Sligo Rovers made the short journey to Ballybofey on Easter Monday as we met Finn Harps for the second time this season.

The sides met back in March at The Showgrounds with Rovers winning 3-1 thanks to an Aidan Keena hat-trick.

Both sides were away from home on Friday night. The hosts coming back from a goal behind to draw 2-2 with Bohemians in Dalymount Park and Rovers defeated narrowly 2-1 against Dundalk at Oriel Park.

Liam Buckley made five changes to his starting eleven from that game in Dundalk with Greg Bolger, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, Aidan Keena and Will Fitzgerald all replaced in the team by Niall Morahan, Colm Horgan, Shane Blaney, David Cawley and Mark Byrne.

The Bit O’ Red started well and forced a number of early corners. The was good attacking play from Rovers particularly down the left with Mark Byrne, making his first start of the season, causing problems for the Harps defence along with Max Mata and David Cawley with Paddy Kirk also getting forward from left back.

On 18 minutes, the first real chance of the game fell to Cawley who forced Mark McGinley into a fine save with his feet after working space in the area. Just two minutes later Cawley was instrumental again as his perfect through ball found Byrne in behind but McGinley produced another big save to deny him. The ball fell to Mata in the box but he couldn’t quite get control of the ball and his shot was also saved by the Harps’ goalkeeper.

Rovers weren’t to be denied for long however and were rewarded on 25 minutes. Kirk’s ball found Mata who held it up well before turning and feeding it to the left to Byrne. His pass in behind the defence found the on rushing Cawley who dinked it over the Harps keeper toward goal. Regan Donelon, facing Rovers for the first time since his move to Harps, got back and cleared it off the line but his clearance hit Karl O’ Sullivan and fell into the net for the winger’s first goal for the club.

Referee Paul McLaughlin had his card out moments later. Bastien Hery was booked for a poor tackle on David Cawley and as both teams came together in the aftermath, Ethan Boyle and Shane Blaney were both carded.

Rovers went in 1-0 up at half-time and in truth it could well have been a couple more.

The second half started slowly with Harps having long range shots from Donelon and Mark Timlin sail over Ed McGinty’s crossbar early on. Max Mata was replaced by Jordan Hamilton on the hour for Rovers as Liam Buckley made his first change of the evening.

Harps pushed forward in the last quarter of an hour and forced some corners. McGinty stood tall for Rovers and claimed some high balls sent in from the Harps wingers with little in way of real chances being created.

One big chance did fall to Timlin however as a clearance was charged down by Harps and Mihaljevic got in down the right. His cross found Timlin but somehow a Rovers defender got back to block his effort and put it behind for another Harps corner.

Liam Buckley introduced Will Fitzgerald and Greg Bolger in the last ten minutes and Rovers saw out the game well with Harps pushing forward and McGinty again claiming some high balls to see us through and earn a vital three points.

Next up is Drogheda United on Saturday evening at The Showgrounds. The game kicks off at 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers travel to Finn Park in Ballybofey tomorrow night in the second North-West derby of the season. (Kick off 6pm)

Last time out at The Showgrounds, Rovers ran out 3-1 winners after a strong performance from the team including a Man of The Match display from Aidan Keena who bagged a hat-trick.

Six points currently separate the sides with Rovers in fifth and Harps in ninth position after ten league games each.

Both sides were away from home on Friday night with The Bit O’ Red falling to a 2-1 defeat to Dundalk at Oriel Park and Harps fighting back from 2-1 down in Dalymount Park against Bohemians to rescue a point in stoppage time through Mark Timlin.

Rovers manager Liam Buckley looks ahead to the game:

We know Finn Park is a tricky place to go. We always have good hard battles against them and Ollie and his staff will no doubt have them ready to go tomorrow night.

I felt we played well on Friday night for large spells. We could have taken the lead if we had taken our early chances but we need to defend those goals a bit better.

We are looking forward to Monday night’s game and we want to do well and try and kick on again into the coming weeks.

In team news Rovers will assess the fitness of Jordan Hamilton and Robbie McCourt after the pair missed the game with Dundalk through injury.

The game is live on LOI TV and on Ocean FM.

