Match night sponsor: Alert Fire Protection, Sligo

Match ball sponsor: Kilfree Limited.

The Showgrounds hosts Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup football for the first time in two years this Saturday, as Sligo Rovers take on Kerry FC in a repeat of last year’s dramatic last eight tie at Mounthawk Park.

This third round tie will be the first time Rovers have been at home in four games in this competition after all of last year’s rounds and our 2024 defeat to Drogheda, were played away from home. 

A win for Rovers would put the Bit O’Red in the quarter-finals for the second year running. Last year’s cup run ended with a chastening night for Rovers in Kerry, the hosts reversing a three goal deficit to win the game by a goal. 

Colin Healy’s side are in superb form at the moment, with seven wins from their last ten games, including a penalty shoot-out victory over Shelbourne in the last round. The Kingdom currently sit in sixth in the First Division, lying just outside the play-offs. 

Archie Meekison returns to Rovers’ match-day squad having missed the last two games through suspension. Luke Pearce, a late withdrawal from the Derry game, will be assessed having picked up a muscle injury in the Drogheda game. As will Daire Patton who continues to recover from a bout of appendicitis.

New signings Kaiyne Woolery and Luke Young’s international transfer clearance was approved on Friday and both will be available for selection.

“If previous results affect you then you’re probably in the wrong game”, Darren Purse tells sligorovers.com when pressed on whether or not last year’s result will play on minds ahead of the game. 

“You have to put those bad results to the side. I don’t think that will affect our lads at all in their approach.

“Was it disappointing? Yes. But that’s well gone and now the players prepare for a game which will hopefully see us progress.”

Kerry come into this tie on the back of a defeat to runaway First Division leaders Cork City, a game which they led for 44 minutes until the Rebels equalised and scored two more before the end. 

Purse feels the Green and Gold won’t lack confidence or desire as they look to cause another FAI Cup shock, but is eager for his squad to progress at the weekend and use this game as a confidence booster for games ahead. 

“We watched the Cork game and they’re a good side on a good run”, he says. 

“They’ll come expecting to hit us with another upset but it’s up to us to put to bed what went on last year. 

“We need to build some sort of momentum as quick as we can because we have three really big league games coming up. Winning on Saturday can give us a springboard to go and pick up results in the league.

“When we play a system which sees us nick a couple of results, we’ll know that that is our system. So let’s see how the weekend goes and we’ll take it from there.

“We have more players within the group and that should bring competition and impetus with it to go and do well. If the game goes for us, then we’re on a run of losing just one game in five going into the last round of league fixtures.” 

Kick-off at the Showgrounds is 7.45pm.

David Goulden

Darren Purse has added experience and attacking power to his Sligo Rovers squad with the addition of both Luke Young and Kaiyne Woolery, both of whom have joined the club on deals until the end of the current season.

Young, 33, is an accomplished central midfielder and brings with him to the Bit O’Red, the experience of almost 600 senior career appearances in English football, including time with Wrexham, Plymouth and Cheltenham Town.

While winger Woolery, who can play up top is 31 and arrives at the Showgrounds following spells in the UK, Greece and Turkey.

Both players have signed subject to international transfer clearance and the club is hopeful both will be available for Saturday’s Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup tie with Kerry at the Showgrounds.

A former club captain at Wrexham, Young began his career alongside his new manager Purse and assistant Warren Feeney at Plymouth. Here, all three helped the Pilgrims survive relegation from the football league with two games to spare, despite being nine points adrift mid-way through the season.

Young was a regular feature in the Wexham side which won the National League in 2023 and finished runner-up in League Two a year later.

“He’s had an exceptional career and is someone myself and Warren know really well”, Purse tells sligorovers.com.

“Luke is in our position now when we were at Plymouth given that we were the elder statesmen. It’s not surprising to me how well he’s done in his career and hopefully he can help us do what he, myself and Warren did at Plymouth all those years ago and stay in the division.

“We’ve got some good young talent in our squad but they need some help. Both Luke and Kaiyne are that little but older. I think they’ll help not only the younger boys but also lads like Carl McHugh who is a lone voice a little bit and Gareth McElroy who’s an exceptional young leader and I feel the new boys can bring him on.

