BY CONALL COLLIER

Sligo Rovers made it three Women’s Premier Division wins-in-a-row at the Showgrounds on Saturday with a4-0 victory against Cork City to establish a four-game unbeaten run.

Cara Jordan and Manu Baptista Filipe were the driving forces as the Bit O’Red enjoyed a 4-0 interval advantage. 

The Bit O’Red did enough after the resumption for a thoroughly merited victory with ‘keeper Bonnie McKiernan a spectator until the 77^th minute when she saved smartly from Heidi Macken.

Manager Gavin Hughes sent out the same starting 11 that defeated Waterford seven days earlier while new Cork City manager Derek Coughlan made one change from the away draw against DLR Waves with Emma Hurley making her first senior start at the expense of Zoe Finnerty.

Sydney Stephens gave Sligo Rovers a 17^th minute lead after Cara Jordan created the opening following good advantage play from referee Eric Eaton.

Jordan was involved again five minutes later when she released Anna McDaniel who capitalised and Cara King applied the finish.

It got worse for Cork City 10 minutes from the half-time when McDaniel found the net from a Stephens cross and soon after Sabrina Hillyer’s excellent ball into the penalty was headed home by Stephens for that four-goal interval advantage.

Sligo Rovers dropped the tempo in the second-half and Cork City benefited in terms of possession.

However, apart from that Macken effort there was no serious threat to the Bit O’Red who went close when Stephens hit the crossbar on 66 minutes and missed a gilt-edged chance near the end.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Alana Doherty, Sabrina Hillyer, Kelsey McQuillan, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Manu Baptista Filipe, Sydney Stephens, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. 

Subs – Ella Karolak for Doherty 49 mins, Katie Melly for Hillyer, Mairead McIntyre for King and Alice Lillie for McQuillan all 69m, Paula McGrory for McDaniel 79m.

Cork City – Clodagh Fitzgerald; Shaunagh McCarthy, Heidi Macken, Ellie O’Brien, Holly O’Hagan, Eva Mangan, Lauren Homan, Fiona Doherty, Nadine Sweard, Ciara O’Driscoll, Emma Hurley. 

Subs – Sophia Redmond for O’Brien and Anna Cronin for Seward both half-time, Eva Loftus for Hurley 79 mins, Kate O’Donovan for Cronin 85m.

Referee – Eric Eaton.

Assistant-referees – Shane O’Donoghue, Oisin Walsh.

Fourth official – Richard Storey.

David Goulden

John Russell has lauded his players for showing ‘no fear’ at Tallaght Stadium following Sligo Rovers’ late winner in Dublin on Friday night.

Carl McHugh smacked a 97th minute winner past Shams goalkeeper Ed McGinty as Rovers became the first team this season to beat the Hoops on their own patch.

Last year’s league winners had led at the break courtesy of an Aaron Greene shot which took a deflection off two Rovers defenders on its way in, during a first half in which the Bit O’Red struggled to settle. 

However and having made changes at the break and during the second half, Russell masterminded Rovers’ plot back into this tie. Jeannot Esua stabbing a Cian Kavanagh knock-on from a Will Fitzgerald cross past McGinty on 66 minutes for his first goal for the club.

While midfielder McHugh made it a memorable night for the few hundred travelling fans when he rammed a well-placed drive from the edge of the area beyond the stunned McGinty following trojan effort from substitutes Mai Traore and Ryan O’Kane. This was also McHugh’s maiden goal in red. 

The results lifts Rovers to within two points of sixth place and opens up a gap of nine between ourselves and bottom side Waterford. 

 Speaking to LOITV post-win, a delighted Russell admired his players’ toil and praised their ability to recover from a chastening defeat in last week’s Connacht derby. 

“It’s a special moment to get a last minute winner like that”, he said. 

“Especially at such a tough venue, it’s a big task to play and win here. We’re always up against it. We brought Ciaron (Harkin) on and he had to come back off and the players were tiring against the calibre of players Shamrock Rovers have. But it’s a huge three points for us. 

“We were in a dark place for a while after the Galway game but we moved on quickly from it. Monday, we had a look at the game, used it as a reference for what we expect going forward and learned a lot from it.” 

“We were behind at the break but I thought we were still very good in the first half. We were brave when we had the ball, but maybe our passing let us down. 

“We were on the back foot going into the second half but to get ourselves back in the game like we did was superb. We defended really well when he had to and I don’t think Sam (Sargeant) has a huge amount to do.

