Category: News

Update on attending games

Sligo Rovers wish to confirm that 100 supporters will be permitted to attend our SSE Airtricity Premier Division match with Drogheda United next weekend. 

The match takes place on Saturday 12th June at 7.45pm.

The Showgrounds can host 100 fans for games in June under the new Covid-19 guidelines. As the stadum has a capacity of less than 5,000, no more than 100 can attend. 

Match Pack holders will be included in an open draw. Match packs are on sale ahead of the return of supporters to The Showgrounds. Click here to buy.

All match pack holders will be automatically entered into the draw per game. Those 100 will then drop out of the ballot for our next game until all ticket holders attend a match. 

Supporters will be contacted by this weekend if they have been successful and will be asked to confirm their attendance and fill in a Covid-19 declaration form before attending.

Should the planned Covid-19 re-opening continue, 200 fans can attend games later in the summer and up to 1,000 from August. 

As such, only match pack holders will be considered for European fixtures and all games in the summer period. 

We encourage supporters to buy match packs in order to be eligible to attend games. 

Meanwhile, local company Studio Rove have been hired for our match night production on the LOITV streaming service. 

Professional commentators will be hired by the club also. Supporters can purchase a streaming pass for €79 or by using five passes in their match packs. 

To redeem please follow the instructions below:

  • Take five tickets from your match pack book.
  • Post them to: Secretary, Sligo Rovers FC, The Showgrounds, Sligo. (before Wednesday June 9th – streaming passes will only be redeemed once tickets have been received)
  • Include a note with the tickets with your name and e-mail address (e-mail address is important as your streaming code will be emailed to you)
  • We advise you to please send these in without delay as the season restarts on Friday June 11th and Rovers’ first game is due to be Saturday June 12th.
  • Once we receive the five tickets, we will send an email with instructions on how to access the streaming service.
  • For any enquiries, please email colinfeehily@sligorovers.com or call071-9171212

Non match pack holders can purchase a pass on the new platform directly.

New streaming service available now

LOITV passes are now available to purchase ahead of the season restart.

The Premier Division will join the SSE Airtricity First Division and the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League on LOITV.ie, with all three divisions on one streaming platform.

Match pack season ticket holders should click here to learn how to redeem their streaming pass.

Supporters who didn’t buy a match pack season ticket can now purchase their Premier Division Pass which covers all matches from now until the end of the season, for just €79. With 110 matches left in the 2021 season, that works out at just €0.79 per match.

The platform will aid Rovers financially with Season Pass sales set to go to the subscribers’ selected team whilst pay-per-view revenue will go to the home side of the individual fixture, a valuable revenue stream for the League of Ireland.

The Premier Division matches will be broadcast via the clubs’ own production solutions including replays and multiple camera set-ups. Rovers have hired Studio Rove, a local company, and will provide these features along with a commentary team. More features will be added over time.

Head over to LOITV.ie now and get your season pass or learn more below

Moving from WATCHLOI to LOITV

  • Rovers supporters who have match pack s can use five tickets to redeem a pass. Click here for more info
  • Former WATCHLOI customers are encouraged to subscribe to loitv.ie to get access to all the remaining Premier Division fixtures this season for just €79

Streaming and Match Pack information – June to End of Season

Sligo Rovers Football Club can announce the plans for streaming our SSE Airtricity Premier Division games between June 11th and the end of the 2021 season. 2021 Match Packs also remain on sale for a limited time, as restrictions on outdoor events begin to ease in the coming months.

Streaming passes will go on sale shortly on a new platform to replace the WatchLOI platform which has been in place since last July. Prices for both season passes and one-off match passes will be announced by The FAI in the coming days. There will be 22 match days included in the package, as opposed to 14 up until the mid-season break at the end of this month.

Sligo Rovers will offer free passes for all our Adult, OAP and Concession 2021 match pack holders, in lieu of five passes from a match pack.

This offer does not apply to Super Reds.

To redeem please follow the instructions below:

  • Take five tickets from your match pack book.
  • Post them to: Secretary, Sligo Rovers FC, The Showgrounds, Sligo. (before Wednesday June 9th – streaming passes will only be redeemed once tickets have been received)
  • Include a note with the tickets with your name and e-mail address (e-mail address is important as your streaming code will be emailed to you)
  • We advise you to please send these in without delay as the season restarts on Friday June 11th and Rovers’ first game is due to be Saturday June 12th. (TBC)
  • Once we receive the five tickets, we will send an email with instructions on how to access the streaming service.
  • For any enquiries, please email colinfeehily@sligorovers.com or call 071-9171212

Non match pack holders can purchase a pass on the new platform directly.