“We’ve had a lot of offers of younger players here but I don’t think that’s what we need at this moment. It’s taken a week or two longer to bring them in, but I wasn’t happy with just signing anyone. I want to sign the right ones that give us the best possible chance of getting out of the position we’re in.”

Six points off safety but with a full round of games yet to play, Plymouth native Young says he is keen to repay the trust shown in him by his former team-mates and is ready to go to battle as Rovers attempt to pull off a great escape of our own.

“I know the manager from playing with him at Plymouth when I was a young pro. I was in touch with him shortly after he became boss here and the move came from there”, Young says.

“It’s great to come to a club where you are wanted and Darren knows exactly what I’m like, both as a player and a person. He made it very clear to me that he wanted me at the club and now it’s time for me to prove I’m good enough to earn his trust and that of the fans and club.

“I’ve done my research into the league and the club. I won’t say I know too much about either but I do know it’s a tricky league to play in. It seems any team can beat any team really and to me that is part of the challenge, to be on top of your game every week. I’m looking forward to it.

“We’re obviously not in the best situation in terms of the league table. But we need to hit that challenge full on. I’ve had my experiences with relegation battles and have come out the right end of them. Hopefully my time at Rovers will be no different. Any little bit of help I can give, I will.

“I’ll do my best to squeeze every ounce of experience I have out of myself and drive up standards. I’m here to fight and to try and make sure this club is still in the Premier Division come the winter.”

Winger Woolery is a native of Hackney in London who most recently lined out for League Two side Tranmere Rovers who he assisted in avoiding the drop.

His career spans fifteen or so years and has brought him from England to Motherwell in Scotland and Sakaryaspor in Turkey to Ionikos in Greece.

“He was in a battle with Tranmere last year and we spoke with plenty of people around Tranmere”, Purse says.

“What kept coming back to me was the message that Kaiyne is the sort of person you’d go to war with. And that’s what you want when you’re fighting to stay in a division. He’s experienced, athletic and wants to run in behind. He brings versatility to our front line, which we maybe lack at the moment.”

“I like to play with power, be direct and carry the team up the pitch and play in behind or on the counter”, Woolery states.

“It only takes a few good results and you’re right back in amongst the other teams in the division and that’s what I’m here to help do.

“What’s exciting for me is that anything can happen. We have a full round of games still to go so there’s plenty of time for anything to happen and we’ve got the cup to look forward to.

“I’m delighted to work with Darren as he has so much experience in the game and plays football the way I like to play so I’m excited to see how we can implement his style on our own. Hopefully it works out now and we get back to winning ways.”

David Goulden

BY CONALL COLLIER

Sligo Rovers extended an unbeaten Women’s Premier Division (WPD) sequence to 10 games following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds against Galway Utd as Gracie Dunaway and Emma Doherty traded goals in each half.

Dunaway gave Sligo Rovers the lead with her first goal for the club midway through the opening half while Emma Doherty equalised for Galway five minutes into the second-half.

Galway Utd came into the crucial encounter after failing to win midweek at Dalymount Park while in the Women’s FAI Cup quarter-final last weekend they needed extra-time for a 2-1 victory after a scoreless 90 minutes against the Bit O’Red.

Saturday’s draw at the Showgrounds saw Phil Trill’s side drop from second to third in the table some four points adrift of leaders Athlone Town while Sligo Rovers consolidated fifth place with eight games remaining.

Both teams featured changes from the WFAI Cup game with Haylee Mersereau making her first start for the Bit O’Red after a substitute appearance last weekend against Galway when she replaced Sabrina Hillyer.

For Galway, Remina Tillotson was unavailable following a red card in that midweek game against Bohemians while Aoibhin Donnelly and Cara Griffin also dropped to the bench. The trio of Aislinn Meaney, Ava Mullins and Ella Raimondi deputised.

There were a number of individual battles over the 90 minutes with the Doherty duel the most intriguing as Alana Doherty for Sligo Rovers curtailed Galway’s Emma Doherty who was frequently caught offside.

