Sligo Rovers have been drawn to face Dundalk in the second round of this year’s Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup following this afternoon’s (Thursday) draw, while our women’s team were paired with DLR Waves.

John Russell’s side will travel to Oriel Park on the weekend of July 20th, with match day and kick-off time to be decided.

While Steve Feeney’s women, beaten semi-finalists the last two years, will host DLR at the Showgrounds on the week ending June 29th.

Men’s FAI Cup second round draw in full:
Shamrock Rovers v Wexford
Dundalk v Sligo Rovers
Fairview Rangers v Shelbourne
Cork City v Leicester Celtic
Finn Harps v UCD,
Bray Wanderers v Wayside Celtic
Kerry v Athlone Town
St Patrick’s Athletic v UCC
Salthill Devon v St Michael’s
Galway United v Tolka Rovers
Bangor Celtic v Cobh Ramblers
Castlebar Celtic v Longford Town
Killester Donnycarney v Bohemians
Waterford v St Mochta’s
Treaty United v Derry City
Drogheda United v Crumlin United

Women’s FAI Cup first round draw in full:
Wexford v Bohemians
Cork City v Peamount United
Treaty United v Ferns United
Newbridge Town v Whitehall Rangers
Shelbourne v Galway United
Athlone Town v Terenure Rangers
Shamrock Rovers v Waterford
Sligo Rovers v DLR Waves

By Conall Collier

The mid-season break for the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) sandwiched between the second and third round All-Island Cup (AIC) group action will give Sligo Rovers boss Steve Feeney an opportunity to plan for the remainder of the season in the midst of an unprecedented injury crisis.

That was evident in the last outing when the Bit O’Red travelled to Belfast for a crucial AIC game against Linfield with 14 players, but earned a draw when one of the three substitutes, Róise Burke, grabbed a 90^th minute equaliser.

The draw came at a price with a lengthy first-half delay after yet another player, Kate Nugent, was added to that injury list. She had to be removed from the pitch by ambulance and returned to Sligo on the team bus via Sligo Hospital.

Kate was replaced by Keeva Flynn while in the second-half Kya McKenna and Róise Burke were introduced after Linfield took a 63^rd minute lead.

However, a tenacious team effort produced that late Bit O’Red leveller that leaves the group wide open ahead of this Saturday’s final group game against Shelbourne.

“We went to Belfast for the game against Linfield and we only had 14 players with another 14 unavailable due to injuries, illness or school commitments,” stated Steve Feeney.

“We had a chat before the game and stressed to the girls that while we were light on numbers with only 14 players, we had lots of quality and that was more important.

“For the team to come away from Belfast with a point was absolutely brilliant and says so much about them as a group.

“The substitutes against Linfield added to the quality of the team and while Róise (Burke) got the goal, both Keeva (Flynn) and Kya (McKenna) also made big contributions.

“It might have looked like we were struggling, but that wasn’t the real picture and there’s no point in padding out the bench just for the sake of extra numbers,” he added.

The group in the All-Island Cup is wide open now going into the last series this Saturday (7^th June) and any two of the four teams, Sligo Rovers, Bohs, Shelbourne or Linfield, can still qualify for the quarter-finals.

“We know it won’t be easy against Shelbourne, but at least our fate is in our own hands, if we win we qualify, if we draw, it then depends on the result between Bohs and Linfield, but if we lose we’re out,” was Steve Feeney’s assessment.

“Bohs got a draw with Shels in the All-Island Cup and we are certainly looking forward to the challenge of facing Shelbourne, we will have them in the league two weeks later (21^st June) so there are plenty of big games for us.

“Nothing is guaranteed in terms of results, look at Athlone Town, unbeaten in the league, but already out of contention in the All-Island Cup after losing to Glentoran and Treaty Utd,” he added.

The injury list is also a major factor for the Bit O’Red management and they will be hoping that there are no more casualties after 90 minutes against a Shelbourne side that remain unbeaten since losing on the opening day of the season against Shamrock Rovers.

