With the first phase of games completed in the Só Hotels Under 17 Women’s National League, it has been confirmed that Sligo Rovers will now be competing in League section, having finished in the top half of Group 1. 

The Bit O’Red now go into the League section with Shelbourne and Galway WFC who also finished in the top half of Group 1 and they will be joined by Limerick, Wexford Youths and Cork City. 

Teams will play each other once during this series of games. 

The Shield group, containing teams who finished in the bottom half of the two groups within the league, will be made up of Athlone Town, Peamount United, Donegal League, Bohemian, Greystones United and DLR Waves. 

The Rovers girls, sponsored by David McConville Orthodontics, are enjoying a fantastic season so far. 

The team is based at IT Sligo, where they train and play their home games.

Fixtures for phase two of the Só Hotels U17 Women’s National League have been announced and Rovers will face Shelbourne in the first game this Saturday at the AUL.

They are home to Cork City on Saturday August 3rd.

Head-coach Darragh Healy said: “It’s great to qualify for the top section and this shows how well the girls have done over the last ten games to do so.

“Our first 5 or 6 games we did very well and had a lot of points on the board going into the last few games.”

“You want to be competing against the better teams and testing yourself each week we play and this will definitely be the case against all the teams we will encounter from now on.

“We qualified at the expense of some well established teams like Peamount so this shows how well it has gone.

“Hopefully we can qualify for the semi final stages and be competing from that side of things. We know we can compete with any team in the country on our day so we are optimistic particularly with a cup semi final to come also.

“We’re delighted with how all the girls have done and especially this time of year with holidays and one or two injuries there has been loads of rotation but every player has contributed and done well, and we will need every player to contribute going forward to the end of the season also”.

Meanwhile, the Bit O’Red are through to the semi-finals of the Só Hotels Under 17 WNL Cup after they beat Donegal League 5-0 at IT Sligo last Wednesday night.

Muireann Devaney scored a brace, while Alva Munnelly, Aife Haran and Ava Keane were also on the scoresheet.

Healy added: ” A cup run would be great. We’ve beaten Bohemians and Donegal to date and have Galway WFC in the semi final. We are one game away from a cup final so it would be brilliant to get to the final and have a day out so hopefully with a bit of luck we’ll get there”.

After the success of our two Last Man Standing competitions to date, we are delighted to announce we will be running a new competition starting on week one of the English Premier League Season beginning with the tie between Liverpool and Norwich on August 9^th.

The competition created a real buzz between friends, families, work colleagues and team-mates and we hope this will be no different.

The entry fee remains at €10 per entry, with supporters allowed to enter as many times as they wish. We are hoping this will be our biggest competition to date, with tickets already being issued to eager participants.

For those who are not familiar with Last Man Standing, each competitor will pick a team from that weekend’s Premier League fixtures. If your team wins their game, you go through to the next round. If they lose or draw however, you’re out of the competition.

Tickets can be purchased from any committee member and are also available to buy in The Showgrounds office. (Monday-Friday between 10am&2pm). If you’re interested in selling tickets on behalf of the club you can email administrator@sligorovers.com

Alternatively, you can enter the highly anticipated competition
https://srfcdirect.com/last-man-standing/  

Each entry costs €10 or €10.50 online.

All entrants to the competition will be contacted with deadlines and information closer to the kick-off times each week.

Competition Rules:

1. Pay your entry fee before Week 1 — no need to pay again.
2. There is a single prize of €1,000 which will be paid to the competition winner.
3. Each week, simply pick a team playing a Premier League match that week – if your team wins, you go through, lose or draw and you’re out.
4. You can only pick a team to win once in a competition, so you need to be tactical about who you pick and when.
5. All selections must be in no later than 24 hours before the first game of the game-week. You can change your selection up to this deadline, a participant’s last pick will be considered their final selection. Selections will be available by text or email ONLY. It is the participants’ responsibility to ensure that the entry is submitted.
6. If your team’s game is postponed after your selection you are automatically put through to the next round.
7. If you forget to pick a team, you will be assigned one automatically. The selection will be the first available team in alphabetical order.
8. An individual may enter more than one team. Each entry will be treated individually and will require a unique valid selection for each game week.
9. Last Man continues until only one person remains and wins the pot. If more than one remain everyone goes through to the next round. If all remaining players lose in the last round, they all go through to the next round.