Then there was the midfield tussle between Cara Jordan and Galway’s Niamh Farrelly as both players enjoyed periods of dominance. Jordan certainly shaded the verdict in terms of work rate and carved out numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Sligo Rovers lost Anna McDaniel to an early injury and she was replaced by Cara King in what was a high-tempo opening half.

The warning signs were there for Galway as early as the 17th minute when Gracie Dunaway beat two Galway defenders and tested Amanda McQuillan’s shot-stopping ability.

However, McQuillan had to pick the ball out of the net midway through the half when Dunaway swivelled smartly on Jordan’s cross into the penalty area and gave her side a merited lead.

The Jordan – Dunaway combination continued to test the Galway defence for the remainder of the half with McQuillan saving well on the stroke of half-time.

Galway resumed the second-half smartly and on the one occasion that offside wasn’t a factor, Emma Doherty headed her side level with an excellent finish from a 50th minute corner.

Both sides worked hard for the remainder and it was evident that Galway found the going tough in the closing stages as they resorted to the long ball in an effort to grab that elusive second goal.

At the other end, the assistant-referee appeared to flag for a 90th minute infringement against a Sligo Rovers player on the edge of the Galway penalty area, but the referee let play continue ahead of the final whistle.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Ava Hallinan, Haylee Mersereau, Alanah Doherty, Alice Lillie, Emma Duffy, Cara Jordan, Ella Karolak, Olivia Rush, Gracie Dunaway, Anna McDaniel.

Subs – Cara King for McDaniel 13 mins, Sarah McCaffrey for Hallinan 60m, Gio Dionicio for Dunaway and Paula McGrory for Duffy both 85m.

Galway Utd – Amanda McQuillan; Aoibheann Costello, Lucy Grant, Isabella Beletic, Niamh Cotter, Niamh Farrelly, Aislinn Meaney, Ella Raimondi, Amy Tierney, Ava Mullin, Emma Doherty.

Subs – Aoibhin Donnelly for Tierney 63 mins, Cara Griffin for Meaney 74m.

Referee – Michael Connolly.

Assistant-referees – Richard Storey, Keenan Deering.

Fourth official – Darren Corcoran.

Sligo Rovers suffered defeat for the first time under the stewardship of Darren Purse on Friday night as the Bit O’Red were beaten by Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Second half strikes from Barry Cotter and Adam O’Reilly saw Rovers defeated for the first time in four games and extends our search for a league win to ten games, when we face Waterford at the Showgrounds on August 21st. 

Without a number of players through injury including the late withdrawal of Luke Pearse and Kevin Zefi along with suspended winger Archie Meekison, Purse’s side were up against it from the start at a venue Rovers haven’t won a game at in six years.  

City’s James Clarke struck the frame of the Sligo goal on the quarter hour, while clumsy play in our midfield allowed Michael Duffy the chance to find the opener. Mercifully, he dragged his effort across goal with an incoming Derry player unable to get to the ball at the back post. 

Clarke fired wide again on 25 minutes, Cameron Dummigan pulled a save from Sam Sargeant, while the Rovers keeper denied Darragh Burns before the break as the managerless Derry continued to ask questions of Rovers’ rearguard. 

The game’s first goal arrived on 53 minutes when Cotter headed a Burns corner past the busy Sargeant, who did get a touch to the ball. 

Duffy smashed the Rovers crossbar just short of the hour as Rovers continued to struggle and the defence was easily unlocked again on 64 when O’Reilly and Liam Boyce played a one-two before the former executed a smart finish. 

Rovers’ next game is our Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup clash with Kerry at the Showgrounds on Saturday, August 15th. Kick-off 7.45pm. 

Derry City: Brian Maher, Barry Cotter (James Olayinka 74), Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McClean, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster; Nick Twisk (Tyler Smith 74), Adam O’Reilly, James Clarke; Darragh Burns (Conor Barr 64), Liam Boyce (Ellis Chapman 83), Michael Duffy.

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant, Sebastian Quirk (Jamie McGonigle 64), Jack Shorrock, Cian Kavanagh, Oliver Denham, Carl McHugh, Trey George (James McManus 55), Kyle McDonagh (Sean Stewart 64), Ryan O’Kane (Alex Nolan 55), Jeannot Esua, Gareth McElroy.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium is Sligo Rovers’ destination this (Friday) evening as the Bit O’Red take on Derry City in what is our final game of the third round of Premier Division fixtures.

