Vote for the Wehrly Bros Jewellers Sligo Rovers Player of the Month for September

The games included are the wins over Finn Harps, UCD (x2) and the semi-final defeat to Dundalk.

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Sligo Rovers will host a 25^th anniversary celebration for the 1994 FAI Cup winning side on Friday 1^st November in the Clayton Hotel.

Willie McStay and members of the 1994 team will be guests at the dinner dance event which will include a complimentary drinks reception, two course meal with tea/coffee, music and more.

The 1994 side will all be present except two players who are based in Australia.

The night will also coincide with the Player of the Year awards for this season, from senior to underage and women’s team.

The awards will be presented on the night.

Sligo Rovers legends will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame on the night as well as honouring a volunteer who has made a massive mark on the club.

Captain on the day of the FAI Cup victory to seal the treble win, Gavin Dykes, said: “It’s fantastic that the club are honouring the team and there is a great deal of excitement among all of us to catch up with the group.

“It looks like we’ll have nearly all the team with us and I know Willie is thrilled to be coming.

“The 1994 era was a special time in all our lives. For us it’s important to celebrate that time and we are delighted the club are organising this event.

“There’ll be a lot of stories, a lot of catching up and we hope to have a really memorable night.”

Tickets for the event are limited and on sale at the Showgrounds.

Tables of 10 are also available for corporate, please e-mail administrator@sligorovers.com

The 1994 team will also be honoured by the FAI at the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday 3 November.

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland are keen to help Sligo Rovers fans that are visually impaired and provide a service at matches.

If there is any Sligo Rovers fans interested in providing audio description for visually impaired fans at Sligo Rovers matches please contact the NCBI in Sligo on 071-9170007.

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to confirm Ronan Coughlan has signed a new contract with the club.

The striker, who turned 24 last week, has had an impressive season at The Showgrounds including scoring eight league goals and putting in a number of man of the match displays.

Coughlan signed on the eve of the Premier Division season and had just one training session before his first start.

He struck up a dynamic partnership with Romeo Parkes as the duo contributed 19 lleague goals in total.

Coughlan’s performances saw him become a real favourite among Showgrounds fans and today he has signed a deal for the 2020 season – the 11th player now tied down.

Liam Buckley said: “We’re delighted to get Ronan signed up today. There was some interest from other clubs which didn’t come as a surprise after his performances this season. 

“He came in late in the day, when you consider he didn’t do any pre-season here.

“Ronan’s contribution overall has been excellent, his work-rate is terrific and what we wanted to add to his game over the course of the seasonhas been for him to get into areas to get more chances and as a result score more goals.

“He has certainly improved on that and we want more of it next season. He can get better and better.

“Ronan knows how valued he is here and altogether it gives him a strong platform to take into next year and make a big, big impact in this league.

“We have a good core group signed so far and we will build a very competitive squad. We want to take the progress we’ve made into next season because this year has been about getting us to a level to kick on.

“I want as many supporters as we can to row in behind us because the more people we have on board with us, the easier it makes it for the club behind the scenes and getting the players we want over these coming weeks. The board and the CEO are doing great work from that end. 

“We are going to continue our work on that and we have two more games to try to finish this year in the right manner. I expect the players to do that. 

“But we are also moving our focus towards 2020 as well. There’s a great opportunity for any player that comes here or that we re-sign.

“We’ve got a group of players here that are developing a mentality that gives you achance of achieving something.” 

We’ll hear from Ronan shortly.

Republic of Ireland Under-19 Head Coach Tom Mohan has named his squad to play Denmark on Friday in The Showgrounds.

After last season’s fantastic campaign that concluded with a Semi-Final appearance in the UEFA Under-19 European Championships, Mohan’s side will use the Danish double-header in preparations for the upcoming Qualifying Round games against Switzerland, Austria and Gibraltar.

