League of Ireland Premier Division action returns to the Showgrounds this Saturday following the short international summer break as Sligo Rovers host Waterford, kick-off 7.45pm. 

The game marks the beginning of the third round of fixtures and the commencement of the second half of the season.

This will be the third time the Bit O’Red and the Blues go toe-to-toe this term, with both sides tasting victory over each other in the previous two meetings. 

Waterford, then led by Keith Long, overcame Rovers in Sligo on the opening night of the season while John Russell’s men hammered the Munster side in what was Long’s final game in charge at the RSC, back in April. Goals from Gareth McElroy, Owen Elding, Cian Kavanagh and Francely Lomboto earned Rovers their biggest win of the season to date.

Now managed by former Rovers duo John Coleman and Danny Ventre, the Blues have been in decent form, picking up eight points from their last five. While Rovers have gathered just the three.

In team news, Ollie Denham is Rovers’ only injury concern in the lead up to Saturday’s contest. The centre-half continues to struggle with a sports hernia injury but is expected to return to training next week. It is hoped Denham will be fit enough for selection by the end of the month. 

Speaking ahead of the game, Rovers manager John Russell acknowledged how difficult the first half of the season was. But he is encouraged by some of what he has seen and feels there is much, much more to come from his young squad. 

He told sligorovers.com: “The players have enjoyed their short breaks and have come back in great shape knowing what is ahead of us. It was important that the lads were able to switch off for a brief period and enjoy time with family and friends before returning fully focused earlier this week. They are refreshed and ready to face Waterford and what’s ahead in the coming weeks. 

“Obviously, we completed the first half of the season in a position we do not want to be in. That is why myself and the staff here have been working through the summer break as the planning went on in an effort to try and lift us from our current position. 

“We sent the players away after the defeat to Pat’s and asked them all to reflect on how things have gone the last few months. A few haven’t reached their potential, while some of the lads, particularly our younger ones have done really, really well considering the difficult circumstances. 

“But we are all working extremely hard to turn this around and I think if we continue to do so, we absolutely will lift ourselves away from where we are in the table.”  

David Goulden

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers will travel to the Carlisle Grounds in Bray on Saturday for a Women’s Premier Division (WPD) basement battle showdown against DLR Waves on the new FIFA Quality-Approved  artificial grass pitch at the home of Bray Wanderers.

The new pitch had its first outing in the League of Ireland when Bray hosted Dundalk in mid-March after playing the first three games away and Saturday’s encounter will be the first WPD game at the venue as DLR Waves move from the Belfield Bowl for this encounter.

This a huge game for both teams with DLR Waves anchored at the foot of the table with one draw from nine outings, four points adrift of the Bit O’Red, one victory and two draws.

An encouraging aspect for both managers, Steve Feeney and Laura Heffernan of DLR Waves, has been a gradual improvement in respective performances over the past month or so with DLR picking up a point last time out in the WPD with a 1-1 draw against Cork City.

However, DLR will go into this game on the back of two home defeats in the All-Island Cup against Wexford and Lisburn.

This game will also be a dress-rehearsal for the first round of the FAI Cup a fortnight later at the Showgrounds, but that will be of secondary importance on Saturday.

Last season the Bit O’Red defeated DLR Waves by 3-1 in the FAI Cup with goals from Anna McDaniel, Kelsey Munroe and Paula McGrory, but the Dublin women won both WPD encounters.

For the Bit O’Red, the outcome will most definitely be influenced by player-availability with manager Steve Feeney still without Kate Nugent, Amber Hardy, Jessica Casey and Rachel McGoldrick who are all on the injured list while Paula McGrory feature.

The return to action last week of Katie Melly for the final 15 minutes in the All-Island Cup was a boost and if she is fit to start on Saturday it will certainly bolster the prospects at the Bray venue.

Neither side is too proficient on the scoring front. DLR Waves have hit the target nine times in all competitions, but have conceded 41 goals while the Bit O’Red have scored five goals and conceded 28, but in 12 outings have also kept three cleansheets.