Unbeaten in three, Rovers will travel to Derry hoping to pick up a first win at the Lone Moor Road venue since the summer of 2020, a game which marked the re-start of football after the covid 19 pandemic. 

This will be Rovers’ second visit to Derry this season and the first time since City’s new hybrid pitch was laid. Sligo were beaten by an injury time Josh Thomas goal on the opening night of the season, the last time we played there. While April’s joust between the clubs at the Showgrounds ended in a scoreless stalemate.

Darren Purse’s side go into this game three points adrift, knowing a win would move us level with Waterford who play on Sunday.

This is also the Candystripes’ first game since former manager Tiernan Lynch departed the club on Wednesday afternoon. Director of Football Mark Connolly will lead their side for tonight’s game. 

Rovers will travel north without Archie Meekison who will serve the second of a two match ban. 

Injured duo Jad Hakiki and Conor Reynolds are likely to be out for the rest of the season, while Daire Patton is struggling with appendicitis and is likely to miss out. 

Kevin Zefi should be OK, despite picking up an injury in the lead up to last week’s game with Dundalk at Oriel Park. 

Previewing the game, Purse tells sligorovers.com that a change in personnel on the Derry bench is likely to make little difference to what lies ahead. 

Purse is also looking forward to getting back to playing on grass after last week’s game on the Dundalk astro.

“Our preference is grass”, he says. 

“But I can understand why clubs change. But Derry looks fantastic now and it’s one that we can go up there and look to play some really good football on. But I think it’s what we do out of possession of the ball that will dictate whether or not we get a result from the game. 

“I thought we deserved more out of Drogheda but I don’t think we deserved much from Dundalk, so it’s been a tale of two games really. One we deserved the point and one we maybe didn’t. I think we need to try and get more control in games if we can and that’s one of our main aims. 

“Derry will be tough. They’ve a huge squad to choose from and they’ll provide a challenge but it’s one my players will be up for.

“Tiernan leaving doesn’t change much. They’ve still a big squad and plenty of options. They’ll probably change things a bit, their shape, they might go a bit more direct. We don’t know? We’ll have to be adaptable. 

“All we can do is concentrate on ourselves. We try to approach every game as best we can. It’s what we do as a team that can get us out of the position we’re in. That’s all I and we can focus on. Whatever happens after that, we’ll have to manage and deal with from there.”

Kick-off at the Brandywell is 7.45pm. 

David Goulden

BY CONALL COLLIER

Three extra-time goals decided this absorbing Women’s Club Orange FAI Cup quarter-final on Saturday as hosts Galway Utd survived a stern Sligo Rovers examination to emerge on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline.

Emma Doherty’s goals in each half of that extra-time gave Galway a hard-earned victory as they hung on after Cara Jordan’s opportunist strike revived the Bit O’Red and set up a nail biting conclusion.

The sides finished scoreless after a high-tempo 90 minutes during which each team enjoyed periods of dominance without breaking the deadlock.

Bit O’Red boss Gavin Hughes made one change from the team that won the previous week with Gracie Dunaway starting in place of the injured Emma Hansberry.

Galway supremo Phil Trill made two changes with Amanda McQuillan returning between the posts in place of Nicole Nix and Amy Tierney started at the expense of Eve Dossen

Sligo Rovers stood strong for the opening 45 minutes and successfully frustrated the best efforts of the hosts who created an early chance through Emma Doherty that Bonnie McKiernan tipped away for a corner.

Doherty was well-contained by Alice Lillie initially and when she switched sides there wasn’t any compromise from Sabrina Hillyer against the former Sligo Rovers striker.

Hillyer was harshly penalised with a yellow card on 34 minutes, but soon after a Galway player escaped censure following a similar type of challenge.

Galway ‘keeper McQuillan showed her quality close to the interval when she raced out of her penalty area and won a crucial race for possession with Gracie Dunaway and averted the danger as it remained scoreless at the interval. 

Sligo Rovers dominated the early second-half exchanges but a number of promising moves were thwarted by the Galway offside tactic.