Borussia Monchengladbach’s Conor Noß is called into an Ireland squad for the first time. The German-born attacker has been part of recent first-team squads with the Bundesliga side in domestic and European games.

Mohan said he is looking forward to seeing 18-year-old play in Sligo.

“Conor plays at number 10. He was in our last training camp. He impressed a lot and is technically a very good player. He’s doing very well in Germany and we’re excited by him.”

Mohan is hoping the Sligo crowd come out and support the side as preparations to qualify for next year’s Finals in Northern Ireland move up another level.

“There’ll be an honest approach from the players. It’s an opportunity for the players to impress. We’re looking forward to a good crowd in Sligo for the games.”

The opening match takes place in The Showgrounds on Friday, October 11 at 7:30pm, followed by the second game on Monday, October 14 at 1pm.

Republic of Ireland Under-19 Squad
Goalkeepers: Sean Bohan (Bohemians), Jimmy Corcoran (Preston North End), Bobby Jones (Wigan Athletic)

Defenders: Ronan Boyce (Derry City), Ben Greenwood (AFC Bournemouth), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness (Arsenal), Mazeed Ogungbo (Arsenal), Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich City), Lewis Richards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Timi Sobowale (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jamie Bowden (Tottenham Hotspur), Barry Coffey (Celtic), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Donal Higgins (Galway United), Conor Grant (Sheffield Wednesday), Harvey Neville (Manchester United), Armstrong Oko-Flex (Celtic), Tyreik Wright (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Tom Cannon (Everton), Ryan Cassidy (Watford), Festy Ebosele (Derby County), Alex Gilbert (West Bromwich Albion), Conor Noß (Borussia Monchengladbach), George Nunn (Chelsea), Thomas Oluwa (Shamrock Rovers), Ross Tierney (Bohemians)

Sligo Rovers face Waterford on Tuesday in a re-arranged SSE Airtricity Premier Division match at the RSC.

The game has been brought forward because of the Blues being involved in the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Cup on Friday.

In team news, Daryl Fordyce, Kyle Callan-McFadden and Ronan Murray serve suspensions.

Murray is serving the second of a three-match ban. Dante Leverock is on international duty with Bermuda they prepare to face Mexico.

Romeo Parkes is out for the rest of the season (medial ligament) and Ronan Coughlan is doubtful and will undergo a late fitness test.

Fordyce, used as a midfielder throughout the season, served as a striker last Saturday against Shamrock Rovers so it means another rejig for Liam Buckley’s side if Coughlan does not make it but he could yet feature.

Liam Buckley said: “I was delighted with the effort last Saturday. I was proud of them because if our players are going to do anything in their careers, they have to put in that type of performance every week. We had the blow of losing the semi-final and were down a lot of players and we went out and showed something.  

“If you have that determination, focus and expectation to get results, no matter the situation, you have a chance. I can’t fault the lads over the Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers games.

“We want to build a dressing-room here that takes pride in every performance and you can’t pick and choose when you do it. We have to turn up and make sure we’re extremely competitive in every game.

“It’s going to be difficult after a hard game on Saturday night. We’ve just been trying to recover from Saturday and then having to travel such a long distance midweek at this stage of the season makes no sense whatsoever. We just have to get on with it.

“It is hard on the players we do have available as we are working from the same squad minus a few so there is very little we can do to change things.  

“We’ll have a lot of academy players to make up the bench because it is down to that.

“That said, the lads will put everything in to get a result. We want to finish off the season as best we can and get that points total up. We’ll be involved in key games for the rest of the year overall in the league so there’ll be no let up from that end.”

Sligo Rovers are currently taking expressions of interest in becoming our main sponsor for the 2020 season and beyond.

It is the first time the sponsorship has been available since the end of 2011 following the hugely successful sponsorship by VW Connolly’s.

Becoming the main sponsor of Sligo Rovers offers national and local profile through means to TV, digital and matchday along with brand recognition of a growing football club at the heart of the community.

