Tallaght Stadium is Sligo Rovers’ destination this bank holiday Monday evening as the Bit O’Red travel to Dublin for the third time this season, this time to take on Shamrock Rovers. Supporters are reminded kick-off time has been revised to 7pm. 

Rovers go into this one on the back of home draws against Cork City and Drogheda United, while the Hoops are without a win in four having played out draws with Cork, Shels and Pat’s and were recently beaten by rivals Bohemians who Sligo Rovers face at the Showgrounds this coming Saturday.

Tallaght hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for John Russell’s men recently. Our last win at the south Dublin venue was back in 2021 and since then, Sligo have lost in each of our seven visits. 

However, Sligo Rovers did win the last meeting between these two teams back in March at the Showgrounds. A Reece Hutchinson strike before half-time was cancelled out by Graham Burke, but Sligo skipper John Mahon struck for what was our first win of the season twelve minutes from time. 

Rovers head to the capital again without Ollie Denham and Oskar Van Hattum, both of whom are continuing to recover from injury and are Russell’s only injury concerns. Jake Doyle-Hayes is also unavailable due to suspension.

Speaking to sligorovers.com ahead of the game, the Rovers boss says he wants to see his team improve defensively but is full of optimism ahead of what will be a challenging contest.  

“Every ground you visit in this league is a tough place to go to”, he says. “There simply just aren’t any games that aren’t tough and Monday will be the same. Our record up there isn’t great but we’re using that as motivation to go and give a good account of ourselves. 

“We’ve been the architects of our own downfall at times this season and have given other teams headstarts. We’ve been so impressive going forward, creating chances and scoring goals and I’m really happy with that. But what’s been killing us is the concession of silly goals. 

“If you make it easy for the opposition somewhere like Tallaght, then chances are you’re not coming back from it so we need to be on our game from the start. 

“We’ve a good group here and we know what we can achieve this season if we get things right. We showed against Shamrock Rovers in Sligo in March that we can put it up to the strongest teams in this league. We just need to get the basics right and our talent will bring us the rest of the way.

“We’re really looking forward to this one and hopefully it’ll be a good evening for us.”

David Goulden 

By Conall Collier

Anna McDaniel’s 19th-minute goal gave battling Sligo Rovers a thoroughly deserved first Women’s Premier Division (WPD) win of the season at the expense of Dublin side Peamount Utd at the Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.

This was a tremendous display by the Bit O’Red as the players were rewarded for 90 minutes of nonstop pressure on the opposition, and that was a big factor in a second clean sheet of the season.

Rovers boss Steve Feeney made two enforced changes from the previous outing in the All-Island Cup, with both Amber Hardy and Rachel McGoldrick missing out through injury.

They were replaced by Bonnie McKiernan and Cara King, while the continued absence of Jessica Casey, Katie Melly and Paula McGrory, all on the injured list, was another factor in team selection.

Peamount boss Emma Donohoe opted to start Amanda Budden between the posts again in favour of Leona Heffernan, who had played the previous week against Cork City.

Lauryn O’Callaghan, Ciara Maher and Neala Byrne also returned to the side in place of Lucy McCartan, Sorcha Melia and Toni Ceno, who had also featured against Cork City.

From kick-off the Bit O’Red didn’t allow the opposition to settle into any type of rhythm and played mostly in the Peamount half with Alanah Doherty carving out an early chance.

However, Peamount went close from a well-struck Rebecca Watkins shot from distance in the 16th minute, but the flawless Bonnie McKiernan tipped over.

Once again, Sarah Kiernan was outstanding in defence, with both Leah Kelly and Alice Lillie providing solid backup, while Eimear Lafferty and Emma Hansberry were tireless around the middle.

The only goal arrived in the 19th minute, and while McDaniel applied the finishing touch, it was Mairead McIntyre’s drive that created the opening.

The hosts were reasonably comfortable for the remainder of the opening half and had the ability to absorb some intense second-half Peamount pressure as the Dublin women went in search of an equaliser.

Both sides had chances, with a Carla McManus shot on 81 minutes the best of what Peamount produced. At the other end, Amanda Budden made a good save to deny Rovers substitute Muireann Devaney in the 89th minute.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Alanah Doherty, Eimear Lafferty, Emma Hansberry, Kate Nugent, Mairead McIntyre, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Muireann Devaney for King 73 mins, Natasha Kelly for McIntyre and Keeva Flynn for Doherty, both 86 mins, and Morgan Burnap for McDaniel 94 mins.