Nevertheless, Cara Jordan and Anna  McDaniel had shots on target, but Galway absorbed the pressure and gradually took a grip.

Remina Tillotson had the best chance for Galway when she denied in the 75^th minute, but her goal-bound header was cleared off the line.

Sligo Rovers countered swiftly and Cara Jordan’s pass set up Alice Lillie who shot narrowly wide.

Extra-time was only five minutes old when Galway broke the deadlock through Emma Doherty who got a vital touch from close range. 

Doherty made it 2-0 with a fine goal in the second-half of extra-time, but that late Cara Jordan goal had Galway scrambling for survival in five minutes of added time.

Galway Utd – Amanda McQuillan; Aoibheann Costello, Lucy Grant, Isabella Beletic, Remina Tillotson, Niamh Cotter, Aoibhin Donnelly, Cara Griffin, Amy Tierney, Emma Doherty, Niamh Farrelly. 

Subs – Ava Mullins for Griffin and Aislinn Meaney for Tierney both 63 mins, Grace Donnelly for Gleeson 117m

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Ava Hallinan, Sabrina Hillyer, Alanah Doherty, Alice Lillie, Emma Duffy, Cara Jordan, Ella Karolak, Olivia Rush, Gracie Dunaway, Anna McDaniel. 

Subs – Haylee Mersereau for Hillyer and Cara King for Dunaway both 68 mins, Gio Dionicio for Doherty 85m, Paula McGrory for Hallinan 95m, Sarah McCaffrey for McDaniel 106m, 

Referee – Mark Patchell.

Assistant-referees – Paul Farrell, Thomas Joyce.

Fourth official – Shane O’Donoghue.

Sligo Rovers’ injury time hero Gareth McElroy believes his late equaliser at Oriel Park on Friday night will do wonders for his team mates’ confidence, as the Bit O’Red finally saw some small fortune swing their way.

McElroy netted in the 91st minute to rescue what may prove to be a vital point for Rovers come season’s end, after former Sligo winger and Dundalk skipper Daryl Horgan had the Lilywhites in the lead mid-way through the opening half. 

This was welcome luck and relief after the last few weeks which saw Rovers concede late on and drop vital points in games against Drogheda, Galway, Shelbourne and St Pat’s.

In what was new boss Darren Purse’s first away game in charge, Rovers found it difficult to set a steady foot in this game early on. Sam Sargeant had to deny Horgan from just one yard out at his back post ten minutes in. While Trevor Clarke smashed Sargeant’s crossbar nine minutes later, just after Luke Pearse had Rovers’ first chance of the game with a header. 

Clarke again went close once more, this time a mis-directed header before the break.

Rovers were much improved in the second period and new boy Jack Shorrock, one of the stand out performers of the evening, had Dundalk ‘keeper Enda Minogue reaching to push the Port Vale’s loanee’s hammered strike over his crossbar shortly after the re-start. 

McElroy caused issues for a Dundalk defence which was pulled all over the place from the resulting Shorrock corner. The former Derry youth’s header bounced off the floor in front of Minogue as the effort fizzed past the post. 

The home side went ahead on 53 minutes when Horgan finished into the roof of the net and things could have got a lot worse for Rovers eight minutes later only for more magic from Sargeant. 

Irish international Horgan nodded Bobby Burns’ over-cooked cross into the path of Cian Dillon who was denied by another close range stop from the superb Sargeant who then kept out a Ronan Teahan drive from distance as Ciaran Kilduff’s side looked to kill the game.

Sargeant’s fine work wasn’t to prove fruitless as Purses’ men campaigned their way to that injury time leveller.

The busy Cian Kavanagh won a free ten yards from the edge of the Dundalk area, which Daire Patton took. Patton’s initial effort was repelled by a Dundalk defender only for Kyle McDonagh to swing the ball back into the mixer. More chaos ensued inside the Louth side’s penalty area as Minogue failed to make clean contact with the ball which instead fell to debutant Trey George. 

The Cardiff loanee’s potshot took a deflection off a defender before landing in front of McElroy who gleefully prodded the ball between two Dundalk players to cap off some wonderful late drama. 