“We showed no fear and you have to do that to win in Tallaght. The game-plan was carried out so well, even with all the changes we had to make.” 

Russell also acknowledged the input of his captain and April’s Player of the Month, Will Fitzgerald who was involved in Esua’s leveller and put in another tireless performance on the left side.

One of the highlights of a magnificent evening arrived minutes before McHugh’s winner when Fitzgerald executed an incredible late challenge on Shams’ John McGovern inside his own area. The Rovers skipper keeping McGovern’s powder dry just as the striker looked to pull the trigger for what likely would have been a winner had the strike beaten Sargeant. 

“That recovery tackle was incredible”, Russell says. 

“For me, he’s the best player in the league this year. It was such a captain’s performance. The tacke in the 92nd minute played a big part in us going and getting that winner. It’s an unbelievable finish from Carl to win it.” 

Rovers are back at the Showgrounds this Friday night as we host Bohs in Premier Divsion action for what will be our last game before the summer break, kick-off 7.45pm.

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Oluwatunmise Sobowale, Adam Mathrews, Lee Grace ©; Jake Mulraney (Danny Grant 38) , Adam Brennan, Dylan Watts (Graham Burke 65) Matt Healy (John O’Sullivan 45), Jack Byrne; Aaron Geene (Victor Ozhianvuna 65); Michael Noonan (John McGovern 65)

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Jeannot Esua, Shane Blaney, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Sean McHale; Will Fitzgerald ©; James McManus (Ciaran Hakin 52-Mai Traore 72), Alex Nolan (Ryan O’Kane 45), Daire Patton; Cian Kavanagh (Carl McHugh 81).

Referee: Paul Norton

Sligo Rovers return to the Showgrounds tomorrow evening as they host Cork City in Round 8 of the Women’s Premier Division, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00.

The Bit O’ Red come into the game in strong form following last weekend’s impressive 2-1 victory away to Waterford, where goals from Cara Jordan and Sydney Stephens secured all three points.

Rovers now sit eighth in the league on eight points, level with seventh-placed Peamount United but behind on goal difference, and will be aiming to head into the mid-season break unbeaten in four matches with another positive result on home soil.

There will also be confidence from Rovers’ last outing at the Showgrounds, when they recorded the biggest home win in the club’s history with a 5-1 victory over Bohemians, inspired by a Sydney Stephens hat-trick. The striker has continued that form into the current campaign and now has six goals in her last four appearances.

Preparations have gone well throughout the week according to manager Gavin Hughes, who says the squad are focused on maintaining their recent consistency heading into the break.

“Preparations have been going really well. The girls are in good form both on and off the pitch, so it’s about continuing that consistency in our performances,” Hughes said.

“We’re looking to go into the break unbeaten in four and in a good league position.”

While Cork currently sit bottom of the Women’s Premier Division with one point from their opening seven matches, recent performances suggest signs of improvement under new manager Derek Coughlan.

The Rebels followed up a scoreless draw against Treaty United in the All-Island Cup with another point away to DLR Waves in Dublin last weekend and now arrive in Sligo unbeaten in their last two matches.

Hughes is expecting another difficult challenge at the Showgrounds this weekend.

“Cork are coming into the game unbeaten in their last two games,” he said.

“Naturally, with a change in management, you often see a response from the group and they’ll be hoping to build on last week’s draw in Dublin.”

The last league meeting between the sides at the Showgrounds came on August 9th, 2025, when Rovers secured a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Paula McGrory and Muireann Devaney. However, both squads have undergone significant changes since then heading into tomorrow’s encounter.

There was further positive news for Rovers this week with Ella Karolak returning to the squad ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

“We’re delighted to welcome Ella Karolak back into the squad,” Hughes confirmed.

“We’re carrying a couple of knocks as well, but the players have come through the week well.”

Defender Ava Hallinan will be unavailable this weekend as she links up with the Republic of Ireland WU16 squad for a UEFA Development Tournament in Finland.

Tickets for tomorrow’s clash are available online and at the gate, while supporters unable to attend can watch the game live on LOITV, with kick-off at 17:00 from the Showgrounds.

Match Officials

Referee: Eric Eaton

Assistant Referees: Shane O’Donoghue and Oisin Walsh

Fourth Official: Richard Storey

Referee Observer: John Duffy

Delegate: Danny Meenan

Michał Kuras

Tallaght Stadium hosts the second round of the Battle of the Rovers as the Bit O’Red head to the capital to take on Shamrock Rovers this evening, kick-off 8pm.

