Sligo Rovers return to the Showgrounds this Saturday night as the Bit O’Red take on Bohemians in Premier Division action, kick-off 7.45pm. 

Rovers are back on home soil after being narrowly beaten by Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Monday last. 

Two down at the break, Rovers rallied in the second period and had their hosts under the cosh for sustained periods. Manager John Russell will look to bring that momentum into Saturday’s game with Bohs.

Russell welcomes back Jake Doyle-Hayes from a one match ban. However John Mahon, Ollie Denham and Oskar Van Hattum are unavailable. Mahon serves a one game ban due to the accumulation of a total of ten yellow cards. While Denham and Van Hattum are both nursing knocks. 

Speaking ahead of Saturday, boss Russell says he wants his team to show the desire and creativity which saw his side outplay the Hoops in stages of that game earlier this week. 

“We showed yet again in Dublin that we are more than able to compete with any team in this league”. he said. 

“We were really pleased with the second half performance which really owed us at least a goal. First half, things didn’t go our way and huge improvement was needed and we got that. 

“But in the second half, we could have had two or three goals and we were very impressive going forward. Again, we must improve defensively, everyone knows that and the players are working hard every day in training on that. We’ll be without our two starting centre halves for Bohs but we’ve known that since Monday so we’ve been able to prepare to deal with that. 

“Bohs have really turned things around recently and I think that was always going to happen. They have a really strong squad and will cause us problems but our players will be prepared for that. 

“We’re looking to put a bit of form together now and a few good results in this league can really see you climb and climb quickly.” 

Supporters are asked to note that 2025 Annual Draw tickets will go on sale at this game, with the club hoping to surpass the record amount of €130,000 raised last year. 

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers will travel to Tallaght Stadium on Saturday for a Women’s Premier Division (WPD) showdown against a Shamrock Rovers side that currently sits in sixth place, some eight points adrift of leaders Athlone Town.

The Bit O’Red will go into the first of two big games on the back of an impressive victory last Saturday against four-time champions Peamount Utd, with Athlone Town set to visit the Showgrounds the following weekend.

Anna McDaniel’s 19th-minute goal was the platform for a thoroughly deserved win last Saturday as the Bit O’Red delivered a tremendous display with 90 minutes of non-stop pressure.

Bonnie McKiernan will start between the posts again as Amber Hardy continues her recovery along with the injured trio of Katie Melly, Jessica Casey and Rachel McGoldrick.

Against that background, injuries to four regular starters, Sligo Rovers manager Steve Feeney has been rewarded with some swashbuckling performances from the players who have deputised and who will now be looking for regular starting positions.

“The fact that we had players of the quality of Muireann (Devaney) and Keeva (Flynn) on the bench last Saturday was a reflection of the actual strength in depth of our panel, and it was a real boost to bring them on in the second half,” stated Steve.

“We got a performance over the whole game against Peamount, and that was something we were aiming for; getting the 1-0 win along with that was a bonus.

“Obviously, it’s a major setback that Katie Melly, Amber Hardy, Rachel McGoldrick and Jessica Casey are still on the injured list, but Paula McGrory and Kya McKenna could be available for selection.

“We are starting to look more solid throughout the pitch at this stage, and I think that was evident after we took the lead against Peamount. We will have to bring that type of performance to Tallaght Stadium on Saturday.

“It’s a bit of a cliché, I suppose, but there is no easy game in this league, and we will have to produce an even better performance this weekend.

“We know that it will be a big challenge on a big pitch, but it’s something the players will relish, and they will be aiming to extend an unbeaten sequence and add to our points tally.

“The bottom line is that we have two big games ahead of us with Athlone Town at the Showgrounds the following weekend before the trip to Belfast to play Linfield in the All-Island Cup.

“I suppose the target for Saturday is to back up our performances against Bohs and Peamount and see where that takes us.

“Shams will have a certain confidence about them and will, no doubt, be expecting to push up the table at our expense,” he added.

The Dublin women will go into Saturday’s game on the back of a 10-goal haul in the last two outings, a 6-0 win and a 4-1 win in the All-Island Cup and WPD, respectively, against bottom-of-the-table DLR Waves.

Republic of Ireland international Ruesha Littlejohn has added to the quality, although she didn’t start last weekend at the Belfield Bowl, where, in a post-match interview, manager Collie O’Neill wasn’t impressed with the condition of the pitch.