Speaking to sligorovers.com following all that late theatre, McElroy says he feels the result was some small justice following a few weeks of change and uncertainty at the Showgrounds. 

“I think it’s massive to be honest”, he told Jack Dempsey. 

“We really needed it. The position we’re in, points are vital. Some days, it just doesn’t go your way and if you can get a point, even three, then you know you’ve done something right. I feel like we had other chances so really, we could have won it.

 “We were disappointed in conceding a soft goal but we’ll work to make sure that doesn’t happen again.   

“Hopefully that’ll see our luck turn a wee bit.

“That’s three games unbeaten now and that gives us all confidence, the whole club.” 

Dundalk: Minogue; Burns, Animasahun, Cornwall, Teahan; Dervin, Buckley (Gaxha 71); Clarke (McDaid 71), Groome (Grivosti 63), Horgan; Dillon (Vassenin 87).

Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Esua, Denham, McElroy, Stewart (McDonagh 81); Pearce (Quirk 36), McHugh, McManus (Patton 63), Shorrock (George 63); Kavanagh, McGonigle.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

David Goulden

New manager Darren Purse brings his Sligo Rovers side on the road for the first time, as the Bit O’Red head to Oriel Park to face Dundalk, this evening (Friday).

Kick-off is 7.45pm at the Louth venue as Rovers go in search of a first league win in eight and the opportunity to move off the league’s bottom spot.

Sligo come into this tie on the back of late disappointment against Drogheda United at the Showgrounds last weekend. A brace from the now in-form Cian Kavanagh, overturned Drogs’ one goal advantage, only for the visitors to strike for an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time. 

Rovers have already faced the Lilywhites twice this term, with both camps enjoying wins over the other. 

One of the surprise packages of 2026, Ciaran Kilduff’s Dundalk occupy the league’s fourth spot ahead of tonight’s game with 36 points gathered from their 25 games played.

In team news and as of Friday morning, Rovers will again be without long-term injury victims Jad Hakiki and Conor Reynolds. Archie Meekison is suspended after he was red carded late on last week and will serve the first of a two game ban.

New signings Jack Shorrock and Trey George, both of whom arrived on loan this week are available for their debuts. While midfielders Daire Patton and Kevin Zefi should also be fit to play. 

Will Fitzgerald has departed for Shamrock Rovers, Sean McHale was re-called from his loan early and Ciaron Harkin has been loaned to Finn Harps. 

Speaking to sligorovers.com ahead of the game, boss Purse says he is already noticing signs that his players are moulding into his style, less than a week after the London native took charge. “The work we’ve done over the past three or four sessions we’ve had since the weekend, you can see straight away that the boys are really buying into the way we want to do things now.

“There’s been some really good quality in the sessions, so from that point of view, I think I’ve got the players here that can play the way we want to play. We have to keep building and keep layering the information we give to the players. 

“The longer we spend with them, the better they will become.

“Dundalk will be a big test now. Like us, they’ve had some changes over the past few weeks and they’ve adjusted well. I saw them against St Pat’s recently and they gave Pat’s a game and looked well settled. We’ll go there with fresh minds and try to do the best we can.” 

David Goulden 

BY CONALL COLLIER

Two of the current form teams in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) will go head-to-head on Saturday when Sligo Rovers make the shorter journey to the temporary home of Galway Utd at Moyne Villa FC in Headford for a crucial FAI Cup quarter-final tie with kick-off scheduled for 5pm.

This encounter will mark a 10th appearance in the Women’s FAI Cup for Sligo Rovers since entering the competition in 2022 – a journey that has already produced memorable moments, milestones and a growing Cup pedigree.

Sligo Rovers made it to the semi‑finals for the first time in 2023 where they were defeated by Athlone Town. The Bit O’Red repeated that achievement in 2024, reaching the last four and once again Athlone Town proved too strong.

For this weekend, Sligo Rovers can show a strong hand with a nine-game unbeaten WPD run plus a 2-1 away win in the FAI Cup against Waterford in the last round to make it 10 without defeat.

Despite the loss of super striker Sydney Stephens after the 1-0 victory against Wexford, Sligo Rovers tallied six goals in the last two outings, three per game, which demonstrates the strength-in-depth of the squad.