We are delighted to bring you our new online club store, www.srfcdirect.com, which is now live.

At Sligo Rovers, we are always looking for ways to improve and we think our brand new store is just another step in the right direction. The new, easy to use store has all our Joma Sport merchandise as well as an improved system for booking summer camps, club lotto, 500 club membership and more.

To access the site, simply click ‘shop’ on the club website and you’ll be directed.

With separate departments for match kit, training gear, club accessories, camps and fundraising initiatives, the site has a fresh new look and our best to date.

We will be adding brand new ranges of training gear and accessories in the coming months and all will be available on srfcdirect.com

To launch the new store, we are giving away a free Sligo Rovers training top to one lucky shopper.

Anyone who buys a product online between now and kick off on Saturday night against Bohemian FC will be entered into the draw.

Please feel free to browse our new store and make a purchase today.

Happy shopping Bit O’ Red fans.

Sligo Rovers, in conjunction with Cosgroves Centra Maugheraboy, are delighted to launch the bring a food can campaign at the Bohemians match night this Saturday night in the Showgrounds.

All supporters are asked to bring a food can which will be distributed by St Vincent de Paul to those in need in Sligo and surrounding area in the form of food hampers.

Cans can be donated outside the stadium. Kick-off is 8pm.

Further details to follow.

Sligo Rovers have completed the signing of Accrington Stanley midfielder Niall Watson on loan until the end of the League of Ireland season, subject to international clearance.

The 19-year-old makes the temporary switch to the Bit O’ Red having featured against us in a friendly for his parent club in The Showgrounds.

He made his debut for Stanley against Exeter 18 months ago and signed his first professional deal last year.

Watson has been part of their pre-season preparations this year and has featured throughout their friendly games.

Liam Buckley said: “It’s important to firm up the squad from our end. Liam Kerrigan is moving on so we have to be mindful of that and replace him.

“Niall came on in the friendly game we had earlier in the month. He’s a young player looking to make an impact.

“He is more likely to get game time here than in Accrington at this point and it suits us to take him in for the next few months. I spoke with John Coleman and it’s a good move for all parties.

“He has been involved with Accrington’s first-team and at a couple of non-league clubs.

“He can play in an attacking role on the left or right, so we’ll give him a chance in training to impress and force a way into the side.

“In terms of other signings, the market is not favourable at this time of year in Ireland but we remain in the hunt.

“We’re exploring things but it has to be a player that is really going to improve us. I won’t sign someone if it isn’t right for us. There’s less than two weeks left we’ll see how things go.”

Niall Watson said: “When I was in Sligo for the friendly I could see what a good club it is so when the gaffer (John Coleman) mentioned their interest I was delighted.

“He told me more about them too so now I’m really excited. I had three loan spells last year and I’m ready to keep playing. There’s still a lot of games to be played in the season in Ireland.

“It’s a great experience for me to move over and become part of a club like Sligo Rovers, I’m really up for it. I can play anywhere across a front three, I probably prefer the left side.

“Whatever the gaffer says I’ll be up for it. I’m looking forward to getting involved straight away and meet everyone on Tuesday.”

Liam Kerrigan has joined UCD, the club can confirm.

The Rovers Under-17 graduate progressed through the ranks to become a member of the first-team squad.

He started with the Under-17s in 2015 and went on to make 24 appearance for the senior side.

The 19-year-old said: “Like Jack said this has been a very difficult decision to make. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t a Sligo Rovers fan and making my debut and signing my first professional contract last year was a dream come true.

“Thanks to Gerard Lyttle and Kevin Derry for giving me that opportunity. 

“I would like to thank all my coaches from Real Tubber FC and Raff Cretaro for introducing me to the club as mascot when I was five-years old, Sligo Leitrim youths, Sligo Rovers 17s, Niall Harrison, Colm Jinks and Danny O’Leary, the u19s, Dinky (Brian Dorrian) and the first team management, Liam Buckley, John Russell and Dave Campbell for all their encouragement and guidance throughout the years.