Emily Corbett (two) and Joy Ralph scored last weekend against DLR Waves, and there was also an own goal. Prior to that they lost against Galway (3-2) and Wexford (3-2), with a 1-1 draw against Peamount sandwiched between those defeats.

The Dublin side will be going for goals on Saturday and will have the benefit of last season’s joint top scorers, Joy Ralph and Áine O’Gorman, who scored eight goals apiece, to boost the prospects of a first WPD home victory since mid-March.

Kick-off at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday is at 5pm, and the game will be live on LOITV.

Sligo Rovers are excited to launch the club’s 2025 Annual Draw, our yearly fundraiser which has year-on-year become more and more vital to the operation of the club.

As one of the only remaining supporter-owned clubs in the League of Ireland, we rely on this and all other vital fundraisers in our mission to make the club stronger with each passing year.

All monies raised will go towards the day-to-day running of the club in an effort to keep us financially healthy off the pitch and as competitive as possible on it. 

The club are keen to match and we would hope to surpass the incredible record breaking total of €130,000 which was raised by our hard-working supporters in 2024.  

The draw will take place at half-time during our Premier Division match with Bohemians at the Showgrounds on August 30th. Tickets go on sale at this Saturday’s game with Bohs. 

This year’s top prize is again €5,000 in cash, a great boost for anyone in the current climate. While there are a host of other great prizes including stays in any Clayton Hotel in the country, Breaffy Hotel and Resort in Castlebar, the Waterford Marina Hotel and the Broadhaven Bay in Belmullet. 

There are also a number of vouchers kindly sponsored by local businesses such as Elvery’s, Kate’s Kitchen and Empire Hairdressing. While there is also a €200 voucher from Ticketmaster up for grabs. 

Sligo Rovers is a football club not just for the people of Sligo, but also for those of the greater north-west area and our loyal army of ticket-sellers will be pacing the streets of towns and villages across county Sligo and parts of Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon. The club will also be working extremely closely with our friends and supporters in the Bit O’Red Supporters’ Trust and Dublin Supporters’ Club, contact any member of either to purchase tickets. 

If you would like to get involved in selling tickets in your area, please contact Rovers’ Annual Draw Coordinator Mark Cummins at markjcummins76@gmail.com. 

Tickets will also be available from the club’s official website, sligorovers.com and supporters, those based away from Ireland in particular, are greatly encouraged to purchase tickets through this medium. 

Rovers Chairperson Tommy Higgins outlined just how important the draw is to the club. He said: “Anyone following the League of Ireland will know how tough it is to keep clubs going, especially a club ran in the unique way Sligo Rovers is. The annual draw is crucial to keeping the club going and we’re hoping our supporters will really get behind the draw in a big way this year as we look to keep the club financially sustainable and give John Russell the greatest chance of achieving success that we can.” 

“We would like to again thank our loyal supporters for raising such an incredible amount last season”, annual draw coordinator Mark Cummins says. 

“We are really looking forward to getting out there again and we’re hoping to match and surpass last year’s total figure. A huge thank you to all who have assisted with sales over the years and I encourage anyone who is interested in selling tickets to get involved by contacting myself.”

First half goals did all the damage as Shamrock Rovers overcame a superb second half fight-back from Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

Behind by two at the break, the visiting Rovers were a different team in the second half but were unable to find the net.

Graham Burke had the Hoops ahead from the penalty spot after 26 minutes, while former Rovers striker Aaron Green doubled the lead as the game headed for half-time. 

John Russell’s side knocked on the door on several occasions in the second half and were all over their Dublin opponents, a dominant Rovers falling just short in the Dublin sunshine. 

Referee Rob Hennessy awarded Shams the spot-kick after the ball hopped up and on to Conor Reynolds’ arm, an unlucky moment on what was another fine performance from a rising Rovers star. 

Burke dispatched the penalty to give the hosts the lead while the 2023 champions had their second on 42. Greene turning to finish off a neat flick over the Rovers rearguard from Jack Byrne.

Rovers were a totally different side in the second half and were unfortunate early on not to be awarded their own penalty after a Shams defender looked like he had handled the ball inside Ed McGinty’s area. 

McGinty was by far the busier goalkeeper in the second 45 and scrambled to keep out a Matty Wolfe effort. While Owen Elding had a header taken on McGinty’s line by Roberto Lopes as the visitors continued their relentless press for a goal of their own. 