Battling qualities have been evident on a weekly basis from the Bit O’Red and that was demonstrated last weekend where a five-goal deficit against Shelbourne wasn’t a fair reflection on the overall performance, but an inability to convert some gilt-edged chances was a major issue.

There won’t be much to separate the teams on Saturday in what will be a hugely competitive encounter and the team that makes the least amount of mistakes is likely to emerge with a victory.

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers exited the All-Island Cup in the final group game against Shelbourne at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

Two goals in each half from Noelle Murray and a lone Mackenzie Anthony strike gave a Dublin side a merited success, although the scoreline doesn’t reflect the chances that the hosts created, especially in the opening half.

The Bit O’Red could have had two goals in the opening three minutes from Kya McKenna and Anna McDaniel, while midway through the half, Muireann Devaney’s shot flashed across the Shelbourne goal with ‘keeper Amanda McQuillan getting a vital touch at the expense of a corner.

Shelbourne also created some chances, but Rovers keeper Bonnie McKiernan was in excellent form.

However, the final 10 minutes of the half proved fruitful for the Dublin side, with Murray claiming her first goal following a poor Sligo clearance, and she added a second soon after in somewhat similar circumstances.

Anthony put the game out of Sligo’s reach with a good finish in the 41st minute to leave it 3-0 at the interval.

Sligo Rovers resumed smartly, and Eimear Lafferty’s effort skimmed the woodwork on 47 minutes, but Murray completed her tally with a couple of opportunist long-range efforts on 60 and 68 minutes.

In typical Sligo Rovers style, the home players kept battling, and while they had a goal disallowed for offside, Alanah Doherty was narrowly over with a good effort in the 87th minute.

It wasn’t all negative for the Bit O’Red either, as Katie Melly returned from injury for the final 15 minutes when she replaced Leah Kelly, and 15-year-old Ava Hallinan made her senior debut when she replaced Alice Lillie in the closing minutes.

Ava was nominated for the Under-15 FAI Schools’ International Player of the Year in May and has a bright future in the game with Sligo Rovers.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Eimear Lafferty, Alice Lillie, Keeva Flynn, Sarah Kiernan, Leah Kelly, Muireann Devaney, Alanah Doherty, Cara King, Kya McKenna, Anna McDaniel.
Subs – Katie Melly for King and Morgan Burnap for Kelly, both 77 mins; Róise Burke for McKenna and Lauren Devaney for Kiernan, both 82 mins; Ava Hallinan for Lillie, 87 mins.

Shelbourne – Amanda McQuillan; Nia Hannon, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle, Noelle Murray, Gabrielle Del Pico, Roma McLoughlin, Jessica Gargan, Aoibheann Cleary, Lucy O’Rourke, Mackenzie Anthony.
Subs – K. Mooney for McLoughlin at half-time, R. Devereux for Slattery and K. Keenan for Anthony, both at 67 mins, and C. Maguire for McQuillan and A. Sheridan for Clancy, both at 73 mins.

Referee – Robert Dowling.
Assistant referees – Darren Corcoran and Richard Storey.
Fourth official – Michael Connolly.

Sligo Rovers have been drawn to face Dundalk in the second round of this year’s Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup following this afternoon’s (Thursday) draw, while our women’s team were paired with DLR Waves.

John Russell’s side will travel to Oriel Park on the weekend of July 20th, with match day and kick-off time to be decided.

While Steve Feeney’s women, beaten semi-finalists the last two years, will host DLR at the Showgrounds on the week ending June 29th.