You can still buy your 2021 match packs online or at The Showgrounds. This entitles you to 12 match tickets for Bit O’ Red home fixtures for the rest of the SSE Airtricity League season. These passes can be redeemed in 2022 should any be left over from this year. Match Pack holders will also be given priority to buy any European Match Tickets should crowds be allowed entry or to any FAI Cup matches this season.

To buy your 2021 Match Pack, which also gives you the chance of gaining access to our home games when restrictions on crowds attending are eased, visit: https://srfcdirect.com/season-ticket-2021-12-match-package-adult/

The return of crowds at outdoor events is coming closer, and we are looking forward to allowing supporters back into The Showgrounds once more to support Liam and his Rovers’ squad.

The new streaming service is the perfect way for supporters to support the club with revenue generated set to go to each club and with over 100+ matches set to be on the platform, it is also great value. Crowds may be returning soon but this service will still be a vital tool in following the league and the rest of our season.

The 2021 SSE Airtricity Premier Division season now takes a break after game week 14, where the Bit O’ Red take currently lie in top spot, after last night’s win in Ballybofey over Finn Harps.

Bit O’ Red Chairman Tommy Higgins:

“We’re delighted to be able to secure a streaming service for our supporters for the rest of the season as this has been an important tool in keeping them engaged with how the team are doing and it allows them to also check out the other teams in the league.

With over 100 matches set to be on the platform from the restart of the season to the season’s end, the pass represents excellent value for supporters to enjoy the action.

As the Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease in the coming weeks and months, the service means supporters can continue to follow the team if they are not at the game.

It also gives supporters outside Sligo the chance to follow the team more than ever. Our match packs are also an important as these give supporters priority on matches and also the chance to redeem some Match Pack tickets for a streaming pass’’.  

We advise supporters who buy a Match Pack online to state in the comments section of your order that you wish to redeem 5 tickets for a free streaming pass on the new LOI streaming service.

Preview: Rovers preparing for difficult Harps game

Sligo Rovers play their final game before the mid-season break on Friday evening against Finn Harps in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division season.

The Bit O’ Red went top of the table last Monday night after a 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers and Harps have played a host of close matches in recent seasons, exchanging victories at various points each year.

Last year Harps won the opening game of the season in Finn Harps, while Rovers won 3-1 in The Showgrounds.

Johnny Kenny’s goal was the difference between the teams earlier in the season, Rovers now go in search of a first victory in Finn Park since February 2019.

David Cawley, Darren Collins and Danny Kane will miss this game due to injury.

Liam Buckley said: “It was a big shift on Monday, a great result and a great three points overall. I’m delighted for the group to see us top of the table because it has been a while since it happened.

“The optics on us now are that after 13 games we’re competing really well so we just need to try to maintain the performance levels and fitness levels.

“We kept the ball better on Monday and were a bit more patient and composed with it which is what we want.  

“We’ve done well so far and overall I’m happy with the effort going in. That said, it was just three points and we are just one third into the season. That’s the reality so we just have to try to keep picking up results. We’ve spoken about what has gotten us to this position so far and it has been hard work, effort and trying to be better.

“It’s the same three points on offer in every game, the opportunity comes up each weekend and I know if you don’t turn up in any game you’ll be beaten. That is what we’ve seen in the league this season with every team.

“Finn Harps have done particularly well with some of the results picked up in recent weeks and I think both sides know this will be a difficult task.

“We don’t get ahead of ourselves despite the few wins we have had in recent weeks. There is a good confidence within the group but we know the performance has to be delivered in every game if we are to keep picking up points. We look forward to game and trying to give a good account of ourselves again.”

Bit O’ Red win in Tallaght to go top

Romeo Parkes fired Sligo Rovers to the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table as Shamrock Rovers suffered their first home defeat since June 2019

The only goal of the game arrived on the 55th minute when Jordan Gibson unleashed Parkes goalwards with an incisive through pass.

There were sheepish shouts for offside as the 30-year-old Jamaican striker surged towards goal, however, the assistant kept his flag down as Parkes stuck the ball past Alan Mannus.

The defeat was the Hoops’ first home defeat since they lost 1-0 to Dundalk 696 days ago.

The victory was Sligo’s first win at Tallaght Stadium since October 2013 and maintained their unbeaten start away from home this season.

