An injury-time goal by Mikey Drennan denied Sligo Rovers a point against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Following a low key first half, it was Pat’s who created more in difficult conditions in the second period.

Liam Buckley’s men looked like they would hold out for a valuable point, but Drennan did just enough to tuck his header past Ed McGinty in the 92nd minute.

Daryl Fordyce’s effort from range was easily dealt with by Pat’s net minder Brendan Clarke early on, while both Chris Forrester and ex-Sligo man Rhys McCabe blasted over from similar distances at the opposite end.

The Inchicore side did have a penalty appeal waved away late in the opening half.

Pat’s were eventually have the last laugh here as Drennan netted his second goal in as many games at the death.

Sam Warde has joined Sligo Rovers on loan from Colchester United until the end of June, subject to international clearance.

The Limerick-man will turn 21 next month and moves to the Bit O’Red ahead of tonight’s home game with St Patrick’s Athletic.

A midfielder, Warde joined Colchester from Huddersfield in 2017 where he featured regularly for the Under-23 side. 

He had a brief one-month spell with Leiston in September but switches to The Showgrounds now with a view to making a big impact.

He said: “I’m itching for an opportunity to play first-team football now.

“I’ve played at underage levels but I need to be playing, and regularly playing at that, in a senior side.

“I’d know Ronan Coughlan, we went over to England at the same time, but apart from that there isn’t too much I’m familiar with here. 

“I’ve been following the league in the last couple of seasons and it’s a good standard and it looks really competitive. 

“I know there is 20+ games during the spell here so I want to get myself into the team and help Sligo Rovers do well.” 

Liam Buckley added: “Sam is a defensive midfielder and is a good passer of the ball. At his age, he should be coming in here ready to get into team and have a right go at it. 

“He’ll have to get to grips with the league and what not, but he has an opportunity here to stake a claim and showcase the talent which brought him to England.

“I’d love to see us get the best out of him and we’ll be encouraging him every step of the way for the time he is with us.”

Sligo Rovers host St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night as football returns to The Showgrounds for the 2019 SSE Premier Division season.

Both teams are unbeaten going into the game, with Rovers recording a 1-1 draw with Dundalk in an encouraging start for the Bit O’ Red.

Tickets are available at turnstiles and also here.

In team news, Ronan Murray (ankle) and David Cawley (knee) are doubtful and will undergo late fitness tests.

Liam Buckley said: “The start to our season shows just how there is no easy games in this league. It’ll be a tough one, St Pat’s have signed well in the winter as we know.

“We’re looking to build on the result last week and we’re looking for a performance to compliment it.

“We showed a real determination and a terrific attitude in Dundalk last week. I think if we get a good performance then the result will go with it.

“I’m looking forward to taking charge here for the first time and funnily enough it has turned out to be against St Pat’s.

“It’s going to be a great occasion I’m sure but the priority for us is put in a performance and come away with a positive outcome.”  

As we begin a new home season, the club have some new guidelines to follow on Friday night for the game with St Patrick’s Athletic.

Clubhouse / Refreshments:

The Bit o’ Red Supporters Trust-built clubhouse will be open for the first time. Tea and coffee will be sold in the clubhouse from €2. Alcohol is not available.

The main hospitality building will no longer be open except for club and match sponsors and current volunteers and committee, nor will refreshments be available.

That building will now be a base for our match night team who operate the running of the match event so we ask you to respect this guideline.

The sale of tea and coffee in the clubhouse will go to Sligo Rovers through the work of the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust. The building has been funded through the Trust and refreshment sales are a means of financing improvements in facilities. Thank you for understanding and enjoy the great new facility which has long been needed and will be bettered as time goes on.

Season tickets / online sales:

All season tickets must be scanned upon entry from now as we use a new technology for the first time this Friday. The club’s ticketing partner will be assisting in the scanning of tickets on Friday. Two turnstiles will be dedicated to doing this.

We ask you for patience and to arrive early on Friday if possible. Given a large crowd is expected and this is a new departure for our volunteer turnstile operators, we ask you to respect the procedure and that entry to the ground may take slightly longer than usual.

Online tickets will be scanned. We have had lots of sales in advance of the game and we encourage you to buy here.

Cash turnstiles will also be open.

Media passes will not be accepted without applying to media@sligorovers.com as a list is operated.

Thanks

And enjoy the game!

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce a new link up with IT Sligo which will increase the number of local and regional players advancing to play with the club’s first team and underage squads.

As part of the agreement, two scholarships will be co-funded annually by IT Sligo and Rovers. 

The scholarships will be available for male and female players, where the students will play professionally with the club and also participate in the college’s football club, who participate in the CUFL & WSCAI leagues throughout the academic year.

The club will also have use of state of the art facilities at the college for first-team and underage squads, including its modern Knocknarea Arena as well as the grass and all weather pitches on site.

