Sligo Rovers secured their top flight status for next season as they overcame UCD at the Bowl.

A calamitous Conor Kearns own goal along with Romeo Parkes’ eleventh league goal of the season also means the Students will be effectively relegated, should they lose to Finn Harps in two weeks time.

Rovers played 70 minutes of this game with ten men, after Ronan Murray was sent off for a foul on Harry McEvoy.

That single point from safety, Sligo shaded the initial exchanges.

Kearns had to sweep the ball from Danny Kane’s feet after Lewis Banks nodded Regan Donelon’s corner towards the full back.

This was the only real opening early on.

Maciej Tarnogrodzki’s side rallied on the quarter hour. Richie O’Farrell and Mark Dignam combining before the latter fired narrowly past Ed McGinty’s post.

The Rovers goalkeeper was called into play again on 18 minutes.

McGinty’s two handed save denying Yoyo Mahdy’s low drive towards the far corner after Paul Doyle picked out the striker with a crafty through ball.

Liam Buckley’s team were reduced to ten two minutes later.

Murray left a late foot on McEvoy at the edge of the UCD box. And although there was a hint of an accident about the challenge, there was little protest from Murray when referee Neil Doyle issued him his second red of the season.

The numerical disadvantage played no part in the direction of this game, for the remainder of the half at least. Although there was more than a hint of fortune when Rovers had their opener on 33.

Kearns totally mis-judged the flight of David Cawley’s corner when the ball bounced off the outside of closed fist and into his own net.

Sligo had their second on the stroke of half time.

Fordyce led the break from the edge of his own area before laying play into the path of Parkes.

There was little panic or fuss from the Jamaican, who strolled his way past the last UCD defender before finishing deftly past Kearns.

McGinty was called into play eight minutes into the second period as the home side sought to fight their way back into contention.

Jason McClelland testing the Scot with a laced effort from 15 yards, before Kearns had to be alert at the opposite end to keep out substitute Niall Watson from the angle.

Dara Keane and Kris Twardek had chances at either end as Rovers held out for their fifth win over the Dubliners this term.

Kearns then pulled off a super double save from both Parkes and Cawley with six to go.

The first from Parkes was low down at his post, before the UCD number one leapt to push Cawley’s rocket from 20 yards over his crossbar.

UCD: Conor Kearns; Dan Tobin, Liam Scales, Harry McEvoy, Evan Farell; Paul Doyle, Dara Keane; Jason McClelland, Mark Dignam (Sam Byrne 57); Richie O’Farrell; Yoyo Mahdy.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Kyle McFadden, John Mahon, Danny Kane (Niall Watson HT); Kris Twardek, David Cawley, Daryl Fordyce, Regan Donelon (Niall Morahan 69); Ronan Murray, Romeo Parkes. 

Referee: Neil Doyle.

16 players remaining in the running to win €1000 in Sligo Rovers last man stanidng. The team selections for week 6 are listed below.

A general sale for Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final tickets begins at 10am on Friday morning.

The link is www.sligorovers.com/match-tickets. Click here for it.

These tickets are available to all supporters. Note: Dundalk FC fans should not purchase here and should only purchase from Dundalk FC.

Details for online purchase: 

• Tickets are unreserved so no seats or stand are reserved. All seating on the day is unreserved. 
• Tickets are e-tickets so will not be posted. Please download your ticket/s and print them or have it available on your phone on match day. It is essential you have the ticket available to scan or entry will not be granted.  
• All tickets will be scanned at entry. Please be patient and wait for the turnstile operator to scan all tickets and arrive early on the day to ensure wait time is limited. Several hundred tickets will have to be scanned.  
• Following the pre-sale and Dundalk FC receiving a large allocation, tickets are now limited so we advise purchasing ASAP. We expect a sell-out next week. 
• Ticket scanners will be accompanied by a steward who will ask for relevant ID for concessions. Sligo Rovers reserve the right to refuse admission without relevant ID for concessions. This will be strictly imposed. 
• Please use our social media channels for queries, we will happily answer your all questions. You can also email shane@sligorovers.com 

Enjoy the game and thank you for your support as always, stand up for the #bitored 

Sligo Rovers face UCD on Friday night in the UCD Bowl in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Bit O’ Red continued their good run of form with a 3-1 win over Finn Harps last week to make it four victories out of five games.

Rovers will play the Students for a fifth and final this season, with a 100% record so far. 

In team news, Dante Leverock and Sam Warde are suspended. Johnny Dunleavy is out a foot problem.

Liam Buckley said: “I was happy with the moments of quality we produced in the game last week and overall we did quite well.

“We switched a few things in terms of team selection and the players that came in took their opportunity.

“It showed that every player in this squad contributes. I’ve said it all year we wouldn’t have a player in the group that doesn’t make an impact in our season. I was very pleased with all of them and no doubt they are giving us something to think about.

“In football you are always playing for something and that can be for a place in the team for a big game like a semi-final, your future at a club, your next contract. It is the nature of it so there’s no dropping of levels or anything like that because of what is to come later in the season.  