Peamount Utd – Amanda Budden; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Mary Phillips, Ciara Maher, Rebecca Watkins, Carla McManus, Abby Tuthill, Jess Fitzgerald, Karen Duggan, Antea Guvo, Neala Byrne. Subs – Lucy McCartan for Byrne and Sorcha Melia for Maher, both half-time; Sadhbh Doyle for O’Callaghan 70 mins, Ruby Gallagher for Guvo 77 mins.

Referee – Arnold Hunter.

Assistant referees – Darren Corcoran, Darren Carey.

Fourth official – Michael Connolly.

David Goulden at the Showgrounds

Two goals down to Drogheda United with less than half an hour to go, Sligo Rovers battled back to take a point from this game courtesy of an Owen Elding strike and a James Bolger own goal at the Showgrounds.

The visitors led this game by two courtesy of goals either side of half time from the boots of Conor Keeley and Thomas Oluwa. But an Owen Elding goal on 67 and a James Bolger own goal on 73 saw Rovers level the tie and topple Drogs from top spot. 

Rovers boss John Russell included Connor Malley in his starting eleven for the first time in four games, the ex-Dundalk general the home side’s only change from the draw with Cork City last Saturday. Striker Wilson Waweru was named on the bench having returned from a serious achilles injury which kept him out since last September. While United manager Kevin Doherty brought both Elicha Ahui and Paul Doyle back having missed the defeat to Galway. 

Drogs had the better of the first half exchanges. Despite being forced into a re-shuffle because of an early injury to midfielder Doyle, the FAI Cup holders looked the far more convincing side in the first 45. 

Rovers captain John Mahon did just enough to take the ball off the toe of Oluwa after the imposing attacker fended off three Sligo defenders on his way to goal. While Andrew Quinn’s free header from a Shane Farrell corner was claimed by Sligo goalkeeper Sam Sargeant minutes later.

The hosts did have a small purple patch in this half. Elding, whose father Anthony scored the winner in the epic 2013 cup decider between these clubs, fired wide on the quarter hour after Drogheda failed to clear a Jake Doyle-Hayes set piece. While the ball squirmed away from Cian Kavanagh after Elding’s shot was parried by Luke Dennison towards the Sligo centre forward who found himself in front of goal.

The Louthmen controlled proceedings from here until the interval and took the lead on 28 minutes. Sligo had been forewarned four minutes earlier when Keeley’s header across the face of goal was headed over by the unmarked James Bolger. 

Drogheda arrived again and were more clinical on this occasion when Quinn knocked a Farrell free-kick back across to Keeley who fired his fourth goal of the season beyond Sargeant. 

Chasing the game, Rovers fashioned chances through Malley early in the second period. The first was simple for Dennison to deal with but the second, an overhead shot had the California born stopper scrambling to clear the ball from under his crossbar.

Making the most of their opportunities, Drogheda had their second on 63 when Mahon mis-judged the pace of a Warren Davis cross, allowing Oluwa to apply a simple finish. 

Not lying down however, Russell’s men struck back on 67 when from the end line, Will Fitzgerald picked out Elding who fired into an empty net from close range for his sixth of the year. 

Incredibly, this game was level six minutes later when United’s Bolger turned Sligo substitute Francely Lomboto’s ball into his own net. 

There was drama in this one right to the death. 

Bolger hit the post from a Farrell cross 90 seconds from the end of normal time, while Fitzgerald’s long range drive at the far end whistled just wide in the sixth minute of added time. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Harvey Lintott 60), Gareth McElroy, John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Connor Malley (Matty Wolfe 87), Jake Doyle-Hayes; Will Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki (Francely Lomboto HT), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Stephen Mallon 69). 

Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Elicha Ahui (Owen Lambe 68), Andy Quinn, James Bolger, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Paul Doyle (Ryan Brennan 5), Shane Farrell; Darragh Markey (Luke Heeney 75); Thomas Oluwa, Warren Davis (Douglas James-Taylor 68). 

Referee: Paul Norton. 

Attendance: 2,087.

David Goulden speaks to Rovers striker Wilson Waweru as he returns from a lenghty spell out with injury

Eight months since he sustained a serious injury which has kept him sidelined from competitive action, Wilson Waweru is preparing to make his long awaited return in a Sligo Rovers shirt.

September 2024, 70 or so minutes into what transpired to be a league win over Dundalk at the Showgrounds and the striker fell to the ground in the middle of the pitch having challenged an opponent for a high ball. Thinking it a minor knock, Waweru continues but is finally overcome with pain in his ankle from what turns out to be a ruptured achilles tendon. 