Two super strikes from Aoife Brennan and one from Emma Doherty gave Sligo Rovers a first home win in the Women’s National League today against Treaty Utd writes Conall Collier.

Manager Steve Feeney had to make a number of changes due to the unavailability of a number of his squad. Amongst those missing were Yasmin Connolly, Keela Scanlon, Helen Monaghan, Fiona Doherty, Emma Hansberry and Kristen Sample who was on coaching duty in Malta with the Republic of Ireland u-16 girls.

That gave Amy Mahon a first start between the posts and she produced a top class display in front of the home supporters.

Former Sligo Rovers manager (Men’s team) Don O’ Riordan returned to The Showgrounds at the helm of the Limerick side that came into the game in bottom position in the table without a win in four outings.
 
Rovers had a couple of early chances with Sarah Kiernan and Emma Doherty going close from frees, but a Leah Kelly own goal in the 11th minute that gave Treaty United the lead and left the hosts facing a stiff challenge.

The Limerick side held on to the advantage until nine minutes from the interval when Aoife Brennan levelled from a superbly-struck free on the edge of the penalty area.

Scarcely 60 seconds later, the hosts hit the front from Emma Doherty’s fine finish after she beat the offside and gave Treaty ‘keeper Michaela Mitchell no chance.

And it got better for the Bit O’Red on the stroke of half-time when Brennan rifled another free to the top corner to give the hosts a valuable 3-1 interval advantage.

Wind-assisted Treaty resumed smartly after the resumption and Mahon produced a smart save to deny Heidi O’Sullivan in the 50th minute.

The Bit O’Red worked hard to take control with Lauren Boles, Gemma McGuinness and Orna O’Dowd particularly effective as the hosts were tested by a determined Treaty side.

Jesse Mendez, Lauren Keane Laoise Brown and Emily O’Halloran all battled tenaciously for the Limerick women in an effort to peg back the hosts.

Treaty went close midway through the half following a series of corners, but they were unable to make a breakthrough.

With 10 minutes remaining Treaty forced another series of corners that posed problems, but the hosts survived and countered with Doherty denied by Treaty ‘keeper Michaela Mitchell who advanced smartly out of her area.

O’Sullivan was denied a late goal for Treaty when her effort thundered off the crossbar, but it was the Bit O’Red supporters who were celebrating at the end,
 
Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Leah Kelly, Ruth Monaghan, Orna O’Dowd, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Aoife Brennan, Amy Roddy, Katie Melly, Sarah Kiernan. Subs – Paula McGrory for Brennan 70 mins, Jessica Casey for Melly 68m, Kerri O’Hara for Kelly and Amy Hyndman for Doherty both 83m.

Treaty Utd – Michaela Mitchell; Alix Mendez, Emma Deegan, Alannah Mitchell, Lauren Keane, Jesse Mendez, Heidi O’Sullivan, Emma Costelloe, Michaela Lawrence, Emily O’Halloran, Laoise Brown. Subs – Cara Griffin for Costelloe 65 mins, Shannon O’Donovan for A Mendez 68m, Eimear Carey for Brown 84 mins.

Referee – Michael Connolly.
Assistant-referees – Alan Dunne, Keenan Deering.
Fourth official – Joe Hession.

Sligo Rovers travelled to Oriel Park on Friday Night in The SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The two teams were seperated by just a point leading into the game with Rovers in fourth and Dundalk in fifth position in the league table. The two sides were evenly matched in our last meeting on March 5th at The Showgrounds when the game finished scoreless.

Before the game, The Bit O’ Red team held a Pride flag in memory of Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt who lost their lives earlier this week in Sligo.

Rovers started brightly and had some chances through Aidan Keena and Max Mata early on. Mata got onto a loose ball in the area but his close range shot was blocked by Andy Boyle. Moments later Keena got onto a Will Fitzgerald flicked header but couldn’t manage to keep his lobbed effort on target.

Dundalk went close through Daniel Kelly soon after and they took the lead on 35 minutes when Patrick Hoban scored from close range following Stephen Bradley’s cross which Ed McGinty couldn’t gather.

The hosts had their tales up and made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time. Kelly was played in behind and cooly slotted under McGinty to double his sides lead.

