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 

Darren Purse has made his first addition as Sligo Rovers manager with the signing of Jack Shorrock on loan from Port Vale until the end of the season, subject to international transfer clearance.

The 19-year-old is a versatile left-sided player who can contribute in both defence and attack.

Shorrock arrives at the Showgrounds having already gained first-team experience in England despite his young age. A product of Port Vale’s academy, he became the club’s youngest-ever first-team player when he made his senior debut aged 15 years and 145 days in an EFL Trophy victory over Shrewsbury Town in September 2022.

He later became Port Vale’s youngest-ever goalscorer when he found the net against Barnsley in December 2023, aged 16 years and 242 days.

Shorrock says the prospect of regular senior football and the chance to contribute during an important period of the season made the move to Sligo Rovers an attractive one.

“I’m really happy to be here,” he tells sligorovers.com.

“It all came around quite quickly, but Sligo seems like a great place to live and to develop, not only as a player but as a person as well.

“I heard a lot of positive things about the club and the supporters, so it was an easy sell for me.

“There is a good group of lads here and good staff, and I want to come in and do good things for the club.”

The former Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers academy player joined Port Vale in 2022 following a successful trial. After becoming the club’s youngest-ever first-team player, Shorrock continued his development within the senior set-up before signing his first professional contract in June 2024.

He enjoyed a breakthrough 2024/25 campaign, making 22 appearances in all competitions as Port Vale secured promotion from League Two.

Shorrock scored twice during the promotion-winning season and won both the club’s Goal of the Season and Apprentice of the Season awards before being named the EFL League Two Apprentice of the Season.

He signed a new long-term contract at Vale Park in July 2025, keeping him at the club until at least the summer of 2028.

Shorrock also spent a short loan spell with National League North side Chester during the first half of the 2025/26 season, making five appearances in all competitions before being recalled in January.

He now joins a Rovers side looking to improve its position in the League of Ireland Premier Division during the closing months of the campaign.

The new arrival believes the senior experience he has gained at a young age has prepared him for the challenge ahead.

“There’s no time to settle in,” he continues.

“I need to come in and show what I can do straight away, both on and off the pitch. It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to and I want to represent the supporters properly on the pitch.

“It would be unbelievable to help keep the club in the division. Personally, I want to showcase what I can do and help the team get back to where it should be.

“Goals and assists are important in my position, so I want to improve my output and contribute as much as I can.

“I’m still young, but I’ve already gained good experience and hopefully that will help me here.”

Shorrock describes himself as an energetic and direct player who enjoys creating chances and taking on defenders.

“I’m an energetic player and I’ll always give everything,” he says.

“I like to play on the front foot, take players on and put crosses into the box. I want to excite the supporters.

“Off the pitch, I’d like to think I’m a good lad with a good personality and that I’m easy to get on with.

“I can’t wait to meet the group and start building relationships with the lads.”

Purse believes Shorrock’s athleticism, directness and quality in the final third will add another dimension to his squad.

“He’s a very direct player with a good delivery,” Purse says.

“He has good energy and athleticism, and I think he’ll be exciting for our supporters to watch.

“He has all the attributes you would want from a wide player. He excites me as a coach and I think he’ll excite the fans as well.”

Purse represented Port Vale during his own playing career, making 17 league appearances for the club in 2013 and gaining an understanding of the environment at Vale Park.

Having spoken to those at the club and watched Shorrock’s development, the Rovers boss believes the youngster is ready to take the next step in his career.

“I’ve spoken to people at Port Vale and Jack is very highly rated there,” Purse explains.

“I know him and I’ve watched him play. He’s only young, but he already has good experience for his age.

“He’s probably at the stage of his career where he needs to take that next step. He’ll get good senior minutes here and have opportunities to affect games in the final third.

“He can create goals and chances, and hopefully he can help us move away from the position we currently find ourselves in.”

Despite only turning 19 in April, Shorrock has already experienced League One and League Two football and was part of Port Vale’s promotion-winning 2024/25 campaign.

Purse believes that exposure to senior football will help the youngster adapt quickly to the demands of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

“He’s had a good pre-season with Port Vale and has played plenty of minutes, so he is fit,” Purse adds.

“Whether he starts on Friday is the same as it is for every other player in the squad. There is no divine right to play.

“You have to earn your place, and that is something we need to reinforce throughout the squad.”

Shorrock concluded with a message for the Rovers support.