Waweru had arrived from Galway United the previous winter having spent a successful year’s loan at Cobh Ramblers were he netted 12 times. Spotting Wilson’s raw talent during his time in Cork, Bit O’Red boss John Russell made Waweru a Rover one week before Christmas 2023. 

He would go on to score ten times for Sligo in his first season, including an FAI Cup hat-trick against Cobh Wanderers. He was also rewarded for some fine midsummer form when he won the SSE Airtricity/SWI Player of the Month award for July 2024 having found the net six times in as many games, before the injury ended his season prematurely. 

Finally declared fit to play this week by the Rovers medical team, Waweru could possibly make his return this Friday against Drogheda United at the Showgrounds. 

“When it happened, it just felt like the defender had kicked the back of my leg”, Waweru recalls. 

“It felt just like an awkward landing. I initially thought it was just a kick and it would ease but the pain didn’t go away. When I tried to move my leg after a while it was seriously painful. I was hyperventilating, was stretchered off and they sent me straight to hospital so I knew I was in serious bother.”

Foot and ankle specialist Stephen Kearns stepped in here and after surgery under the orthopedic surgeon, Waweru faced long days essentially doing nothing. First off, there was approximately ten weeks of crutches, cast and pain-killers as the recovery process got under way.   

“It was tough because I wasn’t able to do anything but sit around all day to let it heal. After that it was regular meetings with the surgeon to assess how things were. Fortunately, after my last meeting with Stephen, he was delighted with how well it had healed and he was happy for me to do exercises on it like going on the bike or just mobility stretches.”

Finally, it came to rehabilitation time and some sort of physical work with the club’s medical team before running and ball work was gradually introduced. 

“I was in with James (O’Donnell) and Ray (Finan) doing the rehab and that was tough for seven or eight weeks because there’s a mental battle there. I was coming in every morning and it was just one on one sessions for an hour and then I’d go home and then to the gym to work on strength. This went on for two or three months and it wasn’t easy staying away from kicking a ball. 

“I gradually got a feel for running on the grass and slowly the ball work was added but it felt like it took a long time. 

“Once I was happy to join the team again, I got back into small passing drills with them and getting contact. The gaffer was happy at this stage to involve me more and more as time went on. 

“It’s difficult to explain how the ankle feels now. It doesn’t feel the same but it’s not going to stop me. There’s still a lot for me to show and I can’t wait to showcase it.”

Waweru returns with Rovers occupying the division’s bottom spot. But having watched on and studied from the sidelines, he knows the current squad has more than enough talent to lift the club up the ladder in the coming weeks and months. 

The energetic forward is hoping to get involved on Friday evening as Rovers host league leaders Drogs at the Showgrounds. He is expecting the sort of challenge any in-form team would offer, but is also confident Rovers can take something from the game. 

“We’re a new group and with that it can be difficult to gel”, he continues. “But so far and I think you can see this in all the games, our performances have been really positive. We have been very unlucky in a lot of the games but there’s no doubt in the group that we can improve our results in this round of games.

“I love to score goals and that’s what I want to do. I got in that rhythm last year just before I got injured, I’d been scoring regularly in crucial games and I’ve no doubt I’ll start doing that again. 

“It’s going to be a massive game for us on Friday. Drogheda are a good side and they’re top for a reason. But I think the fact we’re at home in front of our supporters, there’s no reason why we can’t pick up three points and I’d certainly love to play my part.”

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers will host Peamount Utd on Saturday in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) with manager Steve Feeney almost in a position where he might only have 11 fit players following the trauma of the past fortnight.

The stretcher-bearers were kept busy tending to the walking wounded and to those who couldn’t even walk following the WPD game against Galway and the All-Island Cup draw with Bohemians FC last Sunday.

Arising from those encounters, four Bit O’Red players are sitting on the bench due to injuries that were sustained, while Paula McGrory remains on the doubtful list ahead of this Saturday’s action.

Katie Melly and Jessica Casey were sidelined after the Galway game a fortnight ago. Amber Hardy Amber Hardy had to be stretchered off in the 90th minute last week after she sustained a fractured patella, and goalscorer Rachel McGoldrick sustained an arm injury (double fracture) after she fell awkwardly.

That’s the current challenge for Steve Feeney, who can reflect on what was a hugely encouraging display last Sunday, as his target will be a first win of the season against a Peamount side that finished sixth last season.

“We have a relatively young squad; Tommy (Hewitt) gave a lot of girls opportunities last year, and that experience will be helpful this season,” stated the Bit O’Red boss.

