A Patrick McClean own goal along with Christian Mbulu’s superb second half strike, saw Sligo Rovers exit the Irn Bru Scottish Cup at the hands of Motherwell’s Under-20 side at Fir Park.

Rovers, who had only arrived in Scotland hours before kick-off, were flat throughout and fell behind 12 minutes in.

David Turnbull and Jake Hastie combining down the Rovers left. The latter’s cross catching out McClean who could only turn the ball into his own net.

A jaded Rovers never imposed themselves on this game, and almost allowed the Scots a second on 22 minutes.

James Scott’s initial drive at goal was blocked by Jack Keaney, before the ball fell to full back Kyle MacDonald who rattled Ed McGinty’s side netting.

Sligo did show signs of life when Rhys McCabe tested Rohan Ferguson ten minutes from the break. The Colts net minder grabbing the Rovers skipper’s attempt at the second ask.

Ferguson denied McCabe again shortly after with a save at full stretch.

Sligo had their best chance of the half three minutes from the break. Mikey Drennan’s header dropping past the far post from a Regan Donelon cross.

McGinty was called back into action after the re-start to tip Turnbull’s effort over his crossbar.

There was further worry for the away side when McClean was stretchered off after a heavy challenge on the half-way line.

Rovers men could have been further behind on 66. But McGinty was comfortable in holding Broque Watson’s tame effort from close range.

Mbulu had the Colts two ahead on 70 minutes. The centre half showing neat feet before clipping the ball into the top corner from 15 yards.

Motherwell Colts: Rohan Ferguson; Kyle MacDonald, Barry Maguire, Christian Mbulu, Adam Livinsgton; Broque Watson, David Turnbull, Liam Brown, Jake Hastie; Akeal Rehman (Jordan Armstrong 67), James Scott.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Patrick McClean (Seamus Sharkey 54), Regan Donelon (Raff Cretaro 75); David Cawley, Rhys McCabe, Jack Keaney; Kris Twardek, Caolan McAleer (Lewis Morrison HT); Mikey Drennan.

Referee: Richard Hulme.

Sligo Rovers travel to Scotland on Saturday for an Irn Bru Cup match with Motherwell Colts at Fir Park.

A comfortable 4-1 win over Livingston Colts saw Rovers through to this stage as Mikey Drennan bagged a hat-trick and Player of the Round.

In team news, Lee Lynch is ill and misses out, while Gary Boylan is out for the season (ACL).

Gerard Lyttle said: “Lee picked something up so we sent him home on Thursday to try to get better but it has got worse overnight. There’s no point pushing it now. Apart from him and Gary we have our full squad.

“This is a step up from Livingston. We’ve been able to get some research on Motherwell. We know how they set up from that and looking through their squad there is a lot of 19 and 20-year-olds who are on the cusp of a breakthrough. This is a game they’ve been crying out for because they become centre stage at their club this weekend and the chance to play against a senior side. That’s a big thing for any young player.

“We’ve a lot of young players too, as is well documented, along with our few older lads and really our focus is on ourselves and what we can do.

“We got the win we wanted last week, we’ve had a really good week of training and we’re travelling in good spirits. I expect the Fir Park pitch to be like a carpet and when we’ve gone to places with a top class surface you’ve often seen the best of us and a lot of good results.

“That’s the type of team we are. The lads are looking forward to it and we’re under no illusions that we have to be at it. Progress in this competition is what we want. That’s what we’re going over to try to do and I know we have a good support coming with us so it’s important to give them something to cheer as well.”

The team departed from Derry Airport this afternoon and will return immediately after the game on Saturday.

Kick-off: 3pm

Meet-up: Cooper Bar, Knowetop Avenue, Fir Park stadium (next to the Well Shop) is the meet-up area for our fans. It will open at 12pm and supporters will meet from then.

Food and drink will be served until kick-off with the bar opening again following the match. It is a ten minute walk from both train stations in Motherwell.

Match tickets: Adults £8, concessions £4 and £2. These are available at the stadium. Rovers fans should not buy online via Motherwell.

For more e-mail media@sligorovers.com 

The Bit O’Red Supporters Trust will hold a Texas Hold’em Poker event in the City Hotel on Sunday, October 28th. The event takes place in support of Sligo Rovers’ youth teams.

The tournament gets underway at 2pm with late registration up until 5pm.

No registration fee is required, buy-in is €30, plus one re-buy or top-up of €20.

Final two tables will be dealer dealt by Adelaide Casino, Sligo.

For further information, contact 086-3127783 and keep on eye on BORST’s Facebook and Twitter page.

pokerposter1

The Halloween holidays are just around the corner, with the booking process now underway for our 2018 Halloween Camp which will take place in The Showgrounds.

The success of our children’s camps in recent years has been unprecedented, with high demand expected once again at Halloween. Prices remain capped from Summer, representing one of the best valued camps in the region.

The camp itself runs from 10.30am until 3pm, starting on the bank holiday Monday (October 29^th) and will finish on Friday November 2^nd. The cost of the camp is €60 for one child, €100 for two children from the one family and finally €135 for three children from the one family.

Every child that participates in the camp will receive and official Sligo Rovers training top, a participation certificate and a picture with members of the Sligo Rovers first team.