“I can’t wait to meet you all,” he says.

“Get behind me and the lads, and we’ll give everything for you over the remaining games.”

Jack Dempsey

It was another encouraging weekend for the academy, with three competitive fixtures providing plenty of positives. There were some impressive performances across the age groups, with the players giving a great account of themselves. While results varied, every squad continued to make positive strides, with their hard work on the training ground continuing to show. Attention now turns to next weekend’s fixtures, where the teams will be looking to build on their recent performances and keep their development moving in the right direction.

U14 | Athlone Town 4–2 Sligo Rovers

After an entertaining 3–3 draw at home to Longford Town, it was another enjoyable afternoon for our U14s as they travelled south on Sunday to face a strong Athlone Town side.

Athlone made the brighter start and took an early lead, but the lads responded well, with Maye finding the equaliser in the 29th minute. The hosts then hit back with two quick goals from Ben O’Connor to open up a 3–1 advantage.

The entertaining first half showed no signs of slowing down as Gethins pulled one back just a minute after Athlone’s third, finishing off a well-worked team move to leave the score at 3–2 heading into the break.

The second half was a much tighter affair, with chances at a premium. Rovers kept pushing for an equaliser right until the closing stages but couldn’t quite find the breakthrough. As the lads threw bodies forward in search of a late goal, Athlone caught them on the counter and wrapped up the win with a breakaway goal in the final minute.

Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take from another competitive performance against strong opposition.

WU17 | Klub Kildare 1–1 Sligo Rovers

It was an impressive performance from the girls on Saturday as they travelled to FBD Hotels & Resorts Park to face second-placed Klub Kildare.

It wasn’t the start the management team would have wanted, as Kildare took an early lead through a fine strike from Carty. After a lively opening, the game settled down, with both defences and goalkeepers in excellent form, ensuring there were very few clear-cut chances for the remainder of the first half.

As the game approached the hour mark, it looked as though it would take either a mistake or a moment of magic to get the girls back on level terms. Thankfully, it was the latter, as Herbert teed up defender Guckian, who produced a superb finish to find the back of the net.

Both sides continued to battle for a winner, but neither could create the decisive chance, as the referee’s final whistle confirmed the points would be shared.

The result moves the girls up to fourth place in the table after five rounds of matches.

WU23 | Sligo Rovers 0–1 Galway United

Our U23 girls welcomed Galway United to The Showgrounds on Sunday for a Connacht derby in Round 14 of the league.

The girls made a bright start, creating plenty of chances and putting together some positive passages of play. A strong Galway United side also threatened throughout the opening half, but a resilient Rovers defence stood firm as the sides went into the break level at 0–0.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both teams enjoying spells of possession and creating opportunities, although neither goalkeeper was seriously tested for long periods. With just 15 minutes remaining, however, Amira Bouhlel McNamara struck to put the Tribeswomen in front.

Unfortunately, that proved to be the only goal of the game. Despite the defeat, the girls can take plenty of encouragement from another competitive performance as they now focus on their next game away to Longford.

Tom Lavery

David Goulden at the Showgrounds

Match Day Sponsor: Callan Tansey Solicitors

Match Ball Sponsor: Sligo Branch of the Glasgow Celtic Supporters Club

Sligo Rovers’ old habits continued at the Showgrounds as they conceded in injury time at the end of their game with Drogheda United at the Showgrounds in what was new boss Darren Purse’s first game in charge. 

The Bit O’Red had dug themselves out of a hole courtesy of a Cian Kavanagh brace after Thomas Oluwa had volleyed Drogs into the lead. 

But Rovers, who finished the game with ten men, were unable to hold on and for the fourth time in five league outings, dropped points to an injury time goal as Shane Farell levelled the game in the 95th minute.  

The result leaves Rovers anchored to the bottom of the table, while Drogheda remain four clear of Waterford in the play-off spot. 

Without former manager John Russell in the home dugout for the first time in seven years following stints as both boss and assistant, Rovers and new man Purse made three changes from the Sligo side which knocked Janesboro out of the FAI Cup last week.

Skipper Will Fitzgerald came back in having missed that game in Limerick. While midfielder James McManus and centre half Gareth McElroy also returned. 

United boss Kevin Doherty stuck with the same eleven which progressed past Lucan United in the cup. New signing Alfie Bates made the bench.

The visitors opened the scoring in this one but it was Rovers who threatened first on a drizzly evening in the north west.  

