell out quickly.

Parents are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.

Prices remain the same, with one child priced at €70, two children from the one family €120 and three children from the one family priced at €170.

The camp will run from 10.30am until 3pm daily.

Each participant will receive an official Sligo Rovers training top.

To make a booking, click here.

For more information, email shane@sligorovers.com.

Aaron Heaney, Kailin Barlow and Sean McAteer fired our men’s Under 19’s to a fourth consecutive win in the league last Sunday evening at Baldonnell, Dublin. Heaney gave Rovers a deserved lead just before half-time with Barlow adding a second two minutes after the restart. Midfielder McAteer made certain of victory in the 86^th minute before the hosts netted a late consolation. The 3-1 victory over the Students maintains our 100% record and sends the boys five points clear of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Elite League as we approach the midway point of the season. Up next, we welcome Galway United to The Sean Fallon Centre this coming Sunday. Galway’s opening day 8-2 win over Derry City was their only win so far, losing their next three games.

Our Women’s Under 19 side lost their own 100% record on Sunday afternoon at Leckview Park against Donegal and slipped to second in the group, albeit only on goal difference. Ella Vahey scored for the second week running but this time it was merely a consolation as Donegal hit five to take revenge for their 2-1 defeat in Sligo last month. We travel to the Woodlands this coming Sunday to face Greystones United in a repeat of the game two weeks ago (a 3-1 home win for Rovers) hoping for a similar outcome. Victory in Wicklow, in our penultimate game, would almost certainly guarantee a top two finish and a subsequent post-season Semi-Final spot for the girls.

The blueprint for that result was outlined by our Women’s Under 17 on Saturday evening as we went top of the group with a 2-0 win over Greystones. Rebecca Doddy did what she always does – score for Sligo Rovers – and became the highest scoring player amongst all the academy teams this season. Katie McGuire was on the scoresheet also as Rovers pulled three points clear at the halfway stage. Winless Athlone Town visit the Showgrounds in two weeks (Saturday Oct. 9) with the pressure all on the visitors. Athlone’s only goal in the group so far came in their 2-1 home defeat to Rovers in early September whereas our girls have scored almost double the next highest scorers in the group. A place in the Semi-Finals looks a distinct possibility even now.

The second of three 100% records went by the wayside this weekend as our Under 17 side were beaten 3-2 by Shelbourne at the AUL Complex. Both sides are tied on nine points along with UCD at the summit, Rovers in second by way of goal difference. Aaron Heaney matched Eimear McIntyre’s fantastic efforts from last week as he too scored at two different age levels over the weekend, Conor Cannon netting Rovers’ second. Rovers (14 scored, 5 conceded) face Finn Harps (8 scored, 9 conceded) this Friday night at The Sean Fallon Centre in what could be a goal fest with 36 goals scored in their 8 combined matches so far. And with just two games remaining after this, a win is vital before a trip to UCD in two weeks.

Finally, after terrific wins over Athlone and Galway our Under 14s bowed out of the cup on Saturday at the Quarter-Final stage. A strong Finn Harps won 5-0 in Killygordon to progress to the final four and leave us to turn our attention to the final group game of the season on October 9^th at home to Longford Town. A 3^rd place finish is within sight and potentially another Quarter-Final place, this time in the league’s post season.

Richard Mullan