This will be our final away day before the season’s summer break in two weeks as Rovers head to the home of the champions for the first time since the concluding game of last season. 

John Russell’s side head to Dublin looking for a first win in five and certainly face a challenge against a Hoops team who have only dropped points on home ground once this year. Stephen Bradley’s charges were also the victors when these sides first met at the Showgrounds back in March. 

Rovers head up the N4 on Friday without the full quota of players. As of this morning, Seb Quirk, Conor Reynolds and Jad Hakiki are yet to recover from knocks. While Archie Meekison will miss out having been withdrawn against Galway. Winger Ryan O’Kane returned to action in that defeat to Galway last weekend and is expected to be part of the match-day squad once again on Friday. 

Trips to Tallaght Stadium over recent years haven’t been overly successful for Rovers bar the odd outing. Sligo have only won once at the Dublin 24 venue since 2021, that being the final game of last season.

Previewing the game, Russell is aware of the size of the task ahead for his players but wants his squad to embrace the challenge of facing the table toppers.

“We all know the performance against Galway just wasn’t good enough”, he reflects. 

“The dressing room was really hurt after it. We gift-wrapped the goals and our levels were nowhere near where they should have been. To lose to a local rival in that manner really stung but we’ve moved on. 

“We’re heading to Tallaght Friday and at the moment, there’s no harder place to go. But it’s also a great opportunity for us to make up, in some way, for what happened last weekend. To show what we can do. 

“It will be a huge test for us. They have the strongest squad in the league, some of the best young talent and some proven winners. So what better test for us? We’re looking forward to getting out there. 

“We won’t be going there as favourites, but it was the same at the end of last season. Circumstances are of course different this time around but I don’t think many outside of Sligo would have backed us to beat them on the last day of last season and we did. There was big pressure on the game and we came through it. We’ll see what happens this time around.”

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce that the club has tied down the services of centre half Gareth McElroy for the next two-and-a-half-years.  

This new deal extends Gareth’s current contract with the Bit O’Red to the end of the 2028 season. 

The 21-year-old joined Rovers’ Abbvie Academy when he signed up with the club three years ago. A native of Burnfoot in County Donegal, McElroy made his first team debut in a win over Waterford at the Showgrounds in August 2024 and has since established himself as a valued member of John Russell’s squad. 

The powerful defender has to date made 41 senior appearances for Rovers, scoring twice. This is McElroy’s second senior professional contract. 

He signed his first one with Rovers at the end of the 2024 season having impressed at both first team and U20s level that year. 

A recipient of a scholarship as part of the link up between Sligo Rovers and ATU Sligo, McElroy has been involved in each of our 17 league games to date. He says he is looking forward to furthering his career at the Showgrounds and with the likes of Ollie Denham and Sean McHale competing with him for places, he’s thriving being kept on his toes.

“It’s been a huge pleasure representing the club and the Sligo area over the past three years”, Gareth tells sligorovers.com. 

“It was an easy decision when the club approached me about extending my stay. It’s a real buzz for me to get this settled.

“I feel a lot more established now. I feel as if I’ve grown a lot in such a short time. But I know I still have a long way to go and a lot more to learn from the players and coaches here. 

“It does feel like Rovers is the best place for me at this stage of my career.

“That’s because there’s huge competition for places. But it’s great because it pushes you on to improve further. It’s tough to get into this team and even harder to stay in it but the competitiveness is healthy.”

McElroy has been present for every minute of every game bar one since the beginning of the second series of Premier Division games, in which Rovers have won 12 points from eight games, the division’s third best record. 

Speaking about his ambitions for the rest of the year, McElroy is only looking up. He also focused in on the input of the current management team and is looking forward to pushing on with vital games against Shamrock Rovers and Bohs to come before the summer break. 

“We had a slow start but I feel as if in this section of the season, we’re showing the quality we have”, he continues. 

“The league is so tight, even one win and the three points can move you up a few positions. We definitely have a squad good enough to finish a lot higher up the table than where we are. 

“I just want to keep going and keep learning. I want to keep gaining experience here and a goal or two would be a boost. 

“John (Russell) and Ryan (Casey) have been so influential for me and the other young lads that are here. They gave me my chance to play senior football and they are so keen on seeing everyone improve and standards rising. 

