David Cawley’s late goal was not enough as Sligo Rovers were beaten by St Patrick’s Athletic.

Chris Forrester and a Mikey Drennan penalty had given the Saints the advantage. Rovers were impressive for periods in the second half but couldn’t find the net until Cawley’s goal two minutes from time.

A generally dour opening to the game was thankfully lifted nine minutes later with a moment of inspiration from Forrester.

Sligo central defender John Mahon miscontrolled a long ball over the top with his chest. It ran loose into the path of Forrester who nonchalantly lobbed the ball over ‘keeper Mitchell Beeney for his first goal for the club since his cross channel return.

The visitors were stretched six minutes later as Dave Webster’s ball down the right gave Drennan a run. The striker bustled his way past Lewis Banks to bring a save with his body from Beeney.

Pat’s had their second when Drennan was granted a fortuitous penalty on 24 minutes.

Though Forrester was fouled following a clever dribble, referee Rob Hennessy played an advantage. The ball broke for Conor Clifford whose low drive sent Beeney diving down to the right corner of his goal to bat the shot away.

The move of the half from St Pat’s was then thwarted by frantic defending a minute before the interval.

Drennan, skipper Ian Bermingham and Clifford were all involved before Forrester’s shot was bravely blocked by Rovers left-back Banks.

With Kris Twardeck on from the restart, Sligo had a little more about them, striker Romeo Parkes audaciously shooting off target from close to the halfway line minutes in.

St Patrick’s soon regained control, however, with the hardworking Clifford rifling a shot narrowly over Beeney’s crossbar just before the hour.

Beeney was worked 12 minutes later by the impressive Forrester confidently hitting a first time volley from distance.

Gary Shaw was then inches from extending St Patrick’s winning margin on 81 minutes, his header from Clifford’s cross shaving the bar.

Despite that, St Pat’s had to endure a nervous finish when Sligo skipper David Cawley drilled home from close range following Banks’ assist on 88 minutes for the visitors’ consolation.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Dave Webster, Ciaran Kelly, Lee Desmond; Simon Madden, Chris Forrester (Cian Coleman 79), Rhys McCabe, Conor Clifford, Ian Bermingham; Gary Shaw (Jake Walker 90+2), Mikey Drennan.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; John Dunleavy, Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Niall Morahan (Kris Twardeck h-t), David Cawley; Jack Keaney, Daryl Fordyce (Liam Kerrigan 69), Ronan Coughlan; Romeo Parkes.

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).

Sligo Rovers are back in action on Friday night as we travel to Dublin to take on St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park.

Rovers drew 0-0 with Waterford last Monday and go in search of a second away win of the season. The previous victory was against Finn Harps.

In team news, Ed McGinty has returned to training following a finger injury.

Ronan Murray serves the third of a four-game ban.

Liam Buckley said: “I think in recent matches the signs have been better. The weather scuppered it for both teams last Monday. We were looking for a performance again as in the first half of the Bohs game and beating Dundalk we have seen an improvement.

“The point on Monday was a fair result and the conditions made it difficult so on Friday we’d like to show what we can do a bit more.

“It’s great to have Ed back to add to the competition because there are three very good goalkeepers within our ranks and I want them all pushing each other for every game.

“This is an important game for both sides, we’re a point behind Pat’s and getting up the table is our priority.

“You can’t ask players to play Friday-Monday three times or eight games in a month, however you look at it, so over this period you will see changes by managers.

“That said, we’re adapting our training so we’re planning as best we can and the lads are really bought into what we’re trying to do. They are looking forward to this game and in the first meeting there was nothing really in it.

“I had great years at Pat’s. But going back there isn’t really on my mind on at all or a distraction because my only priority is getting the victory. That is all I’m focused on.

“There are a lot of people that I will be happy to see because of friendships built up over the years, but the challenge here is all that matters. It’s something I’m really enjoying; we’ve got a really good group of lads that want to bring success to this club and three points is all I’m concerned with.”

Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 Annual Draw – the key fundraiser for Sligo Rovers in the season.

There is €5,000 to be won among a host of prizes. 6,400 tickets were sold last year in the most successful staging of the draw since it began.

Tickets are priced €10 and are available online here , home games and from members of our committee.

The prizes:

1st prize: €5,000

2nd prize: One Night B&B for two people at the 5 Star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin

3rd prize: Two tickets for Rod Stewart for his 4th December Concert plus One Night B&B and Evening Meal in The Croke Park Hotel.

Buy tickets here

4th prize: One Night B&B and Evening Meal for two people at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast

5th prize: One Night B&B for two people in Hotel Westport, Co Mayo

6th prize: €200 voucher for 4 Star Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare

7th prize: €150 Gift Voucher for The Cat and The Moon

8th prize: Sligo Rovers season ticket for 2020

9th prize: 2 Premier Level Tickets for the Republic of Ireland versus Switzerland on 5th September in Aviva Stadium Euro 2020 qualifer

10th prize: Signed Sligo Rovers jersey

The draw takes place on Monday 1st July

Sligo Rovers would like to thank both the Match Sponsor and Match Ball Sponsor from our home games against Dundalk and Waterford respectively.

The Match Sponsor against Dundalk was Foleys Bar & Off Licence, Castle St Sligo while the Match Ball was sponsored by Cot & Cobble Ballina.

The Match Sponsor against Waterford was Cadden Monumental Sculptors while the Match Ball was sponsored by Quinns Chemist, Crossmolina.

Our thanks to all four businesses for their continued support of the club.

We are heading towards the end of the Premier League season with just five rounds of fixtures to complete before yet another season finishes up.

There are now just 113 players left standing in our LMS competition, with each and everyone of them eyeing the top prize of €1,000 for the winner.

All players who have successfully made it through to round eight will be contacted by the club later tonight.

For those of you who wish to do their homework early this week ahead of the weekends fixtures, below is a full list of fixtures for round eight. You can send your selections to shane@sligorovers.com or alternatively text your selection along with your name to 086-4554265.

Reminder you cannot pick the same team twice. For example if you picked Man City in round one you cannot pick them again in the competition.

Fixtures:

Man City vs Tottenham

Bournemouth vs Fulham

Huddersfield vs Watford

West Ham vs Leicester

Wolves vs Brighton

Newcastle vs Southampton

Everton vs Man Utd

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Cardiff vs Liverpool

Chelsea vs Burnley

Sligo Rovers were saddened by the recent passing of people connected to the club.

Tom Calpin, a lifelong fan who died on 6th April. From Enniscrone and lived in Ballyshannon where he was stationed as a Garda and retired some years ago.

His Sligo Rovers scarf was part of the service to mark how Rovers feature in his life.

Maureen Mullen from Collooney, mother of loyal and dedicated Rovers fan Deirdre Mullen.

We extended sympathy to Deirdre and all her family, friends and those who knew Maureen.

May they rest in peace.

Sligo Rovers were unable to follow up their impressive win over Dundalk as they played out a scoreless draw with Waterford at a wind-swept Showgrounds.

Both sides struggled to produce much in terms of entertaining football throughout, with the inclement weather playing its part.

John Mahon did enough to divert Shane Duggan’s shot at goal past Mitchell Beeney’s post early on, while Beeney watched Ismahil Akinade’s drive from all of 30 yards as it swirled in the breeze

The majority of the goalmouth action continued at the Rovers end as the Munster men showed flashes of creativity down either flank.

Both Kyle McFadden and Jack Keaney were unable to clear Zack Elbouzedi’s cross before possession finally landed to Scott Twine. Beeney not overly-troubled as he gathered the Swindon loanee’s shot on the spin.

Twine was involved again just moments later.

Underage internationals Elbouzebi and JJ Lunney combined down the Rovers right side before the former’s cross found Twine at the edge of the area.

The attacker’s acrobatic effort again easy for Beeney to control as the sides remained level at the break.