Furthermore, the IT Sligo logo will appear on the Sligo Rovers first team kits and IT Sligo advertising will also be displayed in The Showgrounds and our social media platforms.

Chairman Martin Heraghty spoke of his delight of the partnership:

“It has always been important to establish a link with IT Sligo and to create scholarship programme that would be open to both male and female footballers. Everyone at the football club will really buy into this, as we feel the long term results will see more local talent coming through to the first team. Training times will be adjusted to allow students to attend college and the train with the team afterwards, or vice versa. We are all delighted with the agreement and look forward to the future. 

IT Sligo Planning, Operations and Excellence manager Iain McPherson is thrilled with the programme.

“At IT Sligo, we are delighted we have established this link up with one of the biggest clubs in Irish football, Sligo Rovers. 

“Behind the scenes, both parties have worked extremely hard to create this elite football scholarship programme, and put in place a pathway for players to succeed in being professional footballers and obtaining a third level education which is so important.”

IT Sligo manager Colm Jinks added:

“The big thing for us is keeping those players who have come through the club’s underage system at the club and to help give them the best possible education at the same time. 

“IT Sligo has established itself as one of the leading sporting third level institutions in the region and are showing their intent in being one of the best in the country by offering this amazing scholarship programme along with all other scholarships available through IT Sligo’s football club.”

The first two players who will attend IT Sligo in September 2019 will be announced in the coming weeks, as we look forward to helping our young Bit O’ Red players both on the field and off it.

The Aurivo Co-Op Consumer Foodsbrand, Connacht Gold, has announced its continued support for Sligo Rovers as part of its ongoing sponsorship of the Bit O’Red Under 19 side. The partnership continues to provide Sligo Rovers with an unprecedented level of promotion and has a positive impact on the underage team. 

For the last two years, Connacht Gold has been the official sponsor of the Under 19 side. With headquarters for Aurivo’s global business based in Sligo, Connacht Gold is committed to getting behind the local club and helping them achieve success in 2019. 

Karen McGarty, Communications and Brand Manager Aurivo (pictured at top) said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Sligo Rovers through our sponsorship of the Bit O’RedUnder 19 side again this year. As Sligo Rovers continue to invest in the young players of the future and develop a centre of excellence, we are proud to support the club’s vision and ensure it operates as an integral part of the local community.”

Welcoming the sponsorship renewal, Martin Heraghty, Sligo Rovers Chairman said: “In preparation for this announcement and looking back on the beginning of the partnership with Aurivo and the Connacht Gold brand, we then had a number of emerging players in the under 19 side including Jack Keaney, John Mahon and Ed McGinty – all three players are established players on the squad now and we are seeing even more talent coming through on the team. The partnership is supporting our players pathway for future success and it is vital for Sligo Rovers to have sponsors such as Aurivo’s Connacht Gold brand to help fund the academy team. 

“We have five academy teams; four male and one female; and they all have aspiring players who are committed to movingup to senior football. There is a huge sense of community with this sponsorship deal and we are delighted to have Aurivo’s Connacht Gold as our official sponsors of the Under 19 side again this year, which will help us continue to develop our underage team.”

Sligo Rovers host St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday in The Showgrounds as our home SSE Airtricity Premier Division seasons gets underway.

Rovers drew 1-1 with Dundalk last week and Liam Buckley will finally prepare to manage the Bit o’ Red in a home game on Friday.

There is a special family night planned by the club. Details are below. Kick-off is 7:45pm.

Buy your season tickets here  

Buy your match tickets

• Free face-painting
• Free popcorn
• FAI Soccer Fun Zone

Ed McGinty produced a man of the match performance for Sligo Rovers as we held Dundalk 1-1 on Oriel Park on Friday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Rovers were under pressure for large parts of the game but an inspired McGinty saved a Patrick Hoban penalty and made several fine save.

Jack Keaney scored the Rovers goal with a 30-yard free-kick that was accurate and well-struck to deceive Gary Rogers.

Sean Murray’s goal meant the game finished level.

Next up is St Patrick’s Athletic in The Showgrounds on Friday.

DUNDALK: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Sean Hoare, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Robbie Benson (Sean Murray 10); John Mountney (Daniel Kelly 74), Patrick McEleney (Georgie Kelly 83), Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban.

SLIGO ROVERS: Edward McGinty; John Dunleavy, John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Regan Donelon; Kyle Callan-McFadden, Jack Keaney; Kris Twardek, Daryl Fordyce (Niall Morahan 83), Liam Kerrigan (Ronan Coughlan 87); Romeo Parkes.

REFEREE: Rob Harvey.

Sligo Rovers season tickets are still on sale.

With 18 home games to come in The Showgrounds tickets are priced from as low as €50.

Super Reds will get a free jersey with their ticket.

Adults can guarantee seats as well as saving on each home game.

Click here to purchase.

https://www.sligorovers.com/product-category/2019-season-tickets/

Email administrator@sligorovers.com for more