Liam Buckley made two half time changes with Greg Bolger and Aidan Keena replaced by David Cawley and Niall Morahan in midfield.

Rovers tried their best to get back into the game and had some half chances throughout the second half.

Mata was lively in attack with substitute Cawley getting forward at every opportunity. Will Fitzgerald rounded goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd to score but he was flagged offside in the build up.

The hosts had some chances too with Darragh Leahy’s header testing McGinty and captain Hoban also testing the Rovers ‘keeper.

Mark Byrne was introduced for Karl O’ Sullivan on the right for the final fifteen minutes. Byrne and Lewis Banks combined on the right as Rovers’ kept pushing for a way back into the game.

Paddy Kirk’s long throw in four minutes from time found Mata in the box and his looping header found the net to give Rovers hope for the closing stages.

Chances fell to Kirk who shot over from the edge of the area and the impressive Mata who’s header went wide from Byrne’s cross in the 92nd minute and soon after referee Neil Doyle brought the game to a close.

Rovers travel to Finn Harps on Monday at 6pm.

Sligo Rovers travel to Oriel Park on Friday to take on Dundalk in The SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The game signals the start of the second series of fixtures with Rovers currently in fourth position after nine games. Dundalk lie just a point behind The Bit O’ Red in fifth place under new manager Stephen O’ Donnell.

The sides met at The Showgrounds on March 5^th in a game that ended scoreless.

Liam Buckley will be looking for a performance from the team which he hopes can continue the sides good away record this season.

”As a club we are in a top four position and will endeavour to improve. With five points separating six teams from third to eight, competition for European places will be immense, a challenge we are all looking forward to.

Dundalk have also made a positive start to the season and have added a lot of new faces to their squad, they will also be looking forward to improving and achieving a top four spot. This will be a tough game for both teams. Oriel park is always a tough venue but one we enjoy going to.

Our travelling support will be very important to us and we look forward to representing them with a performance they can be proud of”.

In team news, Aidan Keena is available and both Robbie McCourt and Jordan Hamilton will do late fitness tests.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm and is live on LOI TV and Ocean FM Sport will have commentary.

Last three:

Rovers: UCD (Drew 2-2), Bohemians (Lost 1-0), Shelbourne (Lost 1-0)

Dundalk: St Patrick’s Athletic (Drew 0-0), UCD (Won 2-0), Drogheda United (Lost 1-0)

Sligo Rovers are happy to back The Big Step’s campaign to end all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football. The Bit O’ Red are the 25^th club to back in the campaign in the UK and Ireland, and the second club that play in the League of Ireland Premier Division to back the campaign, joining Drogheda United – meaning 20% of the league are now advocating for a ban on gambling ads in the sport.

The announcement adds to the growing resistance against gambling advertising in football in Ireland. Last year Ireland’s President, Michael D. Higgins, described gambling adverts accompanying sporting events as “dangerous” and said they were causing “so much damage to families”.

Last week, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced that celebrities are to be banned from appearing in gambling adverts in the UK from October. Also last week, it was revealed that a piece of research submitted by the English Football League to the UK Government as part of the Gambling Act review was “flawed”, “misleading” and “undertaken to draw a pre-determined conclusion”.

This came after 20 football clubs, including Drogheda United, signed an open letter to the UK Government calling on them to ban all gambling adverts and sponsorship in football. In the letter, the clubs stressed they were not reliant on gambling revenue, in stark contrast to the gambling industry narrative.

Tommy Higgins, Chairman of Sligo Rovers, said:

 ‘’Sligo Rovers is a proud community club which welcomes people of all ages and all walks of life and it’s important to us to do all we can to help protect our supporters, players and everyone associated with the club in any way we can. We feel this small step of not accepting any sponsorships from gambling companies may go a small way to helping what is a huge problem in our society. As a club, we are not in a position to refuse sponsorships too often however we feel the negative aspect of this advertising far outweighs any monetary value to the football club’’.

Earlier this year the club pledged not to take gambling sponsorship money and issued the following statement:

“Sligo Rovers have taken the decision not to accept sponsorship from gambling companies.