“Players like Emma Hansberry, Leah Kelly and Muireann Devaney add experience, and the players coming through from the Academy have the talent to make a serious contribution.

“It was evident in the All-Island Cup last week; we needed a solid performance to get anything out of that contest against Bohemians, and after a slow start, I felt that we were able to control the game for long periods,” he added.

Peamount currently sit in seventh place, some nine points adrift of leaders Athlone Town, as they adjust to the post-James O’Callaghan era after the long-serving manager stepped down from his role at the end of last season.

Emma Donohoe has stepped into the ‘hot seat’ at the Dublin club that has a rich tradition in the league and the distinction of winning the inaugural title back in 2012 when the recently retired Republic of Ireland international Louise Quinn was the captain.

The Dublin club won the last of four titles in 2023 and will always have a place in the history of Sligo Rovers.

Peamount’s home ground, PRL Park in West Dublin, was the venue in March 2022 for the historic first outing for Sligo Rovers in what was then the Women’s National League.

Last time out in the WPD, Peamount found the going tough against bottom-of-the-table DLR Waves and needed a second-half Jess Fitzgerald goal for a hard-earned 3-2 victory.

Peamount enjoyed a 3-0 win away to Cork City last weekend in the All-Island Cup, with goals in the 88th and 90th minutes sealing the victory after Croatian player Antea Guvo gave them the lead in the first half.

Sligo Rovers v Peamount Utd will kick off on Saturday at 3pm and will be available on LOITV.

David Goulden at the Showgrounds 

Francely Lomboto netted a dramatic 90th minute equaliser as Sligo Rovers stayed within reach of Cork City at the Showgrounds. 

Kitt Nelson had given the Rebels the lead with a quarter of an hour to go, but Rovers were rewarded for their hard work and perseverance when the lively Lomboto popped up to force Owen Elding’s header across the line at the death.

City finished this game with ten men after Josh Fitzpatrick butted heads with Rovers sub Stephen Mallon on 78.

For the third game in eight days, Russell named an unchanged starting side. While City rewarded last Monday’s match winner Nelson, who scored in this fixture back in March, with a start. The Preston loanee their only change from that dramatic win over Waterford. 

The hosts did start the brighter and went close through Jad Hakiki whose effort from the edge of the area whistled narrowly wide. While there was a hearts in mouths moment for the Leesiders early on when Rovers’ Gareth McElroy looked like he was shoved to the ground in front of the City posts as he tried to get contact on a Will Fitzgerald set-piece.

City’s Evan McLaughlin had a free-kick from the angle held by Sam Sargeant in the Rovers goal. While McElroy couldn’t generate enough power on his header from a Jake Doyle-Hayes cross late in the half. 

Rovers’ top scorer Owen Elding lost his footing at the crucial moment as he skewed an effort wide 12 minutes into the second period as they chased the opener. While at the far end, Djenario Daniels was inches away from tapping home a Joshua Fitzpatrick cross towards the back post with 20 to go.  

Cork hit the front on 77. Daniels missed Fitzpatrick’s cross but Nelson made no such mistake as he bundled the ball beyond Sargeant. 

Fitzpatrick was then shown a straight red after he got involved with Rovers sub Mallon on 78. 

Mallon was involved in the late drama as Elding sent the winger’s cross back across the face of goal for Lomboto to squeeze beyond Tein Troost. 

Fitzgerald almost won this game for the hosts in the fifth minute of added time but he dragged a shot wide and beyond the far post. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Daire Patton 72), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ronan Manning (Matty Wolfe 92); Will Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki (Stephen Mallon 72), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Francely Lomboto 62).  

Cork City: Tien Troost; Milan Mbeng, Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley, Bernardo Couto (Matthew Kiernan 64); Evan McLaughlin, Sean Murray; Cathal O’Sullivan, Kitt Nelson (Rio Shipston 82), Alex Nolan (Joshua Fitzpatrick 53); Djenairo Daniels. 

Referee: Rob Harvey. 

Attendance: 2,187.

Sligo Rovers will play their third game in the space of eight days as Cork City are this Saturday’s visitors to the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

The game will be the Bit O’Red’s first outing at home in the second round of league fixtures following games in both Waterford and Derry over the Easter period. John Russell’s side took three points from those two games and will look to move out of the Premier Division’s bottom spot with a win over the Rebels this weekend. 

This will be the second time the sides will face each other this term. Top-scorer Owen Elding gave Rovers an early lead at Turner’s Cross back in March, but the Leesiders hit back through Kitt Nelson in the second period as the points were shared. 