There is a proven track record of receiving value for sponsorship investment with Sligo Rovers.

For more e-mail colinfeehilysrfc@hotmail.com  

Neither side could produce a winner as both Rovers, Sligo and Shamrock played out an entertaining stalemate at the Showgrounds.

Neither of these sides had much to play for but produced an absorbing encounter in what was Sligo’s penultimate game in front of their own support this year.

Kris Twardek had Alan Mannus at full stretch seven minutes in, while Regan Donelon’s effort from distance flashed past the Hoops goal from the resulting corner.

Ed McGinty was untroubled with Shams’ first effort on goal courtesy of Aaron McEneff on 17 minutes.

There was another nervous moment for the visitors when Twardek sent his low effort fizzing across Mannus’ goal mouth.

Preparing for their first FAI cup final since they were beaten by Sligo nine years ago, the Hoops began to pose a threat through the likes of Aaron Greene, Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff.

Greene was involved in their next chance. The winger finding Graham Cummins at the back post, but John Mahon did enough to force the ex-Cork striker to volley wide at the first attempt.

Mannus then spilled Danny Kane’s close range header before the danger was cleared by the Hoops rearguard. McGinty relying on Lewis Banks to do likewise at the other end moments later after he let Ethan Boyle’s shot between his arms.

Mannus pulled off a wonderful stop to deny David Cawley’s 35 yard free-kick which looked destined for the top corner. Sam Warde had the ball in the net from the resulting corner, but the midfielder’s joy was short lived when he caught in an offside position.

Even without a recognised striker in their match day squad, Sligo continued to create and should have been ahead just short of the hour.

Twardek released Banks down the right before the latter found man-of-the-match Niall Morahan. The Leitrim teen couldn’t add the required power to his shot from seven yards, with Mannus able to deal with the danger. 

It was then the visitor’s turn to turn up a goal scoring opportunity.

Mahon’s slip allowed Ronan Finn through on goal, but McGinty closed the angle in time to deny skipper Finn in the one-on-one.

Greene then came within a lick of paint of finding the opener.

Sligo might have had a penalty with twelve to go when Regan Donelon was sent flying by a robust challenge. And with the home supporters still protesting the decision not to award the spot kick, Greene then struck the outside of McGinty’s post on the counter with the keeper looking beat.

There were late chances at either end. Brandon Kavanagh fired narrowly wide on the volley while Boyle had to divert Cawley’s side-footer past Mannus’ post.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Kyle McFadden, John Mahon, Danny Kane; Sam Warde (Johnny Dunleavy 92); Kris Twardek, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Regan Donelon (Brian Morley 81); Daryl Fordyce.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Ethan Boyle, Roberto Lopes, Daniel Lafferty (Dylan Watts 81), Sean Kavanagh; Ronan Finn, Gary O’Neill, Aaron McEneff; Jack Byrne (Brandon Kavanagh 69); Aaron Greene, Graham Cummins (Graham Burke 63). 

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 1,829.

Sligo Rovers face Shamrock Rovers on Saturday night in The Showgrounds in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Bit O’ Red have had a win, draw and defeat against the Hoops this year.

In team news, Romeo Parkes is out for the rest of the season with a medial ligament injury.

Ronan Murray begins a three-game ban. Ronan Coughlan will have a late injury test.

Dante Leverock returns from suspension.

Liam Buckley said: “I couldn’t fault the players last Sunday. They gave everything and all through this season they’ve worked extremely hard. It didn’t go our way but we still have four games left in our year and we want to consolidate our position. 

“We were back at it this week and we’d like to finish the season as competitively as we can. We’d have to go on a run to catch the teams above us but what I want is to finish with some performances befitting our best this season. 

“We will have to make some changes in coming games because of injuries and suspensions. That said we’ll still be putting out teams to try to win matches and that can win matches. 

“Shamrock Rovers is a tough game as we know, we’d like to maintain our home record and get a result.”