“I’d also like to thank everyone behind the scenes at Sligo Rovers and all the fans for supporting me over the last two seasons.

“Best of luck to everyone at the club for the rest of the season.”

Liam Buckley said: “Liam has decided to take up this offer. We wish him well. We don’t want to lose our young players and going forward the IT Sligo scholarship scheme will help with that.

“It’s disappointing but we wish Liam a great future and perhaps one day we will see him in a Sligo Rovers jersey again.”

Derry City returned to winning ways with victory over Sligo Rovers at a rain-soaked Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Winger Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe netted his seventh goal in as many games, while teenager Jack Malone netted his first goal for the club.

After a 40 minute delay because of floodlight failure, it was the home side who started the better in the opening stages.

In fact Derry missed a glorious chance on three minutes as Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe’s run and cross from the left found an unmarked David Parkhouse, but the Sheffield United loanee side-footed over with the goal at his mercy. Soon after Parkhouse went even closer. This time Jamie McDonagh’s super right wing centre found the Strabane man, but his header at the near post was saved by Rovers ‘keeper Edward McGinty.

Minutes later a stunning Ronan Murray pass released Romeo Parkes, but after racing clear of the Derry defence the Rovers striker’s shot was well kept out by Derry ‘keeper Peter Cherrie.

That missed chance came back to haunt the visitors as Derry took the lead on 21 minutes as Parkhouse’s clever lay-off found Ogedi-Uzokwe, the winger cut in from the left before side-footing home, clipping off McGinty’s left hand post on the way into the net.

Liam Buckley’s side should have equalised soon after when Daniel Kane’s right wing cross found Parkes, but the front man’s miss hit effort from 10 yards sailed well off target. Derry doubled their lead right at the start of the second half as Ogedi-Uzokwe bamboozled John Dunleavy, before cutting the ball back to McDonagh, who made no mistake blasting high into the net from 10 yards.

The home side added a superb third goal on 79 minutes when following a stunning passing move, young substitute Malone played a one-two with Greg Sloggett, before firing home from some 25 yards.

Rovers’ night was summed up minutes later as Ronan Coughlan fired over from close range, after the ball fell perfectly to him inside the six yard box. The woodwork came to Sligo’s rescue deep into stoppage time as substitute Michael McCrudden saw his shot on the turn come back off the post.

Derry City: Cherrie, McDonagh, Cole, Gilchrist, Coll; Bruna, Harkin, Sloggett (McCrudden 82); Ogedi-Uzokwe (McCauley 75), Parkhouse, Davis (Malone 63).

Sligo Rovers: McGinty, Banks, Warde (Twardek 59), Callan-McFadden, Dunleavy, Coughlan, Fordyce, Murray (Donelon 73), Kane, Mahon, Parkes.

Sligo Rovers travel to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night to take Derry City in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Bit O’ Red extended their unbeaten run at home to nine matches last time out against Waterford and go in search for a fourth win on the road this year.

Wins over Finn Harps, UCD and Bohemians have helped Rovers to sit in sixth place in the league, with this game a key one in trying to get closer to Derry and St Patrick’s Athletic.  

In team news, Dante Leverock (red card last time out) and David Cawley (yellow card accumulation) are suspended.

Niall Morahan is away on international duty.

Regan Donelon returns and is available to play.

Liam Buckley said: “We expected a bit more last Saturday. We’re proving very hard to beat but we could have done a good bit better in the game.  

“We would have liked to play better in the second half. We got the point so we’re still in there and with 11 games to go we’d like to see where a good run could take us.

“The league table doesn’t lie in that Derry are a couple of wins ahead of us but we feel we can compete against any side. We’ve beaten the top three in the league yet had some disappointing results and Derry couldn’t get that goal last week so it proves how hard this league is.

“We’d like to go up there and show a bit more of what we can do and get the result.” 

Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm the renewal of their partnership for 2019 as Top Oil are again confirmed as official fuel supplier to the Bit O’ Red.