“They squeeze everything they can out of themselves and the players. I love that. They have huge hunger and ambition and I want to be part of that.” 

Describing McElroy as ‘one of the best young defenders in the country’, first team boss Russell welcomed the former Derry youth’s decision to commit his future to Rovers.

“Gareth is still very young but has learned so much and developed so much in a short space of time”, he says.

“He has shown real leadership qualities, even during his first few games. It was very noticeable.

“For me it was very important that we got him signed and committed to Rovers for the near future as I believe he has massive potential to develop further.

“He’s nearly hitting 50 senior appearances and that bodes very well for a lad who hasn’t hit 22 yet. We’re looking forward to working with him over the next few years.”  

David Goulden

Ahead of this weekend’s clash against Cork City, Sydney Stephens spoke about her recent goalscoring form, the growing chemistry within the squad and adapting to life in Ireland following her move to Sligo Rovers.

Reflecting on her recent run of form

“I’m definitely proud of it. Definitely some of the individual efforts I’m really proud of, but I think the team efforts are really what I’m kind of more focused on.

I think the more that we can kind of put together team goals and just team moments where we’re really connecting a lot of passes and kind of getting in behind and finishing our chances, the better. And I’ve just been fortunate to be on the back end of some of that.

I think you also see a lot of set-piece goals coming out. Whether it’s me that scored or CJ or somebody else that has scored, there’s been a lot of restarts and set-piece goals that we’ve been able to capitalise on.

So I am proud of some of those individual efforts, but at the end of the day, I might just be the person tapping it in at the back post. People have teed it up for me. So yeah, just the more that we can kind of keep creating that chemistry on the field, the better.”

Building momentum after a difficult start to the season

“Yeah, for sure. I think with so many new faces on our team, we weren’t sure what to expect.

We hadn’t settled into this league early on. We had the good result against Athlone, but there were still certainly some points left for us that we didn’t get right.

I think we knew that going into the last three or four matches. There’s definitely still points on the table for us to take.

I think we go into every game knowing and feeling that we can win. It’s just about putting it all together on the day.

I think it’s coming together slowly but surely. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We know this is a long season. We want to be in our best form towards the end of that and that’s what we’re building towards.”

Adapting to life in Ireland and building relationships within the squad

“Anytime you are making a transition and adjustment to a new team, a new system and a new programme, I think it takes a little bit to kind of build that trust and earn that trust and that goes both ways.

That goes from them as managers to us and then us to them as managers. So I do think that there was a little bit of a learning curve coming over here and understanding maybe a little bit of a different style of play.

European football and football in Ireland is a little bit different than what we’re used to.

So I think for them letting us take the reins when they see fit and obviously us letting them kind of do their thing and coach has been a huge bonus there.

As Americans, we bring a different kind of mentality to the game that is really helpful in moments. But at the same time, I think we do have to dial back some of that mentality and really understand what the game calls for.

As far as our relationship, I think we’re really creating a good one and continuing to build that trust.”

Differences between football in the USA and Ireland

“A lot of people have asked me that question and a lot of people have said that the League of Ireland is really physical.

I think it’s certainly physical, but I also think the NCAA is equally as physical. The thing about the NCAA is that it’s extremely athletic.

Girls are in the gym three times a week in the spring and twice a week during the season.

I think from a resource standpoint the NCAA is much further along in terms of development. The money that’s involved in college sports in the United States is insane.

That’s not to say the League of Ireland isn’t good. I think it’s just really different.”

Looking ahead to Cork City and the weeks ahead

“I think for us as a team, every single game we look at on the weekend we’re going, ‘Hey, that’s three points that we can win.’

We’re definitely looking ahead saying this is another opportunity for three points.

We want to keep getting results before the mid-season break and then hopefully really hit our stride after that.

Cara Jordan has had an impeccable impact, Emma Duffy has had an impeccable impact and I think you’re going to see some of our injuries come back around the mid-season break as well.

There’s been a little inconsistency from us, but all those ups and downs are learning moments for us.

I think now we’re hitting that point where we can start getting a little more consistency in our performances and results.”

Thoughts on the Golden Boot race

“It’s been on my mind since day one.

I’ve actually never considered myself a scorer or even a goalscorer before, so stepping into that role here has been a different part of my game and something that I’m really growing into as a player.

I think I also look at the fact that I’ve scored in the last four games and now I want to make it five games. I want to make it six games. I want to keep that streak going.

Statistics are important, but it also depends on the performances I’m putting out for 90 minutes.