However, following a 5-1 AIC victory against Linfield at Tolka Park, the Dublin side had to make the journey to Dalymount Park where they had to rely on a second-half equaliser from American striker Mackenzie Anthony to earn a 1-1 draw.

On the long-term Bit O’Red injury list is goalkeeper Amber Hardy who will be out for the remainder of the season. Steve Feeney provided updates on the remaining quintet of the walking wounded.

“I’m hopeful that Paula McGrory will be able to take some part in training this week as she has made good progress,” stated Steve.

“Katie Melly is now back doing some light work on her own and hopefully we might have her back in full training in three weeks or so.

“Rachel McGoldrick (arm injury) is probably another two or three weeks away from a return to full training

“Jessica Casey was back doing some running last week, but it will be another month or so for her.

“Kate Nugent is possibly looking at a similar time-frame to Katie (Melly) as it’s a similar injury (ankle) so you’re looking at six weeks or thereabouts.

“I’ll have a chat with Head of Academy Conor O’Grady and the under-19 manager to see if we have any options to bolster the panel, a lot of the academy players train with the senior team and they are doing well,” he said.

After Saturday’s AIC game against Shelbourne, the Bit O’Red will face a basement battle against bottom-of-the-table DLR Waves in what will be a huge game for both teams.

“The target for the second half of the season has to be to keep the momentum going, to get results and pick up more points,” stated Steve.

“We have had some good results and we have had results that we felt didn’t reflect our performances, but we will be both optimistic and realistic in our expectations.

“If we can deliver a performance in every game we will always have a chance over 90 minutes, it’s probably the old cliché of taking it one game at a time, starting with Shelbourne this Saturday,” he concluded.

David Goulden at the Showgrounds

Former Rovers striker Aidan Keena’s tenth minute penalty was enough for St Patrick’s Athletic to come away from Sligo with a narrow win as Rovers were beaten by the Saints.

Keena’s spot-kick was converted after another ex-Rovers man Simon Power went to ground under a Jake Doyle-Hayes challenge and despite creating chances to level the tie, Rovers couldn’t muster that elusive leveller. 

Stephen Kenny’s side might have made things more comfortable for themselves as they created the best of the chances in this one. Although Rovers substitute Francely Lomboto did have a chance in the 96th minute to take a late point, but the Galway man could only fire straight at Pat’s net minder Joseph Anang. 

The Saints haven’t met expectations recently with just one win in the last five for one of the pre-season title favourites. Boss Kenny made no less than five changes in a hope to shift fortunes. Jamie Lennon, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin and former Sligo duo Keena and Power were reinstated to the starting team. 

While Rovers made two changes from last week’s narrow loss to Shels. Doyle-Hayes and Ronan Manning returned to John Russell’s midfield, as the home side sought just a second victory on home soil this year.  

As has happened so often this season, Rovers made things tough for themselves by falling behind early on. McClelland had forced Sam Sargeant into an early two-handed save with an effort from distance before ex-Rovers man Keena dispatched a tenth minute penalty after Power, another former Showgrounds favourite, had collided with Doyle-Hayes inside the Sligo area. 

The hosts struggled to find a way through a packed Pat’s centre and had their only chance of the half on twenty minutes. Cian Kavangh, who spent 2024 with Pat’s, was unable to get any purchase on a Doyle-Hayes set piece as his attempted header trickled harmlessly wide of Joe Anang’s goal. 

The Dubliners were left frustrated that they were unable to make their dominance count further given their control of the contest and lost centre half Sean Hoare to what seemed like a hamstring injury before the interval. 

Power passed up a couple of opportunities early in the second period, bending one around Sargeant’s far post close to the hour. While Manning’s shot after trojan work from Rovers’ teen full-back Conor Reynolds was deflected on to the top of Anang’s post by Joe Redmond. 

Pat’s were struggling to shake Sligo off as the game wore on and Power should have had their second on 65 but couldn’t stretch in time to meet Zach Elbouzedi’s cross with an open goal on offer.  