“The Bit O’ Red have turned down two large sponsorship offers from gambling companies in the last number of months as we move to formalise this policy.

“As a community-funded club, we believe it would be irresponsible to accept these proposals.

“Sponsorship is a critical aspect in the running of Sligo Rovers and turning down five-figure sponsorship offers is not a straight-forward decision, particularly given the club is self-funded with no individual benefactor like many others in the League of Ireland.

“The ethos of our club is to be inclusive and open to welcome all ages and demographics. We feel such advertising, directly aimed at our supporters and particularly to our young fans, could have a detrimental outcome going forward and not in the spirit of the football club.”

A 2021 Gambling Awareness Trust study estimates there are up to 50,000 people addicted to gambling in Ireland which has a population of almost 5 million. Those addicted to gambling are up to 15 times more likely to take their own lives than members of the general population. Gambling advertising is rife across all levels of football, with research showing that gambling logos can appear 700 times during a single televised game of football. Consequently it’s estimated a gambling brand is visible up to 89% of the time on Match of The Day, which is watched by millions each week.

Mark Wall, a Labour Party senator, introduced a bill last April to completely ban gambling advertising in Ireland. In March 2022, the bill passed the second stage in Seanad Éireann and there is now a real chance there will be strong restrictions implemented.

The Big Step is a campaign to end all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, led by people harmed by gambling. The campaign is part of the charity Gambling with Lives, which was set up by families and friends that lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide. Research suggests there are up to 650 gambling-related suicides every year in the UK.

James Grimes, Founder of The Big Step, said:

“We were thrilled to see that Sligo Rovers implemented a policy that would see them reject all gambling partnerships and we are even more delighted to have their full support for our campaign.

A fifth of all top-flight clubs in Ireland now advocate for our cause and that number will grow. Gambling advertising is on it’s way out of the game and we know that clubs can survive without it. We of course encourage governments in both the UK and Ireland to act, but we also urge every club in both countries to follow the lead of the 25 clubs – including Sligo – and say no to the gambling industry.”

The Bit O’ Red academy teams were all in action this past weekend apart from our Under 19 Women’s team who had a free weekend for internationals.

On Saturday at 1pm our Under 17 Men’s team hosted neighbours Finn Harps at The Sean Fallon Centre. Goals from Michael Clifford and Lee Conway secured all three points for Rovers and leaves them on seven points from a possible twelve.

Alan Farry’s Under 14 Boy’s squad travelled to Galway to take on Galway United, also on Saturday. A tight game ended 1-1 with Aaron Heaney scoring his first club goal.

Aaron O’ Connor’s Women’s Under 17 side faced Donegal in Letterkenny on Saturday evening. A goal from Lara Swann wasn’t enough on the day and the hosts ran out 3-1 winners.

There was a double header on Sunday afternoon at The Sean Fallon Centre.

First up, Our Under 19 Men’s team defeated Derry City 3-0 with goals from Kailn Barlow, Peter Maguire and Darragh Reilly. It was the sides second win of the season after five games.

Lastly, Paul Masterson’s Under 15 Boy’s Squad defeated Cavan/Monaghan 5-0. Conor Langan bagged a brace and Peter Moran, Darragh McKeon and James Lavin added goals to secure the points.

The Bit O’ Red hosted UCD at The Showgrounds on Saturday night in what was our third home game in just over one week. Liam Buckley’s side were looking to bounce back from two defeats against Shelbourne and Bohemians last time out and the visitors UCD were smarting from a 2-0 defeat against Derry City at Belfield on Monday.

There was one change made to the starting line up from Tuesday’s match with Niall Morahan replaced by Jordan Hamilton in midfield.

Rovers made the better of the opening stages with chances falling to Jordan Hamilton, who went through one on one with UCD ‘keeper Lorcan Healy but Healy denied him with a good save. Max Mata went close soon after after good work between him and Will Fitzgerald but UCD cleared their lines.

In the 22nd minute Rovers’ took the lead. A corner from the left was swing in dangerously by Karl O’ Sullivan and Mata rose highest in the box to nod him from 6 yards out. It was the New Zealander’s first goal for the club and it kept The Bit O’ Red in front at half time.

