Sligo Rovers begin the fourth and final series of matches with a fixture in Oriel Park on Friday night in the SSE Airtricity League.

Rovers sit in third place in the table and clash with Dundalk for a fourth time. The teams met last week when Lewis Banks scored a winner in a close game.

In team news, Lewis Banks and Johnny Kenny return after missing last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers with minor injuries.

Garry Buckley serves a one game ban, while Shane Blaney is out with a foot problem. The latter is set for a return early next month.

Greg Bolger will have a late fitness test and is doubtful.

Liam Buckley said: “I was reasonably happy last week. We’d like to have our general play a bit better and create more chances but bearing in mind we were playing Shamrock Rovers who are the leaders, we did okay. It was a hard game but we competed well.

“There is a quarter of the season left and our position is a good one. That said, it’s a starting point from now to the end of the season we have to pick up our fair share of points in order to keep inside the top three or four.

“It certainly won’t be easy and the nature of the league is any team, at any time, can go on a run of games where they win matches. We’ve seen it with nearly all of the teams and from our point of view it’s about getting results and we know we’re capable of doing so.

“Dundalk did well against us in Sligo last week in what was a very tight game, they won the FAI Cup game deservedly on Tuesday and their squad is of the nature than even when missing players, you can still pick an XI with lots of quality and experience. We’ve all experienced it this season to have players out and indeed we are missing two centre halves in Garry and Shane this week. You have to get on with it and I’m sure that victory has lifted them and we have to be ready.

“We’re focusing on ourselves and how we approach the game. It’s great to have Lewis and Johnny back as they are top players and we’ll check on Greg this week.

“As I said, we’ve got these nine games to do all we can to get results. We’re really looking forward to them as well because the players have worked hard to get us to this point. We trained well this week and recovered from the busy period so we look forward to the game.”

Sligo Rovers can confirm a capacity of 2,100 will be in operation for our next two SSE Airtricity Premier Division matches in The Showgrounds, while pre-booking seats in the main stand will no longer be neccessary.

The stadium will be open seating with the exception of away supporters.

Fixtures:

• Saturday 2 October, Sligo Rovers v Waterford FC, The Showgrounds, 7:45pm
• Saturday 9 October, Sligo Rovers v Longford Town, The Showgrounds, 7.45pm

SEASON PACK HOLDERS

Season Pack holders must bring your season pack booklet and present one ticket at the turnstiles.

If your season pack has expired with no vouchers remaining, you can pay cash at turnstiles. The main stand will be open for all fans on a first come basis.

Please note the stand will close when at capacity under regulations.

There are four home games left this season if you still have tickets remaining in your pack. Any remaining match passes can be used in 2022.

Tickets can be removed from the pack and given to friends or family for this season if desired.

GENERAL SALE FOR HOME FANS

All other home fans can gain entry by paying cash at turnstiles. There will be no online sale prior to the game for home supporters – they can purchase tickets at turnstiles with cash.

With 1,900 tickets for home supporters, we encourage supporters to arrive on time.

AWAY FANS – ONLINE ONLY

Away fans of both Waterford and Longford Town can purchase tickets online on the week of the game. We will issue a link to both clubs and they will be available in the days before the match

Away fans will be situated in the usual away section, in sections T, U and V of the Jinks Avenue Stand. Waterford and Longford Town supporters can only enter through online sales with no tickets available at the stadium

We are delighted to support ‘The Green Ribbon Campaign’ which is aimed at getting as many people as possible to talk about mental health, while also ending the stigma surrounding it.

Pictured are members of the first team along with club staff wearing green ribbons, which are an international symbol for mental health awareness.

For more information on the campaign, click here.

Sligo Rovers supporters can purchase tickets for Friday’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division match with Dundalk at Oriel Park at entrance points.

The Bit O’ Red have an allocation of tickets and they will be available at gates.

Kick-off is 7.45pm with the game also live on LOITV.

Both our Under 19 sides maintained their 100% records this past Sunday at the Showgrounds and stretched their lead at the top of their respective league tables.