Men’s FAI Cup second round draw in full:
Shamrock Rovers v Wexford
Dundalk v Sligo Rovers
Fairview Rangers v Shelbourne
Cork City v Leicester Celtic
Finn Harps v UCD,
Bray Wanderers v Wayside Celtic
Kerry v Athlone Town
St Patrick’s Athletic v UCC
Salthill Devon v St Michael’s
Galway United v Tolka Rovers
Bangor Celtic v Cobh Ramblers
Castlebar Celtic v Longford Town
Killester Donnycarney v Bohemians
Waterford v St Mochta’s
Treaty United v Derry City
Drogheda United v Crumlin United

Women’s FAI Cup first round draw in full:
Wexford v Bohemians
Cork City v Peamount United
Treaty United v Ferns United
Newbridge Town v Whitehall Rangers
Shelbourne v Galway United
Athlone Town v Terenure Rangers
Shamrock Rovers v Waterford
Sligo Rovers v DLR Waves

By Conall Collier

The mid-season break for the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) sandwiched between the second and third round All-Island Cup (AIC) group action will give Sligo Rovers boss Steve Feeney an opportunity to plan for the remainder of the season in the midst of an unprecedented injury crisis.

That was evident in the last outing when the Bit O’Red travelled to Belfast for a crucial AIC game against Linfield with 14 players, but earned a draw when one of the three substitutes, Róise Burke, grabbed a 90^th minute equaliser.

The draw came at a price with a lengthy first-half delay after yet another player, Kate Nugent, was added to that injury list. She had to be removed from the pitch by ambulance and returned to Sligo on the team bus via Sligo Hospital.

Kate was replaced by Keeva Flynn while in the second-half Kya McKenna and Róise Burke were introduced after Linfield took a 63^rd minute lead.

However, a tenacious team effort produced that late Bit O’Red leveller that leaves the group wide open ahead of this Saturday’s final group game against Shelbourne.

“We went to Belfast for the game against Linfield and we only had 14 players with another 14 unavailable due to injuries, illness or school commitments,” stated Steve Feeney.

“We had a chat before the game and stressed to the girls that while we were light on numbers with only 14 players, we had lots of quality and that was more important.

“For the team to come away from Belfast with a point was absolutely brilliant and says so much about them as a group.

“The substitutes against Linfield added to the quality of the team and while Róise (Burke) got the goal, both Keeva (Flynn) and Kya (McKenna) also made big contributions.

“It might have looked like we were struggling, but that wasn’t the real picture and there’s no point in padding out the bench just for the sake of extra numbers,” he added.

The group in the All-Island Cup is wide open now going into the last series this Saturday (7^th June) and any two of the four teams, Sligo Rovers, Bohs, Shelbourne or Linfield, can still qualify for the quarter-finals.

“We know it won’t be easy against Shelbourne, but at least our fate is in our own hands, if we win we qualify, if we draw, it then depends on the result between Bohs and Linfield, but if we lose we’re out,” was Steve Feeney’s assessment.

“Bohs got a draw with Shels in the All-Island Cup and we are certainly looking forward to the challenge of facing Shelbourne, we will have them in the league two weeks later (21^st June) so there are plenty of big games for us.

“Nothing is guaranteed in terms of results, look at Athlone Town, unbeaten in the league, but already out of contention in the All-Island Cup after losing to Glentoran and Treaty Utd,” he added.

The injury list is also a major factor for the Bit O’Red management and they will be hoping that there are no more casualties after 90 minutes against a Shelbourne side that remain unbeaten since losing on the opening day of the season against Shamrock Rovers.

However, following a 5-1 AIC victory against Linfield at Tolka Park, the Dublin side had to make the journey to Dalymount Park where they had to rely on a second-half equaliser from American striker Mackenzie Anthony to earn a 1-1 draw.

On the long-term Bit O’Red injury list is goalkeeper Amber Hardy who will be out for the remainder of the season. Steve Feeney provided updates on the remaining quintet of the walking wounded.

“I’m hopeful that Paula McGrory will be able to take some part in training this week as she has made good progress,” stated Steve.

“Katie Melly is now back doing some light work on her own and hopefully we might have her back in full training in three weeks or so.

“Rachel McGoldrick (arm injury) is probably another two or three weeks away from a return to full training

“Jessica Casey was back doing some running last week, but it will be another month or so for her.

“Kate Nugent is possibly looking at a similar time-frame to Katie (Melly) as it’s a similar injury (ankle) so you’re looking at six weeks or thereabouts.