Lennon dragged an effort from 20 yards narrowly wide with eight to go while Sligo sub Lomboto was denied by a smart stop from Anang after a neat one-two with Jad Hakiki opened up the space in front of goal. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 66), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Matty Wolfe (Jad Hakiki 66); Will Fitzgerald, Ronan Manning (Francely Lomboto 78), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Wilson Waweru 45).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joe Anang; Ryan McLaughlin, Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare  (Tom Grivosti 44), Anto Breslin; Jay McClelland, Jamie Lennon; Simon Power, Kian Leavy (Luke Turner 96), Zach Elbouzedi; Aidan Keena (Conor Carty 86). 

Referee: Neil Doyle. 

Attendance: 2,356. 

Sligo Rovers have the opportunity to move off the foot of the Premier Division table ahead of the summer break as St Patrick’s Athletic are the visitors to the Showgrounds this Friday night, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Bit O’Red remain deadlocked with Cork City at the bottom of the division, with just one goal separating the sides as we hit the season’s half-way point. 

Friday’s game will be the second meeting of these two sides this year and is the Saints’ first visit to Sligo of 2025. Pat’s narrowly beat Rovers by the odd goal in seven when the clubs met at Richmond Park back in February on the third weekend of the season. While Stephen Kenny’s side beat Rovers last time out at the Showgrounds, on the final day of the 2024 season. 

Rovers manager John Russell will be without centre half Ollie Denham who isn’t due back in action for another four weeks approximately. Full back Oskar Van Hattum has returned to training and may be available. While there are doubts over defender Conor Reynolds and midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes who was withdrawn before kick-off in Tolka Park last Friday. Van Hattum, Reynolds and Doyle-Hayes will each be assessed once more in the lead up to the game.

Ahead of the match, Russell has praised his players’ resilience over the last few weeks and noted that he believes he has seen enough from his squad to prove they are a match for any team in the division. However, Russell has also warned in equal measure, the threat Pat’s will bring with them this Friday. 

“You just have to look at who their manager is and some of their players”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.

“They have the most experienced manager in this league, someone with an international and both a league and cup winning background. While their squad is littered with talent so this is going to be the toughest game we’ve had this season. 

“We’ve been gifting goals to teams lately and if we do this again on Friday, we’ll be sorely punished so we have to cut out the mistakes and be fully focused from kick-off.  

“There’s goals in our team and plenty of them. It gives us confidence that we went to the home of the champions last week, scored twice and were always in the game. We had Shels under the cosh for sustained periods and produced plenty of opportunities. We just have to stop giving away these gifts of goals. 

“As a club, we have so much belief in this young group and I think the supporters do too. We’re constantly being hit with set-backs and a lot of that is down to ourselves. But we always dust ourselves down and go again. There’s a real self-belief and resilience in us. 

“We know we’re good enough to beat anyone on our night. The games have come thick and fast and it’s been a busy few weeks heading into this break. We don’t want to be where we are as it isn’t where we belong and we’re looking to finish the first half of the season with a win. Hopefully we’ll have a big crowd in to roar us on on Friday night.”

David Goulden

LINFIELD 1 SLIGO ROVERS 1

By Conall Collier

Rosie Burke’s 90^th minute equaliser earned battling Sligo Rovers a priceless Women’s All-Island Cup draw with hosts Linfield in Belfast on Saturday afternoon where another casualty was added to the injury list and held up the action for almost 15 minutes.

Burke’s 90^th minute equaliser was greeted with silence from the home crowd, but it kept the Bit O’ Red’s qualification hopes intact ahead of the final group game against Shelbourne on Saturday 7^th June.

Rovers manager Steve Feeney named an unchanged side from the previous week’s encounter against Athlone Town, but he was forced into making a substitution midway through a well-contested opening half.

Kate Nugent sustained an injury in the 22^nd minute as she closed down a threatening Linfield attack and there was a lengthy delay as the stricken player received attention. She was eventually removed by an ambulance that drove on to the pitch.

Up to that point Linfield had slightly the better of the exchanges, but didn’t manage to beat Bonnie McKiernan who delivered her customary composed performance.

When play resumed both sides had chances with Emma Hansberry going close on a number of occasions for the Bit O’Red while Alex Clarke and Keri Haliday had the best opportunities for Linfield.