Josh Mulrennan scored the game’s only goal against Shelbourne, his second in consecutive weeks since returning from injury, to make it three wins from three at the top of the Elite league. Rovers’ Under 19’s have conceded just once in those three games and boast the 2^nd best defensive record (after Bohemian FC) in the country since the initial campaign got underway at the end of June. The lads next face a trip to Dublin on Sunday to take on the current bottom side, UCD. The students drew 1-1 at home to Cobh Ramblers this weekend to pick up their first point after successive defeats to Shamrock Rovers and Derry City.

Ella Vahey, Sarah Kiernan and Eimear McIntyre helped Rovers U19 Women to a 3-1 win at the Sean Fallon Centre also on Sunday evening, as they too made it three wins from three in the Shield Group A. Rovers lead the 4-team group by three points at the halfway stage and only need a further four points to guarantee a place in the Shield Semi-Finals. Next up for our women is a Sunday trip to Donegal, a repeat of the group opener that Rovers won 2-1 in August.

Eimear McIntyre had a weekend to remember as she was also on the scoresheet some 26 hours earlier, this time in a frantic 3-3 draw between Rovers U17 Women and DLR Waves. Rebecca Doddy hit her 8^th in as many weeks and Brigit O’Reilly scored her first of the season to keep Rovers top of the table on goal difference ahead of Greystones. Rovers meet Greystones away in the Woodlands next Saturday where the hosts have yet to taste victory this summer, drawing two and losing the other three.

Gary Farren scored once again for Rovers U15, his 5^th goal in five games, but it wasn’t enough as the lads were beaten 2-1 by Klub Kildare at the Sean Fallon Centre early Sunday afternoon. It was the second 2-1 reverse in succession and leaves the boys with just one point from three games. Rovers are back in action in three weeks time (Oct. 10^th) at home to Longford in a must-win game, while hoping for a favour in the other games, if we are to stand any chance of qualifying for the Quarter Finals.

A similar but less daunting prospect faces the U14 side after a 1-1 draw with Kildare on Saturday afternoon at the same venue. Cillian O’Neill scored Rovers only goal for the second week running to add to his equaliser last week in Athlone. It means Rovers sit 3^rd after three games and must beat Longford at home (Oct. 9^th) on the final day of the season to reach the Quarter Finals. Athlone and Kildare are the only sides who can prevent Rovers from finishing top 3 but they face each other in Westmeath on the final day to leave our fate in our own hands.

Richard Mullan

There are five academy games taking place over Saturday and Sunday, with the unusual scenario of having a full list of home fixtures.

Starting off on Saturday afternoon will be our Under 14 team who host Klub Kildare at 1pm at The Sean Fallon Centre.

Across town at 2pm Aaron O’ Connor’s Under 17 Women’s team host DLR Waves in Cleveragh.

On Sunday afternoon The Showgrounds will be busy as we host three fixtures.

Kildare are again the opposition, this time for our Under 15 team at 1pm on The Sean Fallon Centre All Weather Pitch.

Our Under 19 men, managed by Declan Boyle host Shelbourne at 4pm on The Showgrounds pitch.

30 minutes later our Women’s Under 19 team kick off against Greystones on the all weather.

It promises to be another entertaining weekends action. Admission is free to all our Academy games and all support is welcome.

Sligo Rovers face Shamrock Rovers in a re-arranged SSE Airtricity Premier Division match in The Showgrounds on Saturday.

The Bit o’ Red sit in third place and face the leaders in a match between the sides with the best defences in the league.

Tickets for the game are available at turnstiles for all home fans. Away fans will not be admitted without a ticket and their allocation is sold out.

Rovers recorded back to back home wins in the last week, seeing off St Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 and Dundalk 2-1.

Earlier this season the teams played out a 1-1 draw in Sligo, while Romeo Parkes’ goal settled the game in Tallaght Stadium.

In team news, Mark Byrne (ankle) and Regan Donelon (illness) return to the group.

Shane Blaney remains out with a foot problem. Johnny Kenny and Lewis Banks are doubts after picking up knocks in Tuesday’s game and will be checked pre-game.

Manager Liam Buckley said: “We were delighted to get three points on Tuesday. We knew Dundalk would be a tough game because they still have a strong starting XI and coming away with the result was great.