“I’ll have a chat with Head of Academy Conor O’Grady and the under-19 manager to see if we have any options to bolster the panel, a lot of the academy players train with the senior team and they are doing well,” he said.

After Saturday’s AIC game against Shelbourne, the Bit O’Red will face a basement battle against bottom-of-the-table DLR Waves in what will be a huge game for both teams.

“The target for the second half of the season has to be to keep the momentum going, to get results and pick up more points,” stated Steve.

“We have had some good results and we have had results that we felt didn’t reflect our performances, but we will be both optimistic and realistic in our expectations.

“If we can deliver a performance in every game we will always have a chance over 90 minutes, it’s probably the old cliché of taking it one game at a time, starting with Shelbourne this Saturday,” he concluded.

David Goulden at the Showgrounds

Former Rovers striker Aidan Keena’s tenth minute penalty was enough for St Patrick’s Athletic to come away from Sligo with a narrow win as Rovers were beaten by the Saints.

Keena’s spot-kick was converted after another ex-Rovers man Simon Power went to ground under a Jake Doyle-Hayes challenge and despite creating chances to level the tie, Rovers couldn’t muster that elusive leveller. 

Stephen Kenny’s side might have made things more comfortable for themselves as they created the best of the chances in this one. Although Rovers substitute Francely Lomboto did have a chance in the 96th minute to take a late point, but the Galway man could only fire straight at Pat’s net minder Joseph Anang. 

The Saints haven’t met expectations recently with just one win in the last five for one of the pre-season title favourites. Boss Kenny made no less than five changes in a hope to shift fortunes. Jamie Lennon, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin and former Sligo duo Keena and Power were reinstated to the starting team. 

While Rovers made two changes from last week’s narrow loss to Shels. Doyle-Hayes and Ronan Manning returned to John Russell’s midfield, as the home side sought just a second victory on home soil this year.  

As has happened so often this season, Rovers made things tough for themselves by falling behind early on. McClelland had forced Sam Sargeant into an early two-handed save with an effort from distance before ex-Rovers man Keena dispatched a tenth minute penalty after Power, another former Showgrounds favourite, had collided with Doyle-Hayes inside the Sligo area. 

The hosts struggled to find a way through a packed Pat’s centre and had their only chance of the half on twenty minutes. Cian Kavangh, who spent 2024 with Pat’s, was unable to get any purchase on a Doyle-Hayes set piece as his attempted header trickled harmlessly wide of Joe Anang’s goal. 

The Dubliners were left frustrated that they were unable to make their dominance count further given their control of the contest and lost centre half Sean Hoare to what seemed like a hamstring injury before the interval. 

Power passed up a couple of opportunities early in the second period, bending one around Sargeant’s far post close to the hour. While Manning’s shot after trojan work from Rovers’ teen full-back Conor Reynolds was deflected on to the top of Anang’s post by Joe Redmond. 

Pat’s were struggling to shake Sligo off as the game wore on and Power should have had their second on 65 but couldn’t stretch in time to meet Zach Elbouzedi’s cross with an open goal on offer.  

Lennon dragged an effort from 20 yards narrowly wide with eight to go while Sligo sub Lomboto was denied by a smart stop from Anang after a neat one-two with Jad Hakiki opened up the space in front of goal. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 66), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Matty Wolfe (Jad Hakiki 66); Will Fitzgerald, Ronan Manning (Francely Lomboto 78), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Wilson Waweru 45).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joe Anang; Ryan McLaughlin, Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare  (Tom Grivosti 44), Anto Breslin; Jay McClelland, Jamie Lennon; Simon Power, Kian Leavy (Luke Turner 96), Zach Elbouzedi; Aidan Keena (Conor Carty 86). 

Referee: Neil Doyle. 

Attendance: 2,356. 

Sligo Rovers have the opportunity to move off the foot of the Premier Division table ahead of the summer break as St Patrick’s Athletic are the visitors to the Showgrounds this Friday night, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Bit O’Red remain deadlocked with Cork City at the bottom of the division, with just one goal separating the sides as we hit the season’s half-way point. 