Rovers kept trying but couldn’t unlock the Hoops door, going close through Francely Lomboto after Elding’s through ball had caused chaos amongst the Shams’ defence. Ronan Manning then had former Rovers number one McGinty racing across his line to push a late free-kick over his crossbar. 

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Cory O’Sullivan; Adam Matthewst, Darragh Nugent, Matt Healy (Gary O’Neill 67), Jack Byrne (Nichael Noonan 67), Danny Grant (Victor Ozhianvuna 83); Graham Burke (John O’Sullivan 67); Aaron Greene (Rory Gaffney 83).

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sergeant; Conor Reynolds (Harvey Lintott 77), Gareth McElroy, John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Matt Wolfe (Daire Patton 77), Ronan Manning; Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki (Cian Kavanagh h-t; Stephen Mallon 82), Will Fitzgerald; Francely Lomboto (Wilson Warweru 77).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.

Tallaght Stadium is Sligo Rovers’ destination this bank holiday Monday evening as the Bit O’Red travel to Dublin for the third time this season, this time to take on Shamrock Rovers. Supporters are reminded kick-off time has been revised to 7pm. 

Rovers go into this one on the back of home draws against Cork City and Drogheda United, while the Hoops are without a win in four having played out draws with Cork, Shels and Pat’s and were recently beaten by rivals Bohemians who Sligo Rovers face at the Showgrounds this coming Saturday.

Tallaght hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for John Russell’s men recently. Our last win at the south Dublin venue was back in 2021 and since then, Sligo have lost in each of our seven visits bar a draw in April 2022. 

However, Sligo Rovers did win the last meeting between these two teams back in March at the Showgrounds. A Reece Hutchinson strike before half-time was cancelled out by Graham Burke, but Sligo skipper John Mahon struck for what was our first win of the season twelve minutes from time. 

Rovers head to the capital again without Ollie Denham and Oskar Van Hattum, both of whom are continuing to recover from injury and are Russell’s only injury concerns. Jake Doyle-Hayes is also unavailable due to suspension.

Speaking to sligorovers.com ahead of the game, the Rovers boss says he wants to see his team improve defensively but is full of optimism ahead of what will be a challenging contest.  

“Every ground you visit in this league is a tough place to go to”, he says. “There simply just aren’t any games that aren’t tough and Monday will be the same. Our record up there isn’t great but we’re using that as motivation to go and give a good account of ourselves. 

“We’ve been the architects of our own downfall at times this season and have given other teams headstarts. We’ve been so impressive going forward, creating chances and scoring goals and I’m really happy with that. But what’s been killing us is the concession of silly goals. 

“If you make it easy for the opposition somewhere like Tallaght, then chances are you’re not coming back from it so we need to be on our game from the start. 

“We’ve a good group here and we know what we can achieve this season if we get things right. We showed against Shamrock Rovers in Sligo in March that we can put it up to the strongest teams in this league. We just need to get the basics right and our talent will bring us the rest of the way.

“We’re really looking forward to this one and hopefully it’ll be a good evening for us.”

David Goulden 

By Conall Collier

Anna McDaniel’s 19th-minute goal gave battling Sligo Rovers a thoroughly deserved first Women’s Premier Division (WPD) win of the season at the expense of Dublin side Peamount Utd at the Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.

This was a tremendous display by the Bit O’Red as the players were rewarded for 90 minutes of nonstop pressure on the opposition, and that was a big factor in a second clean sheet of the season.

Rovers boss Steve Feeney made two enforced changes from the previous outing in the All-Island Cup, with both Amber Hardy and Rachel McGoldrick missing out through injury.

They were replaced by Bonnie McKiernan and Cara King, while the continued absence of Jessica Casey, Katie Melly and Paula McGrory, all on the injured list, was another factor in team selection.

Peamount boss Emma Donohoe opted to start Amanda Budden between the posts again in favour of Leona Heffernan, who had played the previous week against Cork City.

Lauryn O’Callaghan, Ciara Maher and Neala Byrne also returned to the side in place of Lucy McCartan, Sorcha Melia and Toni Ceno, who had also featured against Cork City.

From kick-off the Bit O’Red didn’t allow the opposition to settle into any type of rhythm and played mostly in the Peamount half with Alanah Doherty carving out an early chance.

However, Peamount went close from a well-struck Rebecca Watkins shot from distance in the 16th minute, but the flawless Bonnie McKiernan tipped over.

Once again, Sarah Kiernan was outstanding in defence, with both Leah Kelly and Alice Lillie providing solid backup, while Eimear Lafferty and Emma Hansberry were tireless around the middle.