Emma Hansberry is a doubt for Saturday after she limped out of the action in the 40^th minute against Bohemians last Saturday at Dalymount Park, but manager Gavin Hughes will be optimistic that his side can extend that unbeaten sequence.

“The last time we played Galway, it was the second game of the season and there has been a lot of football played since then,” he commented.

“We need more players chipping in with goals and with assists and in the last couple of games we have scored six goals.

“That’s very pleasing, especially after the departure of Sydney Stephens, the younger players are making the step up now and the girls we brought in have contributed to that and it’s a very competitive environment.

“We are in a rich vein of form and we can really look forward to a good game and the aim is to get to the semi-final,” he added.

The Galway women will be quietly confident of building on an impressive 11-game unbeaten WPD sequence as they bid for a place in the last four.

Galway accounted for the Bit O’Red at Eamonn Deacy Park last March, despite conceding early, they got back on terms from a 45^th minute penalty and hit the winning goal from a spot kick in the second-half.

Add in the form that took Galway all the way to the All-Island Cup final, where they had to travel to Dublin to tackle Shelbourne at Tolka Park and were edged out narrowly in that contest.

They hosted Treaty Utd in the last round of the FAI Cup and emerged with a 1-0 victory with former Sligo Rovers player Emma Doherty finding the net after seven minutes.

Galway will be aiming to sign-off from their temporary home with another victory before a return to Eamonn Deacy Park at the end of August.

Surely, all the ingredients for what should be a fast-paced encounter.

The teams will meet again the following weekend at the Showgrounds in the Women’s Premier Division.

Sligo Rovers manager Darren Purse has secured his second signing since taking the top job at the Showgrounds last week, with the arrival of Welsh attacking midfielder Trey George on loan from Cardiff City.

The 20-year-old joins up ahead of Friday’s game against Dundalk on a deal which will see him play with the Bit O’Red until the end of the current season.

He will be eligible to take part in tomorrow’s game at Oriel Park as Rovers go in search of a vital victory which could lift us off the bottom of the table. 

Adept at operating anywhere across the midfield, the Welsh underage international is Purse’s second summer signing following the arrival of wide-man Jack Shorrock who arrived at Sligo on Tuesday. 

A native of Merthyr Tydfil, 25 miles north of Cardiff, George signed for the Bluebirds at the age of eight and has moved up the age ranks since.

He made his mark on his senior debut for the Championship club in an EFL Trophy game against Arsenal  U21s in last November, a game in which he netted the fourth goal in a 4-1 win over the young Gunners. 

Purse is very familiar with his latest acquisition, having coached George at Cardiff. Describing him as ‘exceptional’, Purse says he has the advantage of already knowing that Trey has all the right attributes given their shared pasts. 

“Having that extra loan spot when Sean McHale left, gave me the perfect opportunity for me to bring someone over that I know”, Purse tells sligorovers.com.  

“Trey’s a real top lad and I believe he’s a top player as well. You look at the impact he’s had over the past few years at Cardiff at the levels he’s played at. There’s huge potential there.

“But he needs time to develop and Cardiff have given him that time as they believe he has plenty to offer.

“If you look at his physical profile, he’s not the biggest but he’s got massive heart. Nobody will run farther than him and he’s versatile and adaptable in the way he plays the game. 

“He’s an exceptional little footballer. I’ve worked with him for the last four years and he’s someone who will adapt well to the way we want to play.”

George was equally as keen to link up with Purse once more and knows to expect a real challenge as Rovers push to give ourselves the best possible chance of avoiding the drop.  

“Darren’s had a massive influence on my career so far”, Trey says. 

“He was heavily involved in me getting my first professional contract so we know each other very well and I know how he does things. 

“He’s a great coach and is very honest in the way he goes about things, so I jumped at the chance to get to work with him again. 

“I’m learning as much as I can about the league before I get stuck in. 

“The Premier Division seems very competitive and a good place for young players to get going. I’ve been told it’s tough and not to expect any easy games so I’m looking forward to getting some experience while I’m here and helping the team get out of the bottom few spots of the table.

“We want to turn performances into wins as quickly as we can as we know as a group that there isn’t that much time left.” 

David Goulden