Russell’s hand is strengthened for this one by the return of full-back Harvey Lintott to full fitness, while midfielder Connor Malley is available again having missed Tuesday’s defeat in Derry through suspension. 

Ollie Denham will be assessed in the lead up to Saturday, while Wilson Waweru continues his recovery.

Speaking to sligorovers.com this week, Russell says his players must prove they can perform when called upon and feels Cork’s late win over Waterford on Monday will have them arriving in Sligo all guns blazing. 

“There’s not really much point in me or anyone else talking too much about the game, it’s about actions. We can analyse and talk all we want but it’s worth nothing if we don’t go out on Saturday in front of our own supporters, on our own ground and take the game to Cork. The players, every one of them, know what is expected of all of them and they know what I want from them. I need them to do their talking on the pitch now. 

“It’s all about actions now. We know how good we can be and we must show it. We’re a very young side but we also have experience and having someone like Connor back adds to that. Harvey being back also gives us a boost and hopefully we’ll have positive news on Ollie. We’re as close to full strength as we’ve been all year so we have no excuse on that front. 

“Cork scored those late goals against Waterford and that’s going to have done a lot for them. They’re a very good side and they’ll be coming up here looking for another win. 

“We will be as well prepared as we can be and the players will have all the information they need. We’re really looking forward to being back at the Showgrounds and we’re focused on putting in a good shift.”

David Goulden 

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers return to action in the Women’s All-Island Cup first round with a fixture at the Showgrounds against Bohemian FC on Sunday, 1.30pm.

Last month the Dublin side visited the Showgrounds for the opening game of the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) and were held to a scoreless draw by a battling Bit O’Red performance.

Bohs will go into this encounter on the back of a heavy defeat (7-2) against Shelbourne a fortnight ago. They had no game last weekend due to a weather-enforced postponement against Waterford at the RSC.

Sligo Rovers endured a tough outing, in terms of injuries, last Saturday when they hosted Galway Utd at the Showgrounds.

While Galway recorded a hard-earned 3-1 victory, the Bit O’Red lost Katie Melly and Jessica Casey to separate second-half injuries, and both players were stretchered off.

Katie Melly sustained an ankle injury that will keep her out of the team for at least four weeks, while Jessica Casey will be sidelined for a similar timespan with a knee injury.

Rovers manager Steve Feeney accepted that both players will be a significant loss as he reflected on what was ultimately a costly outing against Galway.

“The concession of the early goal against Galway was disappointing, but the players responded positively, and we were well in the game after that,” he said.

“I suppose Galway created some chances in the first half, but we were solid, and I felt we were coming back into the game in the second half when we had the two injuries.

“Katie was a big loss, as she was doing a good job in a more defensive role, and she has great pace also, so her departure disrupted our fluency.

“Then we lost Jessica a few minutes later, and it just didn’t help us, but there was ample evidence of the character and determination of the players; they kept going, and the late goal from Rachel (McGoldrick) was deserved,” he added.

Looking ahead to a first outing in this season’s All-Island Cup, Steve stressed the importance of a winning start in what is a tough group that also includes Shelbourne and Linfield.

“I’m not expecting anything easy from Bohemians, and they will be approaching
this game with a similar attitude to ourselves; both teams will feel they can win, and to have a realistic chance of making the quarter-finals, winning the first game is vital,” stated the Bit O’Red boss.

“We will be targeting a victory to get the All-Island Cup campaign off to a good start. Both teams would have preferred a better start to the league, and both teams have conceded a good few goals, but this is an opportunity now for us to go out and get a victory.

“We will have to make changes due to injuries to Katie (Melly), Jessica (Casey) and Paula (McGrory), while Emma Hansberry is on the doubtful list at this stage. Muireann and Lauren Devaney may not be available.

“On the plus side, Leah Kelly came on for Jessica last Saturday, and she was lively and energetic. We have plenty of players who are just waiting for a chance to start, and Sunday could be an opportunity for them,” he concluded.

Bohemian FC will start with manager Alban Hysa serving a suspension following his dismissal from the sideline last time out against Shelbourne for two yellow cards.

However, that won’t seriously impact the starting 11, and the Dublin women will
Look to players like Hannah Healy and Katie McCarn to score the goals, each having hit the target this season already.

Other players who have the potential to make big contributions include Roisin McGovern, who has got amongst the goals, and Aoibhe Brennan; both have started all five WPD games this season.  

Kick-off at the Showgrounds on Sunday will be at 1.30pm, and the game will be on LOITV.