The only goal arrived in the 19th minute, and while McDaniel applied the finishing touch, it was Mairead McIntyre’s drive that created the opening.

The hosts were reasonably comfortable for the remainder of the opening half and had the ability to absorb some intense second-half Peamount pressure as the Dublin women went in search of an equaliser.

Both sides had chances, with a Carla McManus shot on 81 minutes the best of what Peamount produced. At the other end, Amanda Budden made a good save to deny Rovers substitute Muireann Devaney in the 89th minute.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie, Alanah Doherty, Eimear Lafferty, Emma Hansberry, Kate Nugent, Mairead McIntyre, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Muireann Devaney for King 73 mins, Natasha Kelly for McIntyre and Keeva Flynn for Doherty, both 86 mins, and Morgan Burnap for McDaniel 94 mins.

Peamount Utd – Amanda Budden; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Mary Phillips, Ciara Maher, Rebecca Watkins, Carla McManus, Abby Tuthill, Jess Fitzgerald, Karen Duggan, Antea Guvo, Neala Byrne. Subs – Lucy McCartan for Byrne and Sorcha Melia for Maher, both half-time; Sadhbh Doyle for O’Callaghan 70 mins, Ruby Gallagher for Guvo 77 mins.

Referee – Arnold Hunter.

Assistant referees – Darren Corcoran, Darren Carey.

Fourth official – Michael Connolly.

David Goulden at the Showgrounds

Two goals down to Drogheda United with less than half an hour to go, Sligo Rovers battled back to take a point from this game courtesy of an Owen Elding strike and a James Bolger own goal at the Showgrounds.

The visitors led this game by two courtesy of goals either side of half time from the boots of Conor Keeley and Thomas Oluwa. But an Owen Elding goal on 67 and a James Bolger own goal on 73 saw Rovers level the tie and topple Drogs from top spot. 

Rovers boss John Russell included Connor Malley in his starting eleven for the first time in four games, the ex-Dundalk general the home side’s only change from the draw with Cork City last Saturday. Striker Wilson Waweru was named on the bench having returned from a serious achilles injury which kept him out since last September. While United manager Kevin Doherty brought both Elicha Ahui and Paul Doyle back having missed the defeat to Galway. 

Drogs had the better of the first half exchanges. Despite being forced into a re-shuffle because of an early injury to midfielder Doyle, the FAI Cup holders looked the far more convincing side in the first 45. 

Rovers captain John Mahon did just enough to take the ball off the toe of Oluwa after the imposing attacker fended off three Sligo defenders on his way to goal. While Andrew Quinn’s free header from a Shane Farrell corner was claimed by Sligo goalkeeper Sam Sargeant minutes later.

The hosts did have a small purple patch in this half. Elding, whose father Anthony scored the winner in the epic 2013 cup decider between these clubs, fired wide on the quarter hour after Drogheda failed to clear a Jake Doyle-Hayes set piece. While the ball squirmed away from Cian Kavanagh after Elding’s shot was parried by Luke Dennison towards the Sligo centre forward who found himself in front of goal.

The Louthmen controlled proceedings from here until the interval and took the lead on 28 minutes. Sligo had been forewarned four minutes earlier when Keeley’s header across the face of goal was headed over by the unmarked James Bolger. 

Drogheda arrived again and were more clinical on this occasion when Quinn knocked a Farrell free-kick back across to Keeley who fired his fourth goal of the season beyond Sargeant. 

Chasing the game, Rovers fashioned chances through Malley early in the second period. The first was simple for Dennison to deal with but the second, an overhead shot had the California born stopper scrambling to clear the ball from under his crossbar.

Making the most of their opportunities, Drogheda had their second on 63 when Mahon mis-judged the pace of a Warren Davis cross, allowing Oluwa to apply a simple finish. 

Not lying down however, Russell’s men struck back on 67 when from the end line, Will Fitzgerald picked out Elding who fired into an empty net from close range for his sixth of the year. 

Incredibly, this game was level six minutes later when United’s Bolger turned Sligo substitute Francely Lomboto’s ball into his own net. 

There was drama in this one right to the death. 

Bolger hit the post from a Farrell cross 90 seconds from the end of normal time, while Fitzgerald’s long range drive at the far end whistled just wide in the sixth minute of added time. 