While the Hoops are used to dominating possession at home, Sligo were set up in a 4-3-3 eager to show that they were able to hold their own in the battle for the ball.

Both sides exploited the dry conditions and blemish-free pitch to work the ball around each other but produced little in the way of goal-scoring opportunities in the first half.

However, it was the visitors who looked the better of the sides. Walter Figueira and Greg Bolger took a series of shots from outside the box after spells of Sligo possession but neither were close to troubling Mannus.

The hosts had a penalty shout before the break, when Graham Burke went down from a Garry Buckley tackle in the box.

The roars originated from Bradley on the sideline more than they did from Burke, but after a long look Neil Doyle judged Buckley to have cleanly won possession.

If the first half was slow at times, the second half started in lightning fashion. A minute into the half, Doyle was again waving away urgent Shamrock Rovers pleadings for a penalty.

The Hoops players argued that the ball had struck a Sligo hand in the box before it went out for a corner but Doyle again held firm.

A moment later, Bolger dispossessed Burke, allowing him to surge into the host’s half with a five on two scenario in Sligo’s favour.

The Bit O’Red captain switched it to Gibson who fired a vicious shot that went just wide of the near post.

The Dubliners struck back with a chance of their own when Rory Gaffney played Aaron Greene through on goal but Ed McGinty came charging from his goal to smother the danger.

Sligo finally broke the deadlock five minutes later.

Liam Scales made the mistake attempting to leave Parkes in an offside position, but it was Gibson’s vision which capitalised on the mistake as he pushed the ball perfectly in his team-mate’s path towards goal.

Scales’ arm went up for the offside but the assistant’s didn’t, meanwhile, Parkes scored his third league goal of the season.

The league champions struggled to claw back possession for most of the second half as Liam Buckley’s side proved first to every ball.

Burke came closest to scoring on the 80th minute when he struck a curling shot from inside the box, which fizzed just wide of McGinty’s goal.

Ultimately it was Sligo Rovers’ night as they departed westwards with all three points and another important scalp.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Joey O’Brien (Max Murphy, 8 (Dean Williams, 78)), Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Sean Gannon, Gary O’Neill (Chris McCann, 70) Danny Mandroiu, Liam Scales; Rory Gaffney, Aaron Greene, Graham Burke.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, John Mahon, Robbie McCourt; Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne (Johnny Kenny, 68); Niall Morahan, Greg Bolger; Romeo Parkes (Ryan de Vries, 86), Jordan Gibson; Walter Figueira.

Referee: Neil Doyle.


Preview: Rovers head for Tallaght

Sligo Rovers face Shamrock Rovers on Monday night in Tallaght Stadium in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The match is live on WATCHLOI and on Ocean FM sport across online and FM.

After a 2-0 victory over Longford Town, the Bit O’ Red are just two points behind the Hoops going into this game.

Liam Buckley’s men are unbeaten away from home this season with four wins and a draw in five games.

Shamrock Rovers were unbeaten in 33 league games prior to last Friday. Tallaght Stadium has been a particularly difficult venue for Rovers, with 4-0 and 2-0 defeats in the league and cup last season.

It promises to be an intriguing game after a 1-1 draw earlier this season.

In team news, David Cawley’s groin injury rules him out. Danny Kane has now returned to training and is set to come into contention for the Finn Harps game with this one coming too soon. Darren Collins is ruled out with an ankle problem. Greg Bolger returns from suspension.

Liam Buckley said: “We are looking forward to it. We know it’s going to be a tough game and we go there looking to make it as difficult as we can for Shamrock Rovers. I feel this will be a very tight game. It was certainly like that in Sligo.

“Obviously Shamrock Rovers were beaten on Friday which ended the run they had. All good things must come to an end so it was going to happen at some stage. We’ve looked at that game and they had lots of chances over the 90 minutes. We know they’re a top side and the defeat doesn’t change anything.

“Of course you see the table where it’s first against second here but as I said to the boys, the game is about three points just as the Longford game was. I felt we deserved to win the game last Friday but I would like us to create more and get our general play better. This is a much different game to Friday with due respect to Longford.

“In this one it’s a different type of challenge and we will approach it looking to pick up another result. I do think we have improved over a period of time. 

“Greg Bolger returns which is a big plus and we only have two or three players unavailable so we’ll have a strong XI and a strong bench.”

Rovers win to stay second

Goals in either half from Walter Figueira and Jordan Gibson saw Sligo Rovers beat Longford Town 2-0 and stay in second spot in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table.