The opening goal arrived close to the hour mark (14 minutes added time) when Clarke found the net for the hosts after a free was awarded to Linfield on the edge of the Sligo Rovers penalty area.

Linfield were relatively comfortable in the second-half, but were unable to make the breakthrough for a second goal against a tenacious Rovers rearguard with substitute Keeva Flynn marking her return to the side with a solid contribution.

There was also a couple of notable Bonnie McKiernan saves, one on 84 minutes that kept the Bit O’Red in contention.

The equaliser arrived as the clock ticked into added time when 75^th minute substitute Rosie Burke got a vital touch in a crowded Linfield goalmouth. The Bit O’Red battened down the hatches for four minutes of added time.

Linfield – Caoimhe Magee; Sarah Jane McMaster, Abi Sweetlove, Mia Fitzsimons, Zoe McGlynn, Cora Chambers, Keri Halliday, Keri Loughrey, Zoe Knox, Alex Clarke, Ellen Hampton. Subs – Jennifer McDaid for Knox and Ashley Hutton for Hampton both 60 mins, Eve Reilly for Clarke and Rhianna Breen for Halliday both 67M, Eva Myles for Chambers 83m

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Alice Lillie, Sarah Kiernan, Kate Nugent, Alanah Doherty, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Eimear Lafferty, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Keeva Flynn for Nugent 22 mins, Kya McKenna for King 56m, Rosie Burke for Doherty 75m.

Referee- Louise Thompson.

Assistant-referees – Maria Creaney, Mark Davison.

Fourth official – Sam Naylor.

Owen Elding hit one of the goals of the season at Tolka Park on Friday evening but it wasn’t enough as Sligo Rovers were beaten by the odd goal in five by champions Shelbourne.

Elding’s goal was the fifth of the lot in a 3-2 defeat as the Riverstown man claimed his seventh goal of the season with a stunner from distance after a John Martin hat-trick had turned this game on its head.

Gareth McElroy had given Rovers an early lead, but the Drumcondra outfit hit back twice before the break through Martin who had his third before the hour. 

The result leaves Rovers in tenth position, still level on points with Cork City.  

Seeking consecutive wins for the first time this year, Rovers were the dominant side in the opening quarter and had a deserved lead after just three minutes of play. 

McElory making the very most of the space left by slack Shels defending as he nodded yet another Will Fitzgerald assist, this time from a corner, beyond Lorcan Healy for his second of the season. 

The visitors were all over Damien Duff’s for the opening exchanges. Fitzgerald’s input was crucial once more as he knocked a Shels defender off the ball before finding Elding whose shot on the turn was shoveled wide by Healy on ten. While the hosts were stretched again six minutes later when Jad Hakiki’s effort took a knock off Kameron Ledwidge before curling narrowly beyond the far post as Sligo continued to press for a second. 

Last year’s league winners had their leveler on 34 minutes when Evan Caffrey found Martin who had strayed to the front post. While the same supplier and finisher had the Dubliners in the lead five minutes later. 

Rovers had to suppress a late first half onslaught from their opponents and just about survived when Martin’s header came off the top of the crossbar. 

The second period saw Rovers goalkeeper Sam Sargeant pull off a string of good saves. The first from a speculative effort from Shels’ midfielder Kerr McInroy, although despite his best efforts there was little Sargeant could do as Shels had their third on 57 when Martin scrambled the ball over the line as the Rovers defence struggled to deal with a low cross from the left. 

Two minutes later and John Russell’s charges were right back in this one. 

Elding’s sumpstous, almost nonchalant left footed drive from 30 yards arrowed into the corner of Healy’s net, stunning the home support and offering hope to the large travelling support behind that goal. 

Sargeant was called into action again when he went full stretch to parry former Rovers man Ellis Chapman’s effort from range while McInroy struck the post with a bending set-piece soon after. 

Rovers pushed and harried for a third and had a chance at the end when both substitutes Francely Lomboto and Wilson Waweru hesitated to get on the end of a Fitzgerald cross. The ball called out for a touch which never arrived as the danger was then cleared. 