Friday’s game will be the second meeting of these two sides this year and is the Saints’ first visit to Sligo of 2025. Pat’s narrowly beat Rovers by the odd goal in seven when the clubs met at Richmond Park back in February on the third weekend of the season. While Stephen Kenny’s side beat Rovers last time out at the Showgrounds, on the final day of the 2024 season. 

Rovers manager John Russell will be without centre half Ollie Denham who isn’t due back in action for another four weeks approximately. Full back Oskar Van Hattum has returned to training and may be available. While there are doubts over defender Conor Reynolds and midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes who was withdrawn before kick-off in Tolka Park last Friday. Van Hattum, Reynolds and Doyle-Hayes will each be assessed once more in the lead up to the game.

Ahead of the match, Russell has praised his players’ resilience over the last few weeks and noted that he believes he has seen enough from his squad to prove they are a match for any team in the division. However, Russell has also warned in equal measure, the threat Pat’s will bring with them this Friday. 

“You just have to look at who their manager is and some of their players”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.

“They have the most experienced manager in this league, someone with an international and both a league and cup winning background. While their squad is littered with talent so this is going to be the toughest game we’ve had this season. 

“We’ve been gifting goals to teams lately and if we do this again on Friday, we’ll be sorely punished so we have to cut out the mistakes and be fully focused from kick-off.  

“There’s goals in our team and plenty of them. It gives us confidence that we went to the home of the champions last week, scored twice and were always in the game. We had Shels under the cosh for sustained periods and produced plenty of opportunities. We just have to stop giving away these gifts of goals. 

“As a club, we have so much belief in this young group and I think the supporters do too. We’re constantly being hit with set-backs and a lot of that is down to ourselves. But we always dust ourselves down and go again. There’s a real self-belief and resilience in us. 

“We know we’re good enough to beat anyone on our night. The games have come thick and fast and it’s been a busy few weeks heading into this break. We don’t want to be where we are as it isn’t where we belong and we’re looking to finish the first half of the season with a win. Hopefully we’ll have a big crowd in to roar us on on Friday night.”

David Goulden

LINFIELD 1 SLIGO ROVERS 1

By Conall Collier

Rosie Burke’s 90^th minute equaliser earned battling Sligo Rovers a priceless Women’s All-Island Cup draw with hosts Linfield in Belfast on Saturday afternoon where another casualty was added to the injury list and held up the action for almost 15 minutes.

Burke’s 90^th minute equaliser was greeted with silence from the home crowd, but it kept the Bit O’ Red’s qualification hopes intact ahead of the final group game against Shelbourne on Saturday 7^th June.

Rovers manager Steve Feeney named an unchanged side from the previous week’s encounter against Athlone Town, but he was forced into making a substitution midway through a well-contested opening half.

Kate Nugent sustained an injury in the 22^nd minute as she closed down a threatening Linfield attack and there was a lengthy delay as the stricken player received attention. She was eventually removed by an ambulance that drove on to the pitch.

Up to that point Linfield had slightly the better of the exchanges, but didn’t manage to beat Bonnie McKiernan who delivered her customary composed performance.

When play resumed both sides had chances with Emma Hansberry going close on a number of occasions for the Bit O’Red while Alex Clarke and Keri Haliday had the best opportunities for Linfield.

The opening goal arrived close to the hour mark (14 minutes added time) when Clarke found the net for the hosts after a free was awarded to Linfield on the edge of the Sligo Rovers penalty area.

Linfield were relatively comfortable in the second-half, but were unable to make the breakthrough for a second goal against a tenacious Rovers rearguard with substitute Keeva Flynn marking her return to the side with a solid contribution.

There was also a couple of notable Bonnie McKiernan saves, one on 84 minutes that kept the Bit O’Red in contention.

The equaliser arrived as the clock ticked into added time when 75^th minute substitute Rosie Burke got a vital touch in a crowded Linfield goalmouth. The Bit O’Red battened down the hatches for four minutes of added time.