An optional breakfast club is also taking place each morning which opens from 8.30am daily. The cost of the breakfast club is €25 per child for the week or €10 per morning. Breakfast includes a choice of cereal, toast and Juice each morning which is then followed by fully supervised indoor and outdoor activities. Parents are advised that the Breakfast Club is limited to a maximum of 25 per week and is likely to sell out. Therefore, pre booking is strongly advised.

The camp is open to boys and girls, between the ages of 5 & 15. Only vetted and experienced coaches will be provided.

For more information on the Halloween Camp, you can contact Shane at the club on 071-9171212.

Alternatively, you can secure your place on the camp by booking online here

As 283 players face into an international football weekend free from the pressure of having to put it all on the line and select a team another 105 players still haven’t picked a team but have been lucky that alphabetical order has seen them through the first three rounds of this years competition. Continue reading “Last Man Standing – Week 3 Results” →

We would like to thank both the Match Sponsor and Match Ball Sponsor from last Saturdays game against Bray Wanderers.

In what was a very special night for the club, being our 90th birthday celebrations, the Match Sponsor on the night was Marc Mac Sharry while the Match Ball was sponsored by Flynn’s Corner Bar Carrick-On-Shannon.

Our thanks to both Marc Mac Sharry & Flynns Corner Bar for their generous sponsorship and continued support of the club as a whole.

Sligo Rovers secured their Premier Division safety and in doing so also confirmed Bray Wanderers relegation, as the Bit O’Red recorded their third league win at the Showgrounds this season.

All the goals came in an action packed five-minute spell early in the second half.

Caolan McAleer fired Ger Lyttle’s men into the lead, three minutes before Jake Ellis levelled the tie. But Mikey Drennan was on hand to restore Sligo’s lead just 60 seconds later.

Sligo dominated large parts of this first half and should have hit the lead early on.

Drennan’s chested attempt in front of goal crept past Mark O’Connor’s far post just two minutes in, while Rhys McCabe’s headed effort from a similar distance suffered the same fate.

Bray, who haven’t won a single league away game this term, spent much of the opening period inside their own half.

Lee Lynch had O’Connor scrambling to push away his drive from distance on the quarter hour. While Caolan McAleer, John Mahon and Lynch again, each went close to breaking the deadlock.

Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty had to be alert to tip Ger Pender’s bending effort over his crossbar five minutes into the second half.

McAleer netted twice when these two sides met at the Carlisle Grounds earlier this year and the Tyrone man was at it again on 56 minutes. The winger nodding Lynch’s ball past O’Connor for his fourth of the year, heralding a crazy few minutes.

Gary Cronin’s side were behind for all of three minutes. Jake Ellis making the most of the space afforded to him as he slotted past McGinty.

Bray had barely gathered their thoughts when they found themselves behind again. O’Connor came to claim Lynch’s cross from the right but was beaten to the ball by Drennan whose looped header won it for Rovers.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Patrick McClean, Regan Donelon; David Cawley, Rhys McCabe; Caolan McAleer (Liam Kerrigan 81), Lee Lynch (Raff Cretaro 88), Lewis Morrison (Darren Collins 60); Mikey Drennan.

Bray Wanderers: Mark O’Connor; Conor Kenna, Darragh Gibbons, Cian Walsh, Kevin Lynch; Dylan Hayes (Dragos Mamaliga 8), Paul O’Conor, John Sullivan, Darragh Noone; Jake Ellis, Ger Pender (Byron O’Gorman 85).

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Everyone at Sligo Rovers are very excited ahead of our 90th Birthday celebrations tomorrow evening. We’re expecting a big crowd at the game with even our first citizen, President Michael D Higgins joining us for the festivities.

Everything you need to know about the game and whats happening on the night is detailed below. Continue reading “90th Birthday Celebrations – What You Need To Know” →

Our Under-19 team face Shamrock Rovers this Sunday at Tallaght Stadium in the SSE Airtricity League Under-19 quarter-final.

The Bit O’Red left it late in Derry last week to ensure qualification for the last eight.

Rovers needed a win and also needed northwest neighbours Finn Harps to drop points away to Bohemians.

As it turned out, going into the last few minutes in both games, it looked as if the Ballybofey men had done their job.

Rovers were level at 2-2 and Harps were ahead in Dublin. However, all was not lost.

A short time after Jack Hever scored a stoppage time winner for Brian Dorrian’s under 19’s, Bohs levelled late on to swing things our way, much to the delight of Dorrian, who speaks about his side’s chances this Sunday:

“We know it will be a tough game. Obviously, one of our toughest this season so far.

“The lads dug really deep last week against Derry and finally we got the crucial late goal to take us into the quarter-finals”

It has been a good year for our under 19 squad with six players featuring in the first team, with John Mahon and Jack Keaney becoming regulars,

Edward McGinty made his full debut recently against Waterford FC as well as debuts for Liam Kerrigan, Niall Morahan & Darren Collins.

Luke McNicholas is also part of the first team squad, something Dorrian is certainly pleased with.

“That’s what they’re here for. If you play well at underage level, especially Under-19 you get your chance. That’s what Gerard has told them, and that’s what has happened. In fairness to the manager, he has had no problems throwing them in, and when they have played, they’ve been excellent. We will miss some of those lads on Sunday but fingers crossed they’ll play for the first team Saturday night instead.

“We will go there with nothing to lose and see where it takes us”

The game kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, with updates via our Facebook and Twitter.