The second period had only just started when David Cawley pulled off a super one-handed save to deny Matthew Connor, while both Twine and Rory Feely went close from consecutive corners at the opposite end.

Blues skipper Damien Delaney squandered a wonderful chance to break the deadlock on 62 minutes. The former Cork defender couldn’t direct Kevin Lynch’s corner inside the post when unmarked in front of goal. 

Rovers boss Liam Buckley introduced both Liam Kerrigan and Romeo Parkes mid-way through the half, a move that almost paid off straight away.

Cawley and Parkes linked up before the Jamaican’s first-time pass sent Kerrigan through, but the Tubbercurry man could only fire straight at Connor who scrambled the ball to safety.

Elbouzedi forced a fine save from Beeney following a swift Waterford counter as the game entered its final quarter.

Parkes was involved again five minutes from the end.

Lewis Banks’ hard work won him the ball in midfield before he linked with Coughlan.

The ex-Bray man then found Parkes who could only watch on as his dinked effort drifted past the far post from a tight angle. 

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Johnny Dunleavy, Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Kyle McFadden; Jack Keaney (Romeo Parkes 68), David Cawley; Daryl Fordyce; Kris Twardek (Liam Kerrigan 68), Ronan Coughlan.

Waterford: Matthew Connor; Aaron Simpson, Damien Delaney, Rory Feely, Kevin Lynch; Scott Twine (Aaron Drinnan 72), Bastien Hery, Shane Duggan, Jonathan Lunney (Georgie Poynton 88), Zack Elbouzedi; Ismahil Akinade.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Sligo Rovers Dublin Supporters Club have announced they will hold a race night in the capital on Thursday 2^nd May in Toners Bar in Baggot Street Dublin

The event will begin at 8pm with the first race scheduled for 8:45pm.

The DSC are encouraging all Dublin-based fans to attend the event. 

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the #bitored in what is seen for an important fundraiser for Rovers fans in the capital.

Supporters can also purchases horses with prices from €20 to €40 here plus small fee.

They can also arrange purchasing by contacting sligoroversdsc@gmail.com or tweet @SRFC_DSC.

You can also phone 071-9171212.

Pure Telecom two year sponsorship of Sligo Rovers U-13

Sligo Rovers is delighted to announce that Pure Telecom, Ireland’s leading home broadband and telephone company has committed to sponsoring Rovers’ new Under-13s team.

This follows the exciting announcement last week that Pure Telecom has a target to raise €25,000 for the club by making a direct contribution to the club of €100 for every person who signs up to anexclusive low-cost offer of broadband and phone services. 

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom said, “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Rovers with this opportunity to invest in the underage structures at the club. The future of the club and our international team are dependent on investment in the high-performance development of our elite young talent. We wish Alan, Anthony and the players all the best for the season.”

Alan Farry, Manager of Sligo Rovers U13s, said, “We are delighted to welcome a national brand like Pure Telecom as a sponsor of our Under 13s.

“There is some great underage talent coming through and we should all be very excited for the future of the club.

“yes We have already seen the benefits of our underage structures which have fed some quality players into the first team and our underage international sides.”

Supporters who would like to sign up to Pure telecom’s offer to donate €100 for every fan who signs up can check availability and the great deal at https://www.puretelecom.ie/sligo-rovers. The offer will allow fans who are not currently Pure Telecom customers to save €120 over an 18 month contract.

This Monday’s match programme for the fixture with Waterford FC will be accompanied by a free poster of Sligo Rovers legend Tony Stenson

It also features an exclusive interview with Seamus Coleman.

All for €4. Check it out

44 pages

Interview with Seamus Coleman

Liam Buckley – his thoughts on the game

Rovers defender Dante Leverock shares his thoughts

Conal Collier on Hope Springs Eternal

Sligo Super Cup

Sligo Rovers U17’s in action

Seamas Keogh on how it is going so far at Southampton

20 Questions with Ronan Murray

Where are they now by Joe Molloy

You Reds – some nice photos

Red Icon – Brendan Byrne