“We have to see out the league in the right manner. We’ve put a lot of work into it and because of that there has to be a determination to get as many points as we can. As I’ve said we want that sixth place and we need a few more results to ensure we get it.

“UCD had a good result this week and they will be doing their all to catch Finn Harps so we expect a hard game as every game in this league is.” 

Children’s tickets for the FAI Cup semi-final with Dundalk will now be pre-sold.

Please note we are expecting a sell-out crowd for this game

Fans are ask to note that while we were initially going to only pre-sell adult and concession tickets and sell children’s tickets on the day, we will now sell pre-sell all tickets including children’s tickets due to expected high demand and Dundalk FC being due a large allocation of tickets.

Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday in the clubhouse in The Showgrounds at 12pm for members and season tickets holders.

We ask that fans go directly to the clubhouse and not the main office.

A general and online sale begins on Friday.

Sligo Rovers can confirm the club 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.

Among the guests confirmed so far are Eddie Annand, Riccardo Gabbiadini, Mark McLean, David Reid and Gerry Carr.

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 will go on sale from The Showgrounds from Wednesday at 12pm, priced €50.

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 upcoming Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final will see Sligo Rovers meet Dundalk in The Showgrounds and with it a special offer for advetising in front of a national audience.

The area part of the TV arc – ie which will be broadcast for most of the game – will feature in front of a television audience of over 100,000 as well as an attendance expected in the region of at least 4,000.

We have three signs available in this area and the sign will stay in place for this game and the entire 2020 season as part of a special offer.

For more, e-mail administrator@sligorovers.com

Only 20 players remain ahead of this weekend fixtures. all players selections are posted below.

Sligo Rovers are now just one point away from safety after they recorded victory over Finn Harps at the Showgrounds.

First half goals from Niall Watson, Ronan Murray and Sam Warde did the damage for the Bit O’Red.

Harry Ascroft caused concern with a late Harps consolation for the Ballybofey men, who remain seven points off Cork City in eighth.

In need of the points much more than their rivals, it was the visitors who actually started this one the brighter.

Nathan Boyle wasn’t miles off with an early header from a Mark Timlin cross.

Despite their early raids forward, Harps’ world fell apart in an eight minute spell in which they conceded three.

Daryl Fordyce had an effort taken off the line eleven minutes in, but the Donegal side were powerless to resist as Sligo hit the lead 21 minutes in.

Watson added too much power to his header as he nodded past Mark McGinley having been picked out by a Murray cross. This was Watson’s second strike in as many outings.

Rovers had their second three minutes later. Murray cut inside from the left before lashing an unstoppable drive across the front of McGinley and into the opposite corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Two became three on 29.

Warde’s corner creeping all the way past a forest of legs before sneaking in at the back post.

Timlin’s resulting shot from a well worked Mark Coyle set piece was blocked away by Danny Kane early in the second period.

While Boyle’s strength saw him see off two Sligo defenders, but the 25-year-old could only blast over from 15 yards. Harps the livelier from the dressing rooms once more.

Harps boss Ollie Horgan was then sent to the stand just before the hour when his frustrations got the better of him.

The form wouldn’t have improved much from Horgan’s vantage in the Treacy Avenue stand. Substitute Ascroft’s volley sailed past Ed McGinty’s posts after a series of ricochets saw the ball sit up for the Australian.

While Raff Cretaro had a late penalty call turned down when his smashed volley seemed to come off the chest of a Sligo defender inside McGinty’s area.

Harps did cause significant uncertainty in the Rovers camp late on. Ascroft turned Tony McNamee’s long throw past McGinty. While Cretaro saw a powerful effort bounce off the frame of the goal at the re-start.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Niall Morahan, Danny Kane, John Mahon, Regan Donelon (James McGrath 82); Kris Twardek, Sam Warde, Daryl Fordyce (Scott Lynch 77), Niall Watson; Ronan Coughlan (Brian Morley 64), Ronan Murray.

Finn Harps: Mark McGinley; Keith Cowan, Sam Todd, Dan O’Reilly (Mark Coyle HT); Jacob Borg, Mark Russell; Ruairi Harkin (Tony McNamee 72), Gareth Harkin (Harry Ascroft HT); Raff Cretaro, Mark Timlin; Nathan Boyle.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

Attendance: 1,685.

Sligo Rovers can confirm ticket details for the Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final match with Dundalk in The Showgrounds.

The game is Sunday 29th September at 5pm. 

Tickets will be unreserved seating and not specific to any stand.

Pre sale: Season Tickets and members ONLY – Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th September from 12pm-7.30pm in The Showgrounds. Season tickets must be presented.

General and online sale commences Friday morning 20^th September 10am until 6pm in The Showgrounds.

Capacity is restricted so we encourage fans to buy as soon as possible.

Weekend sales will be added if necessary but this is to be confirmed.

Children under-12 must be accompanied by a paying adult for the game and may pay on the gate. Children will otherwise not be permitted without an adult.

Dundalk FC will be given their allocation with details to be confirmed by the Lilywhites on how to purchase.