“The attitude we’ve shown and the buy-in from the players coming off the run we’ve been on has been particularly pleasing. They understand what it takes.

“This game is no bigger than any other, it’s another three points on offer in the same way as any other game, and we don’t get jump up and down if we win games or write things off if we don’t.”

Rovers face a third game in eight days but the manager is not concerned by the schedule.

“As long as you have four days between games, it’s enough to be able to recover properly. We spoke to the players about the mental and physical challenges as we move from game-to-game, it isn’t a problem to play Tuesday-Saturday. We’ve had time to get right again.

“Shamrock Rovers have been the benchmark for the last 18 months. They’ve a good style and we’re aware of how difficult it will be. We’ve done well against them this season and again they’ve been close games.”

With a crowd of up to 2,100 possible, with 1,900 home supporters, Buckley is also looking forward to another match in Sligo.  

“It was nice to have a couple of results in The Showgrounds from the point of view that the fans stuck with us in recent weeks when we didn’t get them.

“They know we’re in this battle to achieve our target at the end of the season and we’re going to give everything to try to get it over the line.

“This is another game in that challenge in front of our supporters which we all appreciate after going so long without them.”

Details of the 2021 Annual Draw can be found below.

Buy tickets here.

Sligo Rovers can confirm a capacity of 2,100 will be in operation for Saturday’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match with Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds. There will be no changes to the last two home matches.

SEASON PACK HOLDERS

Season Ticket holders can use their 13 digit barcode, which was emailed to them on August 11th to gain access to our ticketing system on this link.

Season Pack holders have until Friday morning (September 17th) to claim their tickets. Without pre-booking, season pack holders will not be guaranteed entry into the main stand.

Our stadium seating plan will be in operation and supporters must use their assigned seats as per your E-Ticket. Season Pack holders must also bring one ticket from your season pack booklet and present it on the turnstiles.

While E-Tickets can be used digitally on a smart phone, we encourage fans to print them out where possible as this makes it easier for our scanning team and fastens up the entrance process for everyone.

GENERAL SALE FOR HOME FANS

All other home fans can gain entry by paying cash at turnstiles. There will be no online sale prior to the game on Saturday for home supporters – they can purchase tickets at turnstiles with cash.

Please respect seating arrangements with assigned seating.

With 1,900 tickets for home supporters, we encourage supporters to arrive on time as the game is expected to reach near capacity.

AWAY FANS – ONLINE ONLY

Shamrock Rovers have been issued with 10% of capacity. They are being distributed to members of Shamrock Rovers. No Shamrock Rovers fans can pay at turnstiles. This will be strictly enforced on the night.

Away fans will be situated in the usual away section, in sections T, U and V of the Jinks Avenue Stand. Shamrock Rovers supporters can only enter through online sales with no tickets available at the stadium

Sligo Rovers manager Liam Buckley felt his side just shaded last Tuesday’s game with Dundalk in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Rovers came from behind as Patrick Hoban’s goal was cancelled out by Andre Wright and then Lewis Banks won it early in the second half.

Dundalk had the better of the play in the first half but the Bit O’ Red took more control in the next 45 minutes.

Buckley said: “We deserved it marginally. We both had spells of possession overall I think we deserved it, especially with the chance we had in the second half where Johnny Kenny was through on goal. I think overall on the balance of things it was a fair result. It was a really close one.”

The Rovers boss was pleased to see his side bounce back from the concession of the goal to Hoban and a sloppy start, given the problems conceding goals caused during a tough summer spell.

“It did help to get that goal back quickly as we have been behind in quite a few matches and found it difficult to get back into them, never mind go on to win them. That was great and it put us right back in it. We know Dundalk have quite a few injuries.

“That said, we’ve had them over the last few months which hasn’t helped us. I have no doubt going forward they will win a few games.

“Looking at tonight’s game, there was very little between us and them.

“They’ve still got a strong group so I have no doubt they’ll be feeling a little bit unlucky. From where we are at, it’s a great three points.”

Not for the first time this season, Banks was the danger at the set-piece and it looked like a rehearsed effort.

The Rovers manager said considerable time goes into perfecting placed balls.

“We have worked on it – although slightly different to the one we scored this evening. Nonetheless we do work on all our set plays.”