Our next game is back at home as St Patrick’s Athletic are the visitors to the Showgrounds this Friday, kick-off 7.45pm. 

Shelbourne: Lorcan Healy; Mark Coyle, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; John O’Sullivan, Kerr McInroy, JJ Lunney, Ellis Chapman, Evan Caffrey; Harry Wood (Mipo Odubeko, 70’), John Martin (Daniel Kelly, 84’)

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Harvey Lintott, 46’), Gareth McElroy, John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Jad Hakiki, Matthew Wolfe (Francely Lomboto, 70’), Owen Elding, Stephen Mallon (Ronan Manning, 46’), Will Fitzgerald; Cian Kavanagh (Wilson Waweru, 70’)

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin)

David Goulden  

Dublin is the destination for Sligo Rovers this Friday, more specifically Drumcondra and Tolka Park as the Bit O’Red face champions Shelbourne for the second time this season, kick-off 7.45pm.

Rovers go into this game on the back of a tremendous win in last Friday’s Connacht derby over Galway United as we look to make it back-to-back-wins for the first time this year. 

Rovers will face last year’s league winners without centre half Ollie Denham who looks set to continue his stint on the sidelines until approximately the end of June, a sports hernia injury keeps him out. While this game comes just a little too early for Oskar Van Hattum who should be available for the visit of St Patrick’s Athletic to the Showgrounds on May 30th. 

Midfielder Ronan Manning’s fitness will be assessed in the lead up to the game. 

Tolka Park was a venue in which Rovers were unbeaten last season. A 2-1 win in May 2024 was followed up by a scoreless draw against Damien Duff’s outfit in late September that year. Shels did have the better of things in the sides’ first meeting this season. Reece Hutchinson replied to goals from Kerr McInroy and John Martin late in the opening half, but Rovers were unable to find a leveller in the second period. 

Rovers remain at the foot of the Premier Division ladder, level on points with Cork City and just one goal worse off. Avoiding defeat in Dublin on Friday could lift Rovers off the bottom depending on how Cork get on against Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park. 

Speaking to sligorovers.com ahead of Friday’s game, Sligo boss John Russell acknowledged the magnitude of Friday’s task and is hoping another big crowd follows his side up the N4 as Rovers face a Shels side with just one win in their last five. 

“I was really proud of the boys coming away from Galway as we spoke at length all last week about how tough a game it was going to be and what we needed to do. Our big players showed up for us and we’re looking for more against Shels. 

“But once Saturday morning came, the full focus was on Friday. We did really well in Galway but we must follow it up now with another good show in Dublin. I’m repeating myself every week maybe, but we have huge belief in this group of players and they know if they keep working hard and can be consistent in their actions, then they’ll be rewarded.

“It doesn’t come any tougher now than Shels away. They have strength everywhere and have a big enough squad to probably cover each position twice over. But we’ll take confidence from last week’s win.

“Our supporters have gone through a lot in recent months. They’re out selling tickets to fund the club on a Thursday night and then they’re back to work the next morning, then travelling long journeys to Dublin, Waterford and Galway on a Friday before going back out and raising money for the club again the Saturday. There’s no set of fans in this country as dedicated as Sligo Rovers’ so it was great to be able to give them that win last week. But we have to follow it up with more good nights now.  

“They made a huge noise in Galway and the boys played off that when things got tough. We’re hoping for another big crowd behind that goal again in Tolka on Friday. We know we can lift ourselves away from that bottom spot and that’s the carrot we’re chasing.” 

David Goulden

By Conall Collier

The attention this weekend for Sligo Rovers will switch to a second round game in the Women’s All-Island Cup with a trip to Belfast on the radar for Saturday to tackle Linfield Ladies at Midgley Park, 2pm.

There will be an international break the following weekend and the third round of the All-Island Cup will complete the qualifying action on Saturday 7^th June when the Bit O’Red will host Shelbourne.

Steve Feeney’s side will travel to Belfast on Saturday with live quarter-final qualification prospects following a home 1-1 draw against Bohemian FC at the end of April on the same day that Linfield slumped to a heavy defeat in Dublin against Shelbourne.

