Sligo Rovers are back in action tonight against Bohemian FC at Dalymount Park.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm and is broadcast live on LOI TV.

Rovers come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over table toppers Derry City at The Showgrounds on Saturday while the hosts, Bohs drew nil-all at home to fellow Dubliners Shelbourne on Friday night last.

Bit O’ Red boss John Russell is looking forward to the game:

‘’We’re all set for a massive game tonight against Bohemians.

‘’The players have trained really well this week, and everyone is fully focused on building on the Derry performance and result’’.

Sligo Rovers supporters wishing to attend the game are asked to purchase tickets online in advance of travelling this evening.

Supporters will be situated in the new Mono Stand at Dalymount Park, with the entrance via Connaught Street.

Tickets are available here: https://away.bohemians-tickets.com/85ee3b48-a92f-4666-b989-c4e4c4086e38/index.html

Russell expects a tight game in front of another large travelling support:

‘’Bohemians are a tough opponent. Our previous meeting was a tight affair, and a set play was the difference on the night.

‘’We know we’re down a few bodies through injury and suspension but there is a lot of belief in this group.

‘’We’re expecting another big following on Friday night so hopefully we can deliver a top performance’’.

In team news, Garry Buckley continues to progress and is back in training and stepping up his recovery from his ACL injury. Mark Byrne is a couple of weeks behind him but is also progressing well.

Gary Boylan, Karl O’ Sullivan, James Finnerty, Fabrice Hartmann and Conor Walsh are definitely out.

Greg Bolger will face a late fitness test as well as defender Nando Pijnaker but Eanna Clancy is available again.

John Mahon serves a one-game suspension after his red card against Derry City.

Our Women’s team will take part in the first ever Women’s All-Island Cup which will comprise of teams North and South of the border taking part in the exciting new cup competition.

Rovers have been drawn in Group B along with Derry City, Cliftonville and Bohemians.

The opening game takes place on Saturday, June 17th at 5pm at The Showgrounds against Bohemians.

Rovers then face two away games against Derry City on Saturday June 24th at 3pm and a first ever game at Solitude in Belfast against Cliftonville at 5.30pm on July 1st.

The group winners will all progress to the semi-finals of the competition.

Sligo Rovers are releasing half-season tickets for the remainder of the season which will give supporters the best value option to follow the Bit O’ Red for the rest of 2023.

With nine home games remaining, supporters can avail of the half season-ticket now which will also include access to Monday’s game against Shamrock Rovers.

As one of the only remaining fan-owned clubs in the Men’s Premier Division, the club depends on the support from within the North-West region and we are grateful to all our current season holders who have made it a record season for season ticket sales in 2023, with over 1100 purchased to date.

Adults can purchase their half-season tickets now for €130, meaning a saving of €30 between now and the end of the season.

Senior Citizens, Third Level and Second Level Students and Concession tickets are available for just €80, saving people in those categories €20.

Super Reds tickets are available for just €30, making a saving of €15 per Super Red over the course of the season.

Tickets are available now at The Showgrounds office, Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm or online via the link below:

https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

Tickets bought between now and Monday will be available for collection at the front window at The Showgrounds in the build up to the game against Shamrock Rovers.

Season Ticket holders will also be eligble for any possible priority windows for FAI Cup match tickets this season.

It’s a quiet Bank Holiday weekend for our Academy with only our Under 14 side in action on Saturday afternoon at The Sean Fallon Centre.

The lads face Longford Town away from home at 12 Noon in the group stages of the Eddie Wallace Cup.

Last weekend saw Colm Jinks’ side win their opening game against Finn Harps at home.

This game will be the final game for our Academy before the mid-season break.

We wish all our players the best of luck in their upcoming exams which start next week.

Sligo Rovers can announce that Club Captain David Cawley will be granted a Testimonial game this August, having spent ten seasons at the Club.

Cawley, from Ballina in Mayo, first signed for the Bit O’ Red before the 2012 League winning campaign where he made 29 appearances in his debut season and