Paddy Kirk replaced Robbie McCourt at half time and Rovers started the second period brightly. Karl O’ Sullivan and Lewis Banks were a real threat down the right and the latter had a shot from the edge of the area fly just wide.

However on 57 minutes, UCD equalised. Liam Kerrigan found space in the middle. The Tubbercurry man found Colm Whelan on the edge of the box and he unleashed an unstoppable strike past McGinty into the top corner.

A few minutes later Hamilton and Mata combined and Hamilton’s cross went all the way to Banks at the back post but his effort was cleared off the line.

Hamilton was forced off on 73 minutes, replaced by Seamas Keogh and the visitors took the lead on 77 minutes. Evan Caffrey side-footing home past McGinty from close range.

Rovers threw everything forward in the final ten minutes and six minutes from time were rewarded when Greg Bolger’s long free kick found the head of Mata who scored his second to bring us level.

David Cawley was introduced for Adam McDonnell soon after as Rovers tried to grab a winner and had half chances through Cawley, Banks and Mata but it wasn’t to be and Derek Tomney’s whistle signaled the end and both sides must make do with a point a piece.

Next up for Rovers is a trip to Dundalk next Friday at 7.45pm before a trip to Ballybofey to face Finn Harps three days later at 6pm.

Our Match Programme will be on sale inside the turnstiles from 6.30pm this evening for the usual price of just €4.

Tonight’s Match Sponsor is Marc MacSharry. It’s Marc’s 20th season in a row sponsoring a game here at The Showgrounds.

Our Match Ball sponsor is Brendan Gormley PVC Repairs. Thanks to Brendan for the support.

Liam Buckley looks back at the last two games and tonight’s opponents, UCD.

Chairman Tommy Higgins has his usual column and we’ll have a small piece on our guests from The Sligo/Leitrim Youths League, Dromore Villa.

Keith O’ Dwyer sat down with new striker Max Mata on life in Sligo so far and how he is settling into the town and to the football club.

There is a piece on our newly formed partnership with Westport United from The Mayo League and also the usual articles from Conall Collier, Joe Molloy and Stephen McLaughlin.

There’ll be information on our Bit O’ Red squad and also UCD’s Player Bios which includes ex Rovers players Liam Kerrigan and Jack Keaney, who is club captain at the club.

Also included are the usual Rack Your Brains Quiz, photos from previous matches, Associate Sponsor page and Results and Fixtures for the season.

Thanks to our programme team for producing the programme as always.

The Bit O’ Red host UCD on Saturday night in our third home game in a row after games against Shelbourne and Bohemians resulted in two 1-0 defeats.

Rovers had gone into those games unbeaten but the results mean Saturday night’s game takes on even more significance as the team look to get back to winning ways.

UCD were promoted though the League Play-Offs last season, defeating Waterford in the Final in Inchicore and as ever, have plenty of talent on show throughout their squad.

Ex Rovers Academy graduates Jack Keaney and Liam Kerrigan have impressed since leaving for the college and striker Colm Whelan finished top goalscorer in last season’s first division.

Manager Liam Buckley knows a performance is needed from Saturday night.

‘’We’re well aware we need to improve our overall performance level. I did feel we improved on the Shelbourne performance against Bohs and we’ll be looking to improve on that again tomorrow.

While the results didn’t go for us, they were two very tight games and as I have said many times the first goal in this league is important so we will be looking to come out do that tomorrow night and attack from the start.

As the table shows it is so tight and we want to make sure if a gap does start appearing that we are on the right side of it.

UCD are always a threat as they have such good young talent in their team. We know all about some of their players and have watched them plenty of times so far this season, so we’ll have a plan in place and look to overcome their threats.’’

In team news Aidan Keena will again be assessed closer to kick off but the striker is progressing from his injury sustained last Friday night against Shelbourne. There are no other concerns ahead of the game.

Last three:

Sligo Rovers: Bohemians (Lost 1-0), Shelbourne (Lost 1-0), Shamrock Rovers (Drew 2-2)

UCD:               Derry City (Lost 2-0), Dundalk (Lost 2-0), Bohemians (Drew 1-1)