Sligo Rovers travel to Waterford on Saturday in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Bit O’ Red go into the game on the back of two wins – against UCD and Shamrock Rovers – and now visit the RSC. 

John Mahon serves a one-game ban. Kyle Callan-McFadden is likely to miss out with a hand injury. The Donegal man is very close to full fitness.

Johnny Dunleavy will travel with the squad and should be fit – he picked up a leg injury against Shamrock Rovers which forced a first half substitution.

Liam Buckley: “Firstly it has been good to have an uninterrupted week  – we head into a one game a week scenario now pretty much which will suit us a bit more given our squad size. We’ve been lifted by the two wins, we’ve had a good preparation this week and it has been easier to manage things. 

“We’d like to build on what was gained last week. There was a great drive and spirit in us last Saturday. We’re trying to get the guys in positions to be effective, to keep better possession of the ball and win games. That’s the only way to climb the table because everyone is beating everyone in this league and the teams that put runs together make progress. 

“One of our staff, Dave Campbell, was in Inchicore to watch Waterford last week and it was a really good win and they played well. Everyone knows the quality of player they have. But we are gradually improving and starting to show what kind of side we are. We go there in good spirit and looking to get another three points.”

Sligo Rovers would like congratulate Alan Jinks and Peter Kerins who are the final two players left standing in our Last Man Standing competition. After a brief consultation between the two players and the club, both players agreed to split the €1,000 prize money and collect €500 each.

Both Alan and Peter are Sligo based and will be presented with their winnings later this afternoon by competition co-ordinator Shane Crossan.

The club would like to put on record our thanks to everyone who entered the competition which began last February. The club would also like to thank Jevin O Toole from Letterkenny IT who assisted in the running of the competition during his work placement with the club.

Due to the popularity and success of the competition, plans have already commenced within the club to run another Last Man Standing competition which will kick off in conjunction with the new Premier League season in August.

Sligo Rovers would like to thank both the Match Sponsor and Match Ball Sponsor from our last home league game against Shamrock Rovers.

The Match Sponsor on the night was Comit PR while the Match Ball Sponsor was Hot Rods in Collooney.

Comit PR are based in Dublin who specialize in tech focused PR, social media marketing and communications.

Hot Rods are based at the Sligo Junction Collooney who specialize in hot food for both sitting in and taking out.

Also on the night, MEP Luke “Ming” Flanagan was guest after being an advertiser in the Dublin Race Night.

Our thanks to all parties for their kind sponsorship and continued support of the club as a whole.

Liam Buckley speaks after 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers

Jack Keaney’s superb second half set piece settled the tie as an in-form Sligo Rovers beat Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Following a scoreless first half, it was Daryl Fordyce who opened his Sligo account with a special effort on 55 minutes.

Aaron Greene replied with his own piece of magic eleven minutes later, but it was youngster Keaney who settled the tie with a 35 yard free kick on 74 minutes.

In a game which produced three wonderful goals, it was Sligo who created the best of the early opportunities.

Regan Donelon had Alan Mannus worried just three minutes in when his volley flashed past the post less than three minutes in.

While the sun seemed to startle the Hoops net minder when he fumbled Fordyce’s header from Donelon’s searching cross.

The former Linfiel man relying on his defence to clear the danger at the second call.

Stephen Bradley’s men when settled, began to find space and runners in front of the Sligo back line.

Ronan Finn’s superb cross-field ball found Greene who managed to get a low drive off. But Sligo goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney did enough to block the effort away with his legs.

Dylan Watts flashed an effort across the face of goal a quarter of an hour in as the Dubliners continued to trouble on occasion.

Liam Buckley withdrew injured full-back Johnny Dunleavy mid-way through the half, but the switch didn’t affect Sligo in the short term.

Ronan Coughlan’s speculative effort from all of 35 yards, took a touch off a defender’s foot on its way over. Mannus left flat-footed as he watched the ball sail narrowly over the far side of his goal.

While David Cawley couldn’t keep his glancing header down after he beat his marker to another Donelon cross from the left.

Donelon was involved again six minutes into the second half when he stung the palms of Mannus with a long range drive.

But the stopper could do little about Sligo’s opener.

With nowhere to go, Coughlan pulled the ball back to Fordyce who curled a stunning 25 yard strike past Mannus’ reach.

The league leaders had their reply eleven minutes later.