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Harvey Lintott 60), Gareth McElroy, John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson; Connor Malley (Matty Wolfe 87), Jake Doyle-Hayes; Will Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki (Francely Lomboto HT), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Stephen Mallon 69). 

Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Elicha Ahui (Owen Lambe 68), Andy Quinn, James Bolger, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Paul Doyle (Ryan Brennan 5), Shane Farrell; Darragh Markey (Luke Heeney 75); Thomas Oluwa, Warren Davis (Douglas James-Taylor 68). 

Referee: Paul Norton. 

Attendance: 2,087.

David Goulden speaks to Rovers striker Wilson Waweru as he returns from a lenghty spell out with injury

Eight months since he sustained a serious injury which has kept him sidelined from competitive action, Wilson Waweru is preparing to make his long awaited return in a Sligo Rovers shirt.

September 2024, 70 or so minutes into what transpired to be a league win over Dundalk at the Showgrounds and the striker fell to the ground in the middle of the pitch having challenged an opponent for a high ball. Thinking it a minor knock, Waweru continues but is finally overcome with pain in his ankle from what turns out to be a ruptured achilles tendon. 

Waweru had arrived from Galway United the previous winter having spent a successful year’s loan at Cobh Ramblers were he netted 12 times. Spotting Wilson’s raw talent during his time in Cork, Bit O’Red boss John Russell made Waweru a Rover one week before Christmas 2023. 

He would go on to score ten times for Sligo in his first season, including an FAI Cup hat-trick against Cobh Wanderers. He was also rewarded for some fine midsummer form when he won the SSE Airtricity/SWI Player of the Month award for July 2024 having found the net six times in as many games, before the injury ended his season prematurely. 

Finally declared fit to play this week by the Rovers medical team, Waweru could possibly make his return this Friday against Drogheda United at the Showgrounds. 

“When it happened, it just felt like the defender had kicked the back of my leg”, Waweru recalls. 

“It felt just like an awkward landing. I initially thought it was just a kick and it would ease but the pain didn’t go away. When I tried to move my leg after a while it was seriously painful. I was hyperventilating, was stretchered off and they sent me straight to hospital so I knew I was in serious bother.”

Foot and ankle specialist Stephen Kearns stepped in here and after surgery under the orthopedic surgeon, Waweru faced long days essentially doing nothing. First off, there was approximately ten weeks of crutches, cast and pain-killers as the recovery process got under way.   

“It was tough because I wasn’t able to do anything but sit around all day to let it heal. After that it was regular meetings with the surgeon to assess how things were. Fortunately, after my last meeting with Stephen, he was delighted with how well it had healed and he was happy for me to do exercises on it like going on the bike or just mobility stretches.”

Finally, it came to rehabilitation time and some sort of physical work with the club’s medical team before running and ball work was gradually introduced. 

“I was in with James (O’Donnell) and Ray (Finan) doing the rehab and that was tough for seven or eight weeks because there’s a mental battle there. I was coming in every morning and it was just one on one sessions for an hour and then I’d go home and then to the gym to work on strength. This went on for two or three months and it wasn’t easy staying away from kicking a ball. 

“I gradually got a feel for running on the grass and slowly the ball work was added but it felt like it took a long time. 

“Once I was happy to join the team again, I got back into small passing drills with them and getting contact. The gaffer was happy at this stage to involve me more and more as time went on. 

“It’s difficult to explain how the ankle feels now. It doesn’t feel the same but it’s not going to stop me. There’s still a lot for me to show and I can’t wait to showcase it.”

Waweru returns with Rovers occupying the division’s bottom spot. But having watched on and studied from the sidelines, he knows the current squad has more than enough talent to lift the club up the ladder in the coming weeks and months. 

The energetic forward is hoping to get involved on Friday evening as Rovers host league leaders Drogs at the Showgrounds. He is expecting the sort of challenge any in-form team would offer, but is also confident Rovers can take something from the game. 

“We’re a new group and with that it can be difficult to gel”, he continues. “But so far and I think you can see this in all the games, our performances have been really positive. We have been very unlucky in a lot of the games but there’s no doubt in the group that we can improve our results in this round of games.

“I love to score goals and that’s what I want to do. I got in that rhythm last year just before I got injured, I’d been scoring regularly in crucial games and I’ve no doubt I’ll start doing that again. 

“It’s going to be a massive game for us on Friday. Drogheda are a good side and they’re top for a reason. But I think the fact we’re at home in front of our supporters, there’s no reason why we can’t pick up three points and I’d certainly love to play my part.”