Archie Meekison volleyed wide after five minutes after Fitzgerald’s cross was cleared out as far as the waiting Scot at the edge of the area.

Purse has been charged with tightening up one of the leakier defences in the division and he saw first hand how vulnerable Rovers have been in front of their own goal this term when Drogs went ahead. 

Conor Kane’s cross found Oluwa unmarked in front of goal. Unmarked, the former Wexford striker easily swept Kane’s cross, first time, beyond Sam Sargeant. 

Sligo’s veteran midfielder Carl McHugh let a speculative volley fly from 25 yards shortly after, as the hosts quickly settled back into this tie.

60 seconds later, they were level. Meekison was the supplier as Kavanagh took a touch to control the ball, before delivering a neat finish into the corner of Luke Dennison’s net for his third goal in two games.

Four minutes later, the Dubliner had his and Rovers’ second. 

The build up was patient in front of the Drogheda area before McManus sprung a smart through ball to Luke Pearce just yards from the end-line. The ex-Cardiff man slotting the ball across to the back post for Kavanagh to knock home for his fifth goal of the season. 

Kavanagh went agonisingly close to a hat-trick on the next Sligo attack, heading Fitzgerald’s corner on to the roof of the net. 

Both sides pressed the other for periods early on in the second half without joy. 

Indeed, the Showgrounds had to wait until the 75th minute for the next half chance when Sligo’s Jeannot Esua pulled off a smart one two with substitute Jamie McGonigle. McGonigle’s cross found the Cameroonian at the front post, but the full back got his attempted header all wrong as he mis-timed his effort and the chance was gone.

The Boynesiders then had their first sight of goal in the second half one minute later when Jason Bucknor’s cross from the left was deflected wide by a Sligo leg, the ball almost creeping inside Sargeant’s post. 

The Louthmen thought they’d levelled the game in the first of the six minutes added at the end of the game, only for the referee’s assistant to flag for offside.

Their frustrations turned to joy however three minutes later when Farrell smartly turned away from a Sligo challenge before firing home as Rovers were left to deal with further late heartbreak. 

Purse’s charges completed the game with ten men when Meekison swept the legs from under Bucknor as Drogheda went in search of a dramatic winner. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Ollie Denham, Sean McHale, Gareth McElroy; Jeannot Esua, Will Fitzgerald (Sean Stewart 69); James McManus (Ciaron Harkin 84), Carl McHugh; Archie Meekison; Luke Pearce (Jamie McGonigle 69), Cian Kavanagh (Ryan O’Kane 84). 

Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Edwin Agbaje, Conor Keeley, James Bolger, Conor Kane (Warren Davis 75); Brandon Kavanagh (Alfie Bates HT), Shane Farrell; Jason Bucknor, Mark Doyle (Keegan Ancelin 60), Ryan Brennan (Jago Godden 65); Thomas Oluwa. 

Referee: Rob Hennessy

Attendance: 2,411

BY CONALL COLLIER

First-half goals from Alana Doherty, Cara Jordan and Ava Hallinan gave Sligo Rovers the platform for a 3-2 Women’s Premier Division (WPD) victory at Dalymount Park on Saturday as they survived a two-goal second-half Bohemians revival.

Those first-half goals were the positives for the Bit O’Red, but the big negative was the loss of Emma Hansberry to a 40^th minute ankle injury with Paula McGrory deputising.

This was another battling and determined team performance from the Bit O’Red with stand-out displays from Alice Lillie, Ella Karolak and Olivia Rush with second-half substitute Grace Dunaway also making an impact.

Wind-assisted Sligo Rovers hit the front when Alana Doherty headed a fifth minute goal after Cara Jordan’s determination earned a corner for her side.

Soon after, the hosts had a narrow escape when Jordan’s speculative effort from distance clipped the woodwork, but the reprieve didn’t last as the Dublin women conceded a penalty on 32 minutes.

Fiona Donnelly took a pull on Ava Hallinan’s jersey in the penalty area and referee Ruben Collins pointed to the spot with Jordan converting with confidence.

It got worse for the Dublin side close to the interval when Hallinan created her own opening and won the race for possession with Rachel Kelly in the Bohemians penalty area and slotted home for a 3-0 interval lead. 

Against the second-half wind the Bit O’Red had to defend tenaciously, but conceded a72nd minute penalty that gave Bohemians a lifeline after Alannah McEvoy converted.