The more that we can develop towards playing a full 90-minute game that’s tactically sound, technically sound and dominant, the better I think we’ll feel.

Kudos to Dana Scheriff as well, who has been absolutely brilliant at the top of the Golden Boot race right now.

There’s definitely been a lot said about it, which is a blessing and a curse because it adds pressure, but recognition doesn’t hurt either.

At the end of the day, the pitch is where it all happens and it depends on what I’m willing to do week to week to put myself in positions where I feel confident to score goals.”

Interview conducted by Ben Dorgan.

It was a challenging week for the academy sides as they came up against strong opposition across both the male and female fixtures. However, a number of players produced strong individual displays and showed great character and quality, certainly giving the coaches plenty to think about moving forward.

U15 | Longford Town 2 – 1 Sligo Rovers

Two classy goals from Coughlan undid the lads as we suffered a narrow defeat on Saturday in the opening round of the Michael Hayes Cup. A late consolation goal from substitute Wiktor Dabrowski in the 87th minute was not enough to spark a comeback at Bishopsgate. Despite the result, the lads showed great determination and competed well throughout, creating plenty of chances and battling right until the end.

WU17 | Sligo Rovers 0 – 2 Treaty United

A tough result for the girls on Saturday as we exited the cup against an impressive Treaty United side. Two first-half goals proved decisive, leaving the girls with too much to do in the second half as our cup hopes came to an end. Regardless of the scoreline, the girls put in a strong performance and battled well against a high-flying Treaty United side at the Showgrounds.

WU23 | Athlone Town 6 – 1 Sligo Rovers

Table-toppers Athlone Town proved too strong for the 23s in Sunday’s clash in Athlone. A blistering start from the hosts saw them score four goals inside the opening 20 minutes, leaving the Rovers girls with a mountain to climb. U17 player Erin Farry coolly slotted home a penalty, but it proved to be only a consolation as Athlone ran out comfortable winners. The girls will now look to bounce back in ten days’ time when they welcome second-placed Bohemians to the Showgrounds.

Tom Lavery

BY CONALL COLLIER

Sligo Rovers took the Women’s Premier Division points home from the Regional Sports Centre on Saturday with a hard-earned 2-1 victory against hosts Waterford for their first away win of the season.

Cara Jordan and Sydney Stephens scored the first-half goals and Waterford pulled one back through Olivia Shannon close to the interval.

This was a determined effort from Sligo Rovers, especially in the second-half when they battened down the hatches and survived some high-intensity Waterford pressure.

Leah Kelly and Emma Hansberry came back into the starting 11 and both made solid contributions while Manu Baptista Filipe won plenty of possession and, more importantly, held possession at crucial times as both Jordan and Stephens pushed forward at every opportunity.

The Bit O’Red, with the benefit of the wind, dominated the opening half and forged ahead as early as the seventh minute when Cara Jordan made an opening for the lead goal following a quick corner.

Alana Doherty was narrowly wide soon after when she got a touch from another corner, but there was a setback for Sligo Rovers on 36 minutes when Sabrina Hillyer was forced off after she sustained a heavy knock in a challenge near the sideline.

Ava Hallinan deputised and Sligo Rovers continued to press forward with a second goal arriving in the 39^th minute when Sydney Stevens timed her run to the far post to head home Jordan’s accurate cross.

However, some hesitant defending paved the way for Waterford’s Olivia Shannon to reduce the deficit in the 41^st minute.

Waterford had early chances in the second half but Bonnie McKiernan saved well from substitute Lauryn Egbuloniu, returning to action after a lengthy injury, and Fiana Bradley.

Waterford continued to capitalise on possession gifted by the opposition and Egbuloniu was narrowly wide in the 67^th minute.

Sligo Rovers had a gilt-edged chance for a third goal when Anna McDaniel blazed over from about six yards in the 76^th minute as the ball held up in the wind following a speculative effort from Manu Baptista Filipe.

Waterford pressed for an equaliser, but were unable to make a breakthrough as Sligo Rovers picked up a first away win of the season.