That 5-1 victory for Shelbourne has the Dublin side sitting at the top of Group A ahead of a visit to Dalymount Park on Saturday to play Bohs.

Rovers will be eager to keep a fourth cleansheet of the season following last Saturday’s reversal against Women’s Premier Division champions Athlone Town and a victory in Belfast would put the Bit O’Red in a strong position to claim a place in the last eight.

STEVE FEENEY

Manager Steve Feeney is looking forward to the challenge of tackling a quality team like Linfield and he feels that his players are more than capable of getting the victory in Belfast.

“Linfield are a good team and they have some players in the Northern Ireland squad, that’s the kind of quality they have,and they also have some former Sligo Rovers players, Zoe McGlynn and Keri Loughrey,” commented Steve.

“It will be a big challenge for us, but it’s good to play a team from outside our own league and everyone is looking forward to it.

“We still have a lengthy injury list, but we have been dealing with that for the past few weeks and we will be looking for a positive performance and a positive result.

“If we can get the win on Saturday it will set us up nicely for the final group game a fortnight later against Shelbourne at the Showgrounds.

“It’s as simple as that, we have to try to get the win and then see what way the other game (Bohs v Shelbourne) goes, but Linfield will be looking at it the same way.

“They (Linfield) lost to Shelbourne, but a lot of teams will lose to Shelbourne this season, we won’t read too much into that result and we will do our homework and be ready for the challenge.

“Hopefully, we will deliver a solid performance, similar to some of recent displays, if we can do that, then we will have a good chance,” he concluded.

LINFIELD

Linfield’s season kicked-off in mid-April with a couple of outings in the Women’s League Cup that produced a 4-1 win against Lisburn and a 2-3 loss to Cliftonville ahead of that trip to Tolka Park for the All-Island Cup against Shelbourne which the Dublin side won by 5-1.

Since then, Linfield defeated Derry City 9-0 in the League Cup and have now played twice in the NIFL Premiership – a 1-1 draw with Cliftonville, goal from Cora Chambers, and a 2-1 win against Crusaders with Alex Clarke and Cora Chambers on the scoreboard.

There is a Sligo Rovers theme at Linfield with former players Zoe McGlynn and Keri Loughrey featuring regularly for the Belfast side and the duo played in that defeat at Tolka Park.

Linfield started well in that game with a lead goal on 38 minutes from Alex Clarke, but the hosts responded positively and were ahead by 2-1 at the interval, before adding three more goals in the second-half.

Linfield manager Ryan McConville took positives out of the performance and will now be looking to pick up maximum points on Saturday.

“Shelbourne are a very good side and our players worked very hard, we were well in the game for 60 minutes,” he said.

“We have a competitive squad and they can achieve whatever they want to, but it’s down to them, we have retained most of our squad and it’s up to me to try to bring the best out of our players,” he added.

Linfield players in the Northern Ireland squad include Abi Sweetlove and Keri Halliday.

LOITV

Linfield v Sligo Rovers will kick-off at 2pm on Saturday, live on LOITV.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the return of our Regional Summer Camps for 2025, taking place across the region in partnership with local clubs. These much-loved camps are open to boys and girls aged 7 to 13, offering a week of football fun, skill development, and games.

Each camp will run Monday to Friday, from 10am to 1pm, and costs €85 per child. Along with coaching, fun drills, and small-sided games, all participants will receive a complimentary Sligo Rovers training top as part of their camp experience.

Regional Camp Schedule 2025

• Gurteen

Gurteen Park

Week of Monday, June 30th

• Swinford

James McEvaddy Park

Week of Monday, July 28th

• Boyle

Celtic Park

Week of Monday, August 4th

• Westport

AbbVie United Park

Week of Monday, August 11th

• Enniscrone

Michael McGowan Park

Week of Monday, August 18th

Please note that bookings will be handled by each host club, with registration details and sale dates to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

We extend our sincere thanks to our host clubs — Gurteen United, Swinford FC, Boyle Celtic, Westport United, and Kilglass Enniscrone United — for their continued support in making these camps possible. We look forward to welcoming young footballers from across the region for another exciting summer of football.