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.

Sligo Rovers host Finn Harps on Friday night in the SSE AIrtricity League in The Showgrounds, kick-off 8pm.

The Bit O’ Red returned to league action after qualifying for the semi-final of the FAI Cup. Rovers are sixth in the table.

In team news, Lewis Banks, David Cawley and Dante Leverock are suspended. Johnny Dunleavy will have a late fitness test on an Achilles problem.

Liam Buckley said: “I thought we played well in parts last week and still could have been better certainly. I thought the application and desire to win was very good.

“We’re top of the bottom five and we’d like to stay there. Finn Harps have caused us plenty of problems this year.  

“They turned us over in the league and cup away from home and we just managed a late draw against them here. We’re in for a hard night.

“They will feel this game is vital in the year but my concern is how we get on and maintaining what has been a strong home record.

“We’ve lost four games here all season and we’d like to keep it that way for the end of the year. 

“We’ve a couple of lads suspended on Friday so there will be changes and for the lads that come in, they have an opportunity to show what they can do.” 

Sligo Rovers have been drawn to play Dundalk in the Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-finals in The Showgrounds.

The match will be played on Sunday 29 September, kick-off 5pm.

More details will be announced shortly. It will be an all-ticket game.

Liam Buckley said: “We’re excited. It’s a tough one obviously and Dundalk will be favourites. They’ve got the big squad, this incredible unbeaten run domestically; they’ve been getting to the final every year. They’ve only lost twice this year so that tells you the challenge. We’ll have to be at our very best and when we did get the win earlier in the season I thought it was one of our best display of the year.

“We wanted a home draw and that lends itself to a great occasion in The Showgrounds. Somebody is going to win the Cup and we’d love to get a final to give ourselves that chance. It certainly won’t be easy but we’ve reached the semi-final so we’ll see where it can take us.

“I’ve experienced getting to a final with a couple of teams and I would love for this group of players to do it. Underdogs can do anything in a Cup game and while it’s going to be very hard, we’ll give it a belt and see how we get on.”

The Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final draw will take place on RTÉ Radio 1 on Thursday morning, as well as RTÉ News Now.

The draw will be live on Morning Ireland at 8.30am and will be performed by former Republic of Ireland international Keith Fahey.

It will be on TV on Saorview 21, Virgin Media 200, Sky channel 521 and Eir 500

Sligo Rovers, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers are all in the hat.

Crumlin United v Bohemians will be the final quarter-final to take place on Monday, 16 September, with kick-off at 8pm at Richmond Park. 

Sligo Rovers will play in an FAI Cup semi-final later this month after they got past UCD without too much trouble at the Showgrounds.

Ronan Coughlan’s opening strike was followed up before the break by an own goal from Students goalkeeper Conor Kearns. Regan Donelon put this contest beyond doubt with a well dispatched penalty early in the second period.

While Rovers completed their first ever cup win over the Dubliners at the death when Niall Watson forced an effort past Kearns in injury time.  

Sligo welcomed back striker Coughlan for this last eight tie and he showed his worth just eight minutes in as Rovers hit the lead.

The Limerick native taking full advantage of a mix-up between Kearns and Aaron McGrath to fire past the UCD net minder for his tenth of the year.

The home side dictated the majority of this game.

The Students left to rely on Dan Tobin to rob the ball from the toe of Donelon as he looked favourite to turn Kris Twardek’s cross past Kearns at the front post on 18 minutes.

Sligo had a goal chalked off six minutes later.

John Mahon nodded Donelon’s corner to the net, but the referee’s assistant ruled it out as Coughlan was placed in an offside position while stationed on the goal line.

The visitors did enjoy a small first half spell where they looked like they might come back into this tie.

Ed McGinty had to go full stretch to deny Richie O’Farrell from the angle. While the same man went close again from a corner 60 seconds later.

Sligo however gradually settled again and doubled their advantage on 33.

Cawley’s close range effort came back off the underside of the crossbar before bouncing off the unfortunate Kearns and to the net.

Rovers looked set for a first semi-final appearance in six years ten minutes into the second period when they hit their third.

Harry McEvoy tangled with Romeo Parkes inside the UCD area before Donelon comfortably dispatched the subsequent spot-kick.    

The Premier Division’s basement side tired as the half wore on. McGinty had to move quickly to dive on Yoyo Mahdy’s drive at the target ten minutes from time. But this was to be their only glimpse of goal of the half.   

While there was some late worry for Liam Buckley when he was forced to withdraw top scorer Parkes after he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring strain.

Watson had his maiden goal for the club on his second appearance in added time. The beleaguered Kearns unable to keep out the Accrington loanee’s strike from the angle.  

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Niall Morahan, John Mahon, Kyle McFadden, Lewis Banks; Kris Twardek, David Cawley, Daryl Fordyce, Regan Donelon (Niall Watson 71); Romeo Parkes (Brian Morley 81), Ronan Coughlan (Ronan Murray 65).

UCD: Conor Kearns; Dan Tobin (Isaac Akinsete 63), Harry McEvoy, Luke Boore, Evan Farrell; Aaron McGrath (Ciaran Behan HT), Dara Keane; Richie O’Farrell; Yoyo Mahdy (James Daly 81), Sam Byrne, Jason McClelleand.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 1,927.

Sligo Rovers face UCD in The Showgrounds in the Extra.ie FAI Cup quarter-final on Saturday night, kick-off 7:45pm.

Rovers last reached this stage in 2015 and take on fellow Premier Division side College with a big crowd expected.

In team news, Johnny Dunleavy is out with an Achilles problem.

Danny Kane and Ronan Coughlan have trained in the latter part of this week and could return. 

Dante Leverock is on international duty with Bermuda. 

Liam Buckley said: “UCD beat Pat’s in the last round and comfortably so on the night.

“We lost to Pat’s the week previously so that tells you the nature of this game and that we need to be at a very good level if we are to progress.

“Anything can happen in a cup game. You can play well and be knocked out or play poorly and progress. I’ve seen so much of that over the years. 

“We have to give ourselves the best possible chance to get through. That means getting a grip on the game, finding our rhythm and being up to speed from the start. 

“I’d love a bumper crowd here and for the supporters to be a big part of the night. We will need them. It’s not just any other game, it’s a cup quarter-final and an important game for everyone at the club. We’ve had games where we’ve been up and down and the fans stuck with us which you always need. 

“From our end we have to be focused on what we must do. Everyone would love a semi-final but we have to earn it and take the work we have put in this season and put it to good use.”

The voting is now open for the Wehrly Bro’s Jewellers Sligo Rovers Player of the Month for August.

The games eligible for this vote are

8-0 win vs Glebe North
2-1 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic
6-2 win over Limerick
4-2 win over Cork

Vote by clicking here

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