Figueira’s effort from distance along with Gibson’s second half penalty was enough for Rovers

Dundalk’s win over Shamrock Rovers also means Sligo move to within two points of the Hoops at the summit.

Rovers emerged victorious in the last meeting of these two sides earlier this year, Garry Buckley’s goal early in the second half sealing a narrow win for Sligo on the road.

Both sides produced efforts from distance early on in a scrappy opening half. Rob Manley blasted over the Sligo crossbar before stand-in midfielder Lewis Banks shot straight at Town goalkeeper Micheal Kelly five minutes later.

Daire Doyle’s charges went close to taking the lead on 12 minutes. Dylan Grimes’ effort from six yards looped over Ed McGinty’s crossbar after Grimes had met Aaron Robinson’s pull back from the end line.

On the look-out for win number seven of the season, Figueira led the way for Rovers when he struck for his second of the season on 17 minutes.

Longford net-minder Kelly got a palm to the former Derry attacker’s shot from 20 yards, but what seemed like a wicked spin had Kelly caught out as he could only push the ball into the corner of his own net.

Kelly did well to deny Sligo a two-goal lead at the break when he pulled of an impressive reaction save to keep out Ryan De Vries, after the New Zealander had dodged his way past two Longford challenges.

Liam Buckley’s side rode their luck again on ’35 as they allowed Aaron Dobbs to roam free at a Grimes corner. The accuracy of Dobbs’ header didn’t match the well-timed leap as his effort flashed past the target.

The visitors were somewhat unfortunate to concede a penalty just shy of the hour, when the ball bounced on to the hand of full-back Paddy Kirk following a Rovers corner.

Gibson tucking the ball past Kelly from the resulting spot kick for his fifth goal of the season.

Kelly was equal to Figueira’s effort from the angle on 67 minutes as Sligo looked to kill off any sign of a Longford revival.

McGinty easily held on to Town skipper Aodh Dervin’s set piece off the in-step 11 minutes from time. Sligo held on to go within two points of leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Colm Horgan (Shane Blaney 77), John Mahon, Garry Buckley, Robbie McCourt; Niall Morahan, Lewis Banks; Jordan Gibson, Ryan De Vries (Romeo Parkes 63), Walter Figueira; Johnny Kenny (Regan Donelon 80).

Longford Town: Michael Kelly; Shane Elworthy (Karl Chambers 57), Joe Manley, Aaron O’Driscoll, Paddy Kirk; Callum Thompson (Conor Davis 74), Aodh Dervin, Rob Manley (Sam Verdon 74), Aaron Robinson (Aaron Bolger 65), Dylan Grimes; Aaron Dobbs.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

Rovers awarded licence to compete in Europe

Sligo Rovers have been awarded a UEFA licence through the independent licensing system run by the FAI, confirming our Europa League Conference place.

Thanks to volunteers Martin McDonald, Stephen Gilroy, David Rowe and our staff Shane and Sandra for their work in securing a licence this year as yet again it has a huge amount of administrative work to ensure our application was successful.

The Sligo Rovers squad of 2020, aided by a supporter effort that will go down as one of the most incredible in the history of our club, will always be remembered for the rise from bottom place to a European spot that culminated in that special night in Dundalk last November.

During a difficult time in the winter of the pandemic, the team’s results brought great pride to the club and our community.

We look forward to the Europa League Conference draw next month and the games in July in what will be our first appearance in Europe since 2014.

Healy appointed Under-19s women’s manager

Darragh Healy has been appointed manager of the Sligo Rovers Under 19 Women’s National League team.

The Ballisodare native takes over from the outgoing Danny O’Leary who was in charge for the formation of the side.

Darragh brings with him a wealth of experience, thanks to his involvement in football in the community and has been kit and equipment manager in the first-team foe two years.

He was a member of the coaching staff with the Rovers Under 19s, and headed the Rovers primary school programme, which involves visiting schools, coaching and delivering workshops.

He has also served as head-coach of IT Sligo women’s team, and also assistant coach of the IT Sligo men’s A team.

Sligo Rovers head of academy Conor O’Grady said: “Darragh was a very deserving choice for this position.

“He has done a wealth of coaching in Sligo and within Sligo Rovers and he will know exactly what is needed as the Under-19 women begin their first ever season.

“Darragh will continue his other roles within the club in which he had gained even more experience. We’ll be supporting him as much as we can, and Scott Lynch will be added to Darragh’s backroom team as he is someone we believe can progress up the ladder here.”