We have 214 players through to Week 5 of the competition but it’s beginning to get really interesting now as some players have selected the big guns every week so far and others still have 4/5 of the top teams remaining in their locker to use in future rounds. Continue reading “Last Man Standing – Week 4 Results”
The Halloween holidays are this weekend, with the booking process well underway for our 2018 Halloween Camp which will take place in The Showgrounds.
The success of our children’s camps in recent years has been unprecedented, with high demand expected once again at Halloween.
Prices remain capped from Summer, representing one of the best valued camps in the region. Places are limited and booking advised asap
The camp itself runs from 10.30am until 3pm, starting on the bank holiday Monday (October 29th) and will finish on Friday November 2nd. The cost of the camp is €60 for one child, €100 for two children from the one family and finally €135 for three children from the one family.
Every child that participates in the camp will receive and official Sligo Rovers training top, a participation certificate and a picture with members of the Sligo Rovers first team.
An optional breakfast club is also taking place each morning which opens from 8.30am daily. The cost of the breakfast club is €25 per child for the week or €10 per morning. Breakfast includes a choice of cereal, toast and Juice each morning which is then followed by fully supervised indoor and outdoor activities. Parents are advised that the Breakfast Club is limited to a maximum of 25 per week and is likely to sell out. Therefore, pre booking is strongly advised.
The camp is open to boys and girls, between the ages of 5 & 15. Only vetted and experienced coaches will be provided.
For more information on the Halloween Camp, you can contact Shane at the club on 071-9171212.
Alternatively, you can secure your place on the camp by booking online here
Sligo Rovers host Bohemians in our penultimate home game of the season on Monday night.
Rovers were well beaten by Dundalk on Friday night but will be looking to finish the season on a high with two home games this week.
In team news, Caolan McAleer returns from suspension while Raff Cretaro is also available. Regan Donelon, Adam Wixted and Gary Boylan are injured while David Cawley is doubtful.
Brian Dorrian said: “We faced an exceptional Dundalk team on Friday while we had seven teenagers on the pitch over the game.
“As I said, these matches are to show that there is programme in place of young players with a lot about them. It was a tough night where we were stretched to the limit.
“This isn’t about putting in your players because I’m Under-19 manager. We have 16 or 17 senior players when fit and among them are young players and when you add injuries, you have no choice. We didn’t fill the bench for that reason. I do like giving them the chances even if the scenario isn’t ideal where you have to use so many.
“My hope is in the future that the more inexperienced and younger lads will take a lot from that game. All the lads in the squad are good enough to get better. You hurt when you’re defeated but it can drive you on and they should look forward to another opportunity now on Monday.
“Bohemians are one of the form teams in the country and they had another big win on Friday. We’d like to bounce back from last week and get a positive result. I’d say to our supporters to get behind the boys as any lift you can get will make a difference and remember that it can impact them especially coming off Friday night.
“We have senior players in our ranks too who will be looking to show what they are about. There’s no doubt the next full-time Sligo Rovers manager will be looking at DVDs of these games or whatever and futures are decided. We’re determined to finish this week well so that’s our intention from the first whistle on Monday. “
Updated: 12:30PM Monday, 22nd October 2018
It’s been a devastating weekend for the competition with 175 players eliminated so far, Burnley, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Newcastle and Wolves failed to win and took almost half our players with them. Continue reading “Last Man Standing – Week 4 Entries Closed”
Sligo Rovers travel to Dundalk on Friday for an SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at Oriel Park.
The Bit O’Red will be managed by Under-19 boss Brian Dorrian for our final away game of the season.
In team news, Caolan McAleer is suspended. Lee Lynch returns from illness. Gary Boylan is out with an ACL injury.
Dorrian said: “It hasn’t been an easy week of course. Gerard was very good to me and our Under-19 players. He wished the squad well and me personally for these matches and I think that says a lot about him.
“The team have trained for the last few days and we’ve prepared for it in a professional manner after the parting of ways.
“We have to move on and do ourselves justice for these three matches because this group has worked hard all season in order to do their best for the club, the management team and themselves. That is really what these matches are about.
“It’s an honour for me of course and I’m happy to help out the club. But it’s about these players. They will play the best team in the country and I know they can compete well with them and test them. We did that the last time in Oriel Park and in The Showgrounds where 2-0 was not a reflection of the game.
“We’ve a young squad with a lot of talent and over this season they have developed.
“On Friday I’d like them to go out and show what they are about. It’s not going to be easy. There’ll be a huge focus on Dundalk where they are getting ready to lift a trophy.
“We’re coming to show why there is a bright future for our club and why the person that takes over here is going come into a good situation with a lot to work with.”
Sligo Rovers travel to Dundalk on Friday for an SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at Oriel Park.
The Bit O’Red will be managed by Under-19 boss Brian Dorrian for our final away game of the season.
In team news, Caolan McAleer is suspended. Lee Lynch returns from illness. Gary Boylan is out with an ACL injury.
Dorrian said: “It hasn’t been an easy week of course. Gerard was very good to me and our Under-19 players. He wished the squad well and me personally for these matches and I think that says a lot about him.