Neither side created any clearcut chances for the remainder, but a sensational 92^nd minute Aoife Fennell goal for Bohemians left the remainder of added-time on a knife edge, but Sligo Rovers weathered the storm to extend an unbeaten WPD sequence to nine games. 

Bohemian FC – Rachel Kelly; Sarah Power, Aoife Fennell, Lauryn McCabe, Aoife Brophy, Fiona Donnelly, Alex Devoy, Savannah Kane, Leiagh Glennon, Aoibhe Brennan, Lisa Murphy. 

Subs – Sarah McKevitt for Glennon, Katie Malone for Devoy, Alannah McEvoy for Murphy and Hannah O’Brien for McCabe all half-time, Hannah Healy for Kane 71 mins.

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

Subs – Paula McGrory for Hansberry 41 mins, Gracie Dunaway for Hallinan 59m, Sarah McCaffrey for McDaniel and Leah Kelly for Hillyer both 81m

Referee – Ruben Collins.

Assistant-referees – Aaron Pisarnik, Ray Jason.

Fourth official – Conor Harkin.

Sligo Rovers are pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Purse as manager on an 18-month contract.

The 49-year-old arrives at the Showgrounds from Cardiff City, where he spent almost five years working with the club’s Under-23 and Under-21 sides, running their loan programme and serving a spell as assistant manager of the first team.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” he tells sligorovers.com.

“When the opportunity came up I rang a few people I know who have worked in football around Ireland, and every one of them said the same thing. It’s a really good football club, and one I’m looking forward to taking places.”

Purse inherits a side bottom of the Premier Division after 24 games, and he is under no illusions about the immediate task.

“You can have a long-term plan as much as you want, but the big thing for us is winning games over the next 12 and staying in this division,” he says.

“After that you can set your plans for the season after, and the season after that. Right now it’s about winning football matches.”

Purse succeeds John Russell, who left the club earlier this month after just over four years as men’s first team manager, having previously represented Rovers as a player and served as assistant manager. Purse’s appointment concludes a recruitment process in which the club interviewed a wide field of candidates.

“I am delighted to welcome Darren to the Showgrounds,” chairperson Tommy Higgins says.

“He came through as the standout candidate in a thorough process and the panel’s decision was unanimous.

“He impressed us with his technical and interpersonal skills and with his vision for Sligo Rovers. We look forward to working with Darren in the seasons ahead.”

A centre-half capped at England Under-21 level, Purse played for over two decades and captained nearly every club he represented, including Birmingham City, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday. He was named Birmingham’s Player of the Season in 2000/01, a campaign in which he scored a last-minute penalty in the League Cup final against Liverpool.

He intends to bring that experience of leading dressing rooms with him.

“You have to be the leader who sets the standards. If you’re going to win football matches you need desire and work ethic around you, as a club and as a team, and that’s what I want to bring here,” he says.

“I’ve watched the last few games back and there’s plenty of quality in that dressing room to get us up the table. It’s my job to get the best out of each individual player to achieve that.”

Since moving into coaching he has built a reputation for bringing young players through. He joined Cardiff in December 2021 and oversaw a pathway that produced nine of their first-team players last season.

“I’ve been looking for the right project for a while,” he says.

“It’s a football club that wants to develop young players, and that’s something I’d like to think I’m good at. My history says that.

“We need to be developing young players who can play for Rovers’ first team, and if the opportunity arises to sell them on and further their careers, that’s good for the football club too.”

Alongside his coaching, Purse ran Cardiff’s loan programme, placing young players into senior football at home and abroad.

“That was a string I added to my bow over the last three years. Cardiff didn’t really have a loan strategy until that point,” he says.

“It’s a huge part of developing young players. They need the opportunity to go and play men’s football, and it bridges the gap between the Under-21s and the first team.

“In that role I built up an immense list of contacts, and I’ll be looking to tap into those before the transfer window closes.”

That window shuts Tuesday next, leaving the new manager a little over a week to add to his squad.

The supporter-owned model at the Showgrounds also drew him to the job.

“I’ve been involved with fan-owned clubs before, as a player towards the end of my career, and I always find people go above and beyond,” Purse says.

“Everybody talks about the number of volunteers, the people who give up their own time for the success of the club, and I’m hoping I can represent the club in the best way possible by being around the community as much as I can.”

On what supporters can expect from his teams, Purse is clear.