Waterford – Maeve Williams; Jessica Lawlor, M Doherty, Danielle Burke, Leah O’Donoghue, Olivia Shannon, Mia Lenihan, Fiana Bradley, L Walsh, Kaytlin Conroy, C Carey. Subs – Lauryn Egbuloniu for Shannon and Chloe Atkinson for Lawlor both 58 mins, Kira Burke for Conroy and S Dumevi for Carley both 73m, Emma Bibby for Lenihan 82m.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Alana Doherty, Kelsey McQuillan, Sabrina Hillyer, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Manu Baptista Filipe, Sydney Stephens, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Ava Hallinan for Hillyer 36 mins, Alice Lillie for McQuillan 65m, Paula McGrory for King and Katie Melly for Doherty both 87m.

Referee – Ian O’Keeffe.

Assistant-referees – Jason Ray, Jamie Purcell.

Fourth official – Lucas Keating.

Match Day Sponsor: Sligo Value Centre 

Three former Sligo Rovers players netted at the Showgrounds on Saturday night as the Bit O’Red endured a Connacht derby to forget.

Wasiri Williams opened the scoring early on but Rovers battled back to level the game before the break. Substitute Alex Nolan netting from the spot after Cian Kavanagh was fouled in the area. 

Rovers did have chances in the second period, but coughed up easy opportunities to Galway. Jimmy Keohane scored from a close-range set-piece to push the Tribesmen ahead before Kris Twardek and Francely Lomboto added a third and fourth.

John Russell’s charges did have late opportunities through Sean McHale who struck Watts’ crossbar. Shane Blaney sent a free-kick into the side netting on full-time, while Watts pulled off an impressive stop to deny the returning Ryan O’Kane.

We head to Tallaght Stadium to take on Shamrock Rovers this Friday, kick-off in Dublin is 8pm.

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Jeannot Esua (Shane Blaney 85), Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Sean McHale; Will Fitzgerald; James McManus (Ciaron Harkin 85), Carl McHugh (Mai Traore 65), Archie Meekison (Alex Nolan 13); Daire Patton (Ryan O’Kane 64); Cian Kavanagh. 

Galway United: Evan Watts; Killian Brouder, Conor McCormack (Kris Twardek 63), Wasiri Williams; Connor Baratt (Axel Piesold HT), Ed McCarthy; Aaron Bolger, Jimmy Keohane; David Hurley (James Morahan 90); Stephen Walsh (Francely Lomboto 63), Frantz Pierrot (Lee Devitt 56). 

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd. 

Attendance: 2,677

 The 101st Connacht derby takes centre stage this evening as Sligo Rovers’ men’s senior team host Galway United at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

Match Day Sponsor for this crucial Premier Division clash is Sligo Value Centre. 

This will be the second game between the sides this season, with the Bit O’Red driven to make up for February’s defeat to the Tribesmen at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Rovers are certainly the form of the teams with two wins and two draws from our previous five, while Galway have failed to win any of their last five, but they have picked up three draws along the way. 

This derby represents a huge opportunity for Rovers who would leap-frog Galway in the table and move closer to the top half with a win.

John Russell prepares for this game without a few long-term absentees, although he is hopeful Ryan O’Kane may make the match-day squad having missed the last nine outings with a broken arm.

Sean Stewart was subbed off in the second half against Shelbourne last Friday but should be fine to take part today. 

Rovers have only suffered one defeat in the second round of fixtures to date, conceding just three goals in those seven. Russell is delighted with recent form and wants to maintain this run heading towards the mid-season break in three weeks. 

“I can’t praise the players highly enough”, he says. 

“But we have to demand it from them again and ask for even more on Saturday. 

“We are second to none in terms of work-rate in this league, the players have been giving everything for us and they will need to show it again. 

“Galway will come up here knowing how important this game is and we have to be ready to go toe-to-toe. Our lads know what it was like coming back from our last derby, on the bus and the feelings we had after it. 

“They’re direct and physical and have an ability to harm you, particularly on set-plays. But they can also switch their style and have the players to bring from the bench to do this. 

“But we’ve been creating chances in games and that’s the way we want to do it. We want to win games and play good football. That’s why we’re here. 

Russell was disappointed with refereeing decisions last week against Shels, but takes positives from a well earned point at Tolka Park. He says it shows that Rovers can dig in and then harm the opposition when opportunity presents.

He’s also keen to see his team start on the front foot in what is set to be a huge game between two provincial rivals. 

“We would have won the game in Dublin last week if we’d got the decision”, he states. 

“It was frustrating, of course. But we see it as proof of our ability to defend when we have to and to hit teams when we have the chance. We’re developing our game all the time. 

“But I think the Galway game will be different. The focus will be on us to attack. It’s a derby game and we’re the home team so we’ll be going for it.” 

David Goulden