The announcement was made today with representatives of Rovers are Top Oil at The Showgrounds.

Details were also announced of how fans can help the club once again as part of the new agreement.

€10 will go to Sligo Rovers if customers quote ‘TopSR’ when ordering fuel from Top Oil.

The partnership has been very successful so far, so we encourage all fans to use Top Oil. To order, phone 071-9162238 for a quote and receive the excellent customer service that Top Oil provides.

Sligo Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty commented: “Top Oil has been very loyal to the club and we are very happy to have them on board again.

‘’It shows that our sponsors see the benefit of long-term association with the club as the agreement has been extended for a third time.

‘’We ask all our fans to support our sponsors and don’t forget to mention ‘TopSR’ when ordering.

Andrew Meagher, Head of Sales for Top Oil’s Direct business, said:

‘’We are very pleased to be extending our long-term partnership with Sligo Rovers. Top Oil is very much part of the local community in Sligo where we employ are serve local people and businesses.

“Sligo Rovers is a community based club so we are pleased to be associated with such a great club as we renew our sponsorship again for another year. We want to take the opportunity to wish the club the very best, both on and off the field.’’

Top Oil has a growing network of depots and forecourts that champion quality service and reliability.

As an addition to the partnership, Top Oil has committed to making a €10 donation to Sligo Rovers FC for every order placed in the region using the promo code ‘TopSR’.

Orders can be made online at their website top.ie or by calling your local Top Oil depot in Sligo locally on 0719162238.

Romeo Parkes missed a first half penalty as Sligo Rovers played out a scoreless draw with Waterford at the Showgrounds.

There was further anguish for the Bit O’Red as they finished the game without defender Dante Leverock. The Bermudan dismissed four minutes from time having been shown a second yellow card. 

Both sides produced three goals each in their last meeting as the RSC, but this game was to pass without either goalkeeper breached.

Rovers’ Ronan Coughlan had an early chance before Michael O’Connor’s header from a Tom Holland free from deep looped over Ed McGinty’s crossbar.

Parkes’ first touch took him away from a Waterford defender after he controlled a Ronan Murray cross on the quarter hour. But Parkes’ resulting effort was deflected away.

Last May’s game also saw both teams miss a penalty each and Parkes continued this tradition on 18 minutes.

The Jamaican denied by Matthew Connor from twelve yards after Danny Kane was tripped by O’Connor.

The Blues’ net-minder also keeping out Murray’s follow-up.

This sucked the wind from the Rovers sails as Alan Reynolds’ charges finished the half the stronger.

Jonathan Lunney’s drive from 25 yards not too far away from McGinty’s post after the attacker dinked his way past two Sligo challenges. But this was the best the away side could muster before the break.

Waterford threatened after the re-start courtesy of the lively Cory Galvin and again on 66 through O’Connor as the two thousand strong support awaited an opener.

Galvin gave the Rovers defence plenty of cause for concern and went close once more on 67 when his effort from the angle smacked back off the Sligo’s woodwork.

While Connor was comfortable dealing with David Cawley’s shot from the edge of the box after Parkes shifted play into the path of the Mayo man.

Maxim Kouogun wasted a glorious opportunity with twelve to go when Johnny Dunleavy’s lack of urgency allowed the centre half in. But his ballooned effort flew well over the Sligo goal with just McGinty to beat.

O’Connor’s next go suffered a similar fate minutes before Rovers were reduced to ten when Leverock was shown his second yellow after a late challenge on Galvin.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Johnny Dunleavy, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Dante Leverock, Danny Kane; Romeo Parkes, Daryl Fordyce (John Russell 68), David Cawley, Kris Twardek; Ronan Coughlan (Sam Warde 61), Ronan Murray (John Mahon 87). 

Waterford: Matthew Connor; Rory Feely, Kenny Browne, Maxim Kouogun, Kevin Lynch (Georgie Poynton 56); Jonathan Lunney, Tom Holland, Shane Duggan; Dean O’Halloran (William Fitzgerald 76), Michael O’Connor, Cory Galvin.

Referee: Rob Harvey

Attendance: 2,037