“Playing for the shirt is the biggest thing. It’s what I did most and best as a player,” he says.

“As a manager, you need that desire every time you cross the white line, and we’re going to need it in abundance. I like a side that wants to play through the thirds and be a positive, possession-based team.”

Purse will be in the dugout on Saturday night alongside Declan Boyle, who has led preparations for the game on an interim basis and will then return to his role as men’s Under-20s manager. Purse’s message to those coming through the turnstiles is a simple one.

“The biggest thing is to back the players. Are they going to make mistakes over the next 12 games? Yes,” he says.

“But I guarantee every single one of them will be playing for the shirt, which is a non-negotiable for me, and working as hard as they can to get us out of the situation we’re in.”

Sligo Rovers versus Drogheda United kicks off at the Showgrounds on Saturday night at 7.45pm.

Ryan Davey

Sligo Rovers can confirm that first team coach Ryan Casey has departed the club to join John Russell at Shelbourne FC. Ryan served as assistant to John during his time at The Showgrounds, playing a valued role in the development of the squad and in the day-to-day work of the first team. He leaves with the sincere thanks of everyone at the club and our very best wishes for the next chapter of his career.

The recruitment process to appoint a new Men’s First Team Manager is ongoing and has now reached the interview stage. The club hopes to have an appointment secured in advance of Saturday’s home fixture against Drogheda United.

In the meantime, Declan Boyle will take charge of the team’s preparations. Everyone at Sligo Rovers would like to thank Declan for stepping in during this period.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

Kerry FC will visit the Showgrounds for the first time after Sligo Rovers were paired with the First Division side in the third round of the Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup.

The draw took place on RTE Radio One on Tuesday evening and was conducted by former League of Ireland players Stuart Byrne and Conor McCormack.

This will be the second time in two seasons that the sides will face each other. Kerry beat Rovers after extra-time in a dramatic quarter-final tie at Mounthawk Park last September. 

Kerry currently sit eighth in the First Division table and progressed past Shelbourne in the last round. 

The tie is due to take place at the Showgrounds on the week ending August 16th. 

There was plenty to be proud of across the academy this weekend, as every squad put in committed performances in their latest league fixtures. Several excellent results, along with plenty of determined displays, reflected the hard work being done by the players and coaches throughout the academy. Attention now turns to another busy weekend of fixtures, with all of the squads hoping to build on this week’s performances and continue their positive progress.

U20 | Sligo Rovers 2–0 Klub Kildare

It was back to winning ways for our U20s on Sunday as they welcomed a strong Klub Kildare side to the Showgrounds. Following last week’s disappointing 2-1 cup defeat to Drogheda United, the lads were eager to get back on track and continue their impressive league form.

The game got off to a quiet start, with neither side creating many clear-cut chances or really testing the opposition goalkeeper. That changed on the half-hour mark when Ross Dalton-Ruane broke the deadlock, finishing well to give Rovers a deserved lead.

The game opened up after the goal, with both goalkeepers called into action as the visitors pushed for an equaliser. However, Charlie McGarvey, making his U20 debut at just 16 years of age, produced a composed performance between the posts and dealt well with everything that came his way.

With Klub Kildare piling on the pressure late on and the three points still in the balance, Stoskus sealed the victory with a well-taken goal in the 80th minute.

It was a brilliant all-round performance from the lads, who claimed a deserved clean sheet and all three points. The result leaves them sitting third in the league, just one point off top spot.

U17 | Sligo Rovers 4–2 Athlone Town

The excellent start to the second round of fixtures continued for our U17s on Sunday as they maintained their impressive run of form.

Although the lads went into the game as league leaders, they knew they were in for a tough test against Athlone Town, and that certainly proved to be the case.

Rovers made the perfect start when David Newman finished neatly after just 12 minutes to give the lads an early lead. However, Athlone responded well and found an equaliser on the half-hour mark. Just before the break, Stephen Gibbons played Ryan Quinn through on goal, and he made no mistake to restore Rovers’ advantage and send the lads in 2-1 ahead at half-time.

The topsy-turvy contest continued early in the second half when Duffy grabbed Athlone’s second goal to level the game once again. Both sides continued to push for a winner, and if it hadn’t been for a number of outstanding saves from 14-year-old Donagh Oates between the posts, the scoreline could have looked very different.

Thankfully, centre-back Scott Williams stepped up to restore Rovers’ lead with a well-taken third goal. Then, just as it looked as though the game would finish 3-2, Ryan Quinn grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 91st minute to wrap up all three points for the lads.