“The team have trained for the last few days and we’ve prepared for it in a professional manner after the parting of ways.
“We have to move on and do ourselves justice for these three matches because this group has worked hard all season in order to do their best for the club, the management team and themselves. That is really what these matches are about.
“It’s an honour for me of course and I’m happy to help out the club. But it’s about these players. They will play the best team in the country and I know they can compete well with them and test them. We did that the last time in Oriel Park and in The Showgrounds where 2-0 was not a reflection of the game.
“We’ve a young squad with a lot of talent and over this season they have developed. On Friday I’d like them to go out and show what they are about. It’s not going to be easy. There’ll be a huge focus on Dundalk where they are getting ready to lift a trophy.
“We’re coming to show why there is a bright future for our club and why the person that takes over here is going to come into a good situation with a lot to work with.”
Sligo Rovers can confirm that Under-19 manager Brian Dorrian will take charge of the team for the final nine days of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.
Dorrian, who has been part of the club’s underage management for several seasons, will take training from this morning and the games against Dundalk on Friday, Bohemians in The Showgrounds on Monday and Shamrock Rovers on Friday 26 October, also in The Showgrounds.
The club are grateful to Brian for agreeing to the role and encourage all our supporters to get behind him and the players as they have done throughout this season for the final three games of 2018.
Friday night’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division match with Dundalk will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 from Oriel Park.
Rovers face their 34th league game of the season against the champions, who will be receiving their league trophy on the night.
Kick-off is 7:45pm and the game will also be on RTÉ Player
A Patrick McClean own goal along with Christian Mbulu’s superb second half strike, saw Sligo Rovers exit the Irn Bru Scottish Cup at the hands of Motherwell’s Under-20 side at Fir Park.
Rovers, who had only arrived in Scotland hours before kick-off, were flat throughout and fell behind 12 minutes in.
David Turnbull and Jake Hastie combining down the Rovers left. The latter’s cross catching out McClean who could only turn the ball into his own net.
A jaded Rovers never imposed themselves on this game, and almost allowed the Scots a second on 22 minutes.
James Scott’s initial drive at goal was blocked by Jack Keaney, before the ball fell to full back Kyle MacDonald who rattled Ed McGinty’s side netting.
Sligo did show signs of life when Rhys McCabe tested Rohan Ferguson ten minutes from the break. The Colts net minder grabbing the Rovers skipper’s attempt at the second ask.
Ferguson denied McCabe again shortly after with a save at full stretch.
Sligo had their best chance of the half three minutes from the break. Mikey Drennan’s header dropping past the far post from a Regan Donelon cross.
McGinty was called back into action after the re-start to tip Turnbull’s effort over his crossbar.
There was further worry for the away side when McClean was stretchered off after a heavy challenge on the half-way line.
Rovers men could have been further behind on 66. But McGinty was comfortable in holding Broque Watson’s tame effort from close range.
Mbulu had the Colts two ahead on 70 minutes. The centre half showing neat feet before clipping the ball into the top corner from 15 yards.
Motherwell Colts: Rohan Ferguson; Kyle MacDonald, Barry Maguire, Christian Mbulu, Adam Livinsgton; Broque Watson, David Turnbull, Liam Brown, Jake Hastie; Akeal Rehman (Jordan Armstrong 67), James Scott.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Patrick McClean (Seamus Sharkey 54), Regan Donelon (Raff Cretaro 75); David Cawley, Rhys McCabe, Jack Keaney; Kris Twardek, Caolan McAleer (Lewis Morrison HT); Mikey Drennan.
Referee: Richard Hulme.
Sligo Rovers travel to Scotland on Saturday for an Irn Bru Cup match with Motherwell Colts at Fir Park.
A comfortable 4-1 win over Livingston Colts saw Rovers through to this stage as Mikey Drennan bagged a hat-trick and Player of the Round.
In team news, Lee Lynch is ill and misses out, while Gary Boylan is out for the season (ACL).
Gerard Lyttle said: “Lee picked something up so we sent him home on Thursday to try to get better but it has got worse overnight. There’s no point pushing it now. Apart from him and Gary we have our full squad.
“This is a step up from Livingston. We’ve been able to get some research on Motherwell. We know how they set up from that and looking through their squad there is a lot of 19 and 20-year-olds who are on the cusp of a breakthrough. This is a game they’ve been crying out for because they become centre stage at their club this weekend and the chance to play against a senior side. That’s a big thing for any young player.
“We’ve a lot of young players too, as is well documented, along with our few older lads and really our focus is on ourselves and what we can do.
“We got the win we wanted last week, we’ve had a really good week of training and we’re travelling in good spirits. I expect the Fir Park pitch to be like a carpet and when we’ve gone to places with a top class surface you’ve often seen the best of us and a lot of good results.
“That’s the type of team we are. The lads are looking forward to it and we’re under no illusions that we have to be at it. Progress in this competition is what we want. That’s what we’re going over to try to do and I know we have a good support coming with us so it’s important to give them something to cheer as well.”
The team departed from Derry Airport this afternoon and will return immediately after the game on Saturday.
