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 

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