Linfield – Caoimhe Magee; Sarah Jane McMaster, Abi Sweetlove, Mia Fitzsimons, Zoe McGlynn, Cora Chambers, Keri Halliday, Keri Loughrey, Zoe Knox, Alex Clarke, Ellen Hampton. Subs – Jennifer McDaid for Knox and Ashley Hutton for Hampton both 60 mins, Eve Reilly for Clarke and Rhianna Breen for Halliday both 67M, Eva Myles for Chambers 83m

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Alice Lillie, Sarah Kiernan, Kate Nugent, Alanah Doherty, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Eimear Lafferty, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Keeva Flynn for Nugent 22 mins, Kya McKenna for King 56m, Rosie Burke for Doherty 75m.

Referee- Louise Thompson.

Assistant-referees – Maria Creaney, Mark Davison.

Fourth official – Sam Naylor.

Owen Elding hit one of the goals of the season at Tolka Park on Friday evening but it wasn’t enough as Sligo Rovers were beaten by the odd goal in five by champions Shelbourne.

Elding’s goal was the fifth of the lot in a 3-2 defeat as the Riverstown man claimed his seventh goal of the season with a stunner from distance after a John Martin hat-trick had turned this game on its head.

Gareth McElroy had given Rovers an early lead, but the Drumcondra outfit hit back twice before the break through Martin who had his third before the hour. 

The result leaves Rovers in tenth position, still level on points with Cork City.  

Seeking consecutive wins for the first time this year, Rovers were the dominant side in the opening quarter and had a deserved lead after just three minutes of play. 

McElory making the very most of the space left by slack Shels defending as he nodded yet another Will Fitzgerald assist, this time from a corner, beyond Lorcan Healy for his second of the season. 

The visitors were all over Damien Duff’s for the opening exchanges. Fitzgerald’s input was crucial once more as he knocked a Shels defender off the ball before finding Elding whose shot on the turn was shoveled wide by Healy on ten. While the hosts were stretched again six minutes later when Jad Hakiki’s effort took a knock off Kameron Ledwidge before curling narrowly beyond the far post as Sligo continued to press for a second. 

Last year’s league winners had their leveler on 34 minutes when Evan Caffrey found Martin who had strayed to the front post. While the same supplier and finisher had the Dubliners in the lead five minutes later. 

Rovers had to suppress a late first half onslaught from their opponents and just about survived when Martin’s header came off the top of the crossbar. 

The second period saw Rovers goalkeeper Sam Sargeant pull off a string of good saves. The first from a speculative effort from Shels’ midfielder Kerr McInroy, although despite his best efforts there was little Sargeant could do as Shels had their third on 57 when Martin scrambled the ball over the line as the Rovers defence struggled to deal with a low cross from the left. 

Two minutes later and John Russell’s charges were right back in this one. 

Elding’s sumpstous, almost nonchalant left footed drive from 30 yards arrowed into the corner of Healy’s net, stunning the home support and offering hope to the large travelling support behind that goal. 

Sargeant was called into action again when he went full stretch to parry former Rovers man Ellis Chapman’s effort from range while McInroy struck the post with a bending set-piece soon after. 

Rovers pushed and harried for a third and had a chance at the end when both substitutes Francely Lomboto and Wilson Waweru hesitated to get on the end of a Fitzgerald cross. The ball called out for a touch which never arrived as the danger was then cleared. 

Our next game is back at home as St Patrick’s Athletic are the visitors to the Showgrounds this Friday, kick-off 7.45pm. 

Shelbourne: Lorcan Healy; Mark Coyle, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; John O’Sullivan, Kerr McInroy, JJ Lunney, Ellis Chapman, Evan Caffrey; Harry Wood (Mipo Odubeko, 70’), John Martin (Daniel Kelly, 84’)

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Harvey Lintott, 46’), Gareth McElroy, John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Jad Hakiki, Matthew Wolfe (Francely Lomboto, 70’), Owen Elding, Stephen Mallon (Ronan Manning, 46’), Will Fitzgerald; Cian Kavanagh (Wilson Waweru, 70’)

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin)

David Goulden