Greene’s super close control allowed him to keep hold of Trevor Clarke’s cross, before the attacker executed a classy overhead kick to tie the contest.

But the westerners were back in the lead, settling the game on 74 with style.

Keaney, who scored a stunner in Dundalk on the opening night, did it again when he smacked his set piece from all of 35 yards beyond Mannus and into the top corner.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Johnny Dunleavy (Kris Twardek 26); Lewis Banks, Regan Donelon; David Cawley, Jack Keaney; Daryl Fordyce (Niall Morahan 90); Romeo Parkes, Ronan Coughlan.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Joey O’Brien, Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Trevor Clarke; Ronan Finn, Greg Bolger (Joel Coustrain 85); Dylan Watts (Dan Carr 77), Aaron McEneff, Jack Byrne; Aaron Greene. 

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 2,053

Sligo Rovers host Shamrock Rovers in The Showgrounds on Saturday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Rovers go into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over UCD. 

Kyle Callan-McFadden is out with a hand injury and likely to miss next week’s game with Waterford but should return afterwards.

Liam Buckley said: “We did quite well against UCD. We were on top throughout and stuck at it. It was important to get three points.

“We could have been a small bit tidier in the final third but you see the threat that is there. Everyone is looking up the table apart from Shamrock Rovers – we all want to be picking off the sides above us and now we look to Waterford if we can. Every team in this league is dangerous and I expect the teams below us to be doing all they can to get at us. 

“We want to be in a better position so getting wins is what we are looking at. I know there’ll be a big crowd from both clubs for this game and it should be a good one to look forward to. That said it’s the result we want. I see improvement and signs that we can win more games. The players have put in a great effort so far this season in terms of application and in training and they are good enough to beat any team in this league. That’s what they want to prove on Saturday.”

Tottenhams defeat to West Ham and Southampton failing to defeat Bournemouth last weekend resulted in 18 casualties, meaning that just five are left standing as we approach round 10.

Listed below are the five who remain standing and in the running for the €1,000 top prize.

Gerard Burns Selections To Date: Newcastle Liverpool Chelsea Bournemouth Arsenal Leicester Tottenham Watford Man City

Daniel Kelly Selections To Date: West Ham Arsenal Wolves Leicester Crystal Palace Chelsea Tottenham Watford Liverpool

Peter Kerins Selections To Date: Newcastle Southampton Brighton Leicester Arsenal Chelsea Tottenham Liverpool Man City

Jessica Farry Selections To Date: West Ham Leicester Chelsea Bournemouth Man City Tottenham Burnley Watford Liverpool

Alan Jinks Selections To Date: Newcastle Liverpool Man United Man City Crystal Palace Chelsea Tottenham Watford Wolves

The best of luck to all remaining players and may the best man/woman win!

The following are the fixtures for round 10:

Everton vs. Burnley

Bournemouth vs. Tottenham

West Ham vs. Southampton

Wolves vs. Fulham

Cardiff vs. Crystal Palace

Newcastle vs. Liverpool

Chelsea vs. Watford

Huddersfield vs. Man Utd

Arsenal vs. Brighton

Man City vs. Leicester

Vote for the Wehrly Bros Jewellers Sligo Rovers Player of the Month for April

Rovers had wins over Dundalk and UCD in the month, draws with Finn Harps, Cork and Waterford and defeats to St Pat’s and Bohemians

The winner will receive a Bulova watch sponsored by Wehrly Bros Jewellers

Vote here

The Dublin Supporters Club have asked us to remind all the fans in the capital that their race night, sponsored by The White Hag, takes place on Thursday night in Toners Bar in Baggot Street.

The DSC want to thank all of you that have bought horses in preparation. They have sold a record total for this event.

Liam Buckley and Dave Campbell of the management team will attend on the night.

You can enter the raffle on the night and you can get tickets here if you can’t make it. Prizes include White Hag packages, vouchers and Sligo Rovers merch.

Thanks to Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan MEP who is a commercial partner of Sligo Rovers for this weekend’s game with Shamrock Rovers and advertiser in the Dublin Race Night on Thursday.

We look forward to welcoming MEP Flanagan to The Showgrounds on Saturday.

He said: “I’m excited to see the Bit O’ Red against Shamrock Rovers. As I said recently on the Tonight Show, as a Sligo Rovers fan there really is only one Rovers. It should be a great night in The Showgrounds. See you all then.”