The late goal took Quinn’s tally to six league goals in six games since the start of the second round of fixtures, while the victory sees Rovers strengthen their position at the top of the league table.

U15 | Sligo Rovers 1–4 Derry City

After last week’s emphatic 4-1 win over Klub Kildare, it was always going to be a tougher afternoon for the lads as they welcomed league leaders Derry City to the Showgrounds on Saturday.

A slow start against a side boasting a 100% league record was always going to be punished, and Derry raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes.

To their credit, the lads responded well and pulled one back before the break when Sean Monaghan showed great composure to finish neatly and make it 2-1 at half-time.

Despite many brave and impressive performances from the Rovers lads, it wasn’t to be, as Derry produced another strong second-half performance and ran out comfortable winners in the end.

The lads will look to improve in their next outing at home to Finn Harps.

U14 | Sligo Rovers 3–3 Longford Town

Our U14s showed great character on Sunday afternoon as they came from two goals down to earn a draw in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Longford Town on The Showgrounds AstroTurf.

It was the visitors who made the brighter start, with Oisin O’Donnell striking twice inside the opening five minutes to give Longford a commanding 2-0 lead.

The lads responded well and gradually worked their way back into the game. Their pressure paid off in the 25th minute when Daniel Maye picked out Jack Ivers-Brehony, who finished well to halve the deficit.

Rovers carried that momentum into the second half and were back on level terms almost immediately after the restart. Jayce Murray did well down the wing before setting up Ivers-Brehony for his second goal of the afternoon to make it 2-2.

The game continued to swing from end to end, and Longford regained the lead in the 76th minute when Oisin O’Donnell completed his hat-trick.

However, the lads never gave up and were rewarded late on when a goalmouth scramble ended with the ball finding the back of the net to rescue a deserved draw for Rovers.

WU17 | Sligo Rovers 1–4 Mayo FC

The deficit proved too much for the WU17s to overcome after an uncharacteristically slow start left them 3-0 down inside the opening 13 minutes. To their credit, the girls showed plenty of fight and determination throughout the game, but the early lead ultimately proved too much to recover from.

Substitute Freya Fitzpatrick pulled a goal back in the 88th minute, but it wasn’t enough as Mayo ran out comfortable winners.

The girls will now turn their attention to their next outing away to Klub Kildare, where they’ll be looking to bounce back with an improved performance.

Tom Lavery

Sligo Rovers will be included in Tuesday’s draw for the third round of this year’s Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup, after the Bit O’Red comfortably saw off junior side Janesboro at Pearse Stadium on the outskirts of Limerick City on Saturday evening. 

Luke Pearse hit a brace, his first goals since returning to Sligo recently, while Sean McHale and Archie Meekison also got on the scoresheet for thre run-away victors. 

Rovers now join the likes of Shamrock Rovers, St Pat’s and Bohs in the hat for the third round draw which takes place live on RTE Radio One on Tuesday evening. 

The five time cup winners hit the lead after less than two minutes in this one. Jeannot Esua and Archie Meekison combining as the Cameroonian full back delivered the perfect ball for Pearse to dive onto and nod past Aaron O’Sullivan in the Janesboro goal. 

Sam Sargeant performed a small miracle when he somehow kept out an opportunity for the hosts a few minutes later. The Londoner stretching into the top corner of his goal to push away a header from a set piece which looked like it would beat the Rovers number one. 

One became two on the half hour as Rovers, marshalled from the sideline by Ryan Casey, effectively put the game to bed.

A Janesboro defender managed to clear an Esua cross from under his crossbar, but the home side were unable to manage as Meekison arrived to volley into the bottom corner. 

Half-time sub Jamie McGonigle struck the crossbar early in the second period in the sunshine, before Sean McHale made it three with his second goal for the club.

Pearse rounded off a good afternoon for Sligo when he grabbed his second of the day just after the hour. 

Rovers’ next game is a crucial Premier Division clash with Drogheda United at the Showgrounds this Saturday, kick-off 7.45pm. 

Rovers: Sargeant; Esua (McDonagh 58), Denham, McHale (McGonigle HT), Stewart (Harkin 58); Quirk, McHugh (McManus HT); Meekison, O’Kane (Nolan HT); Pearce; Kavanagh.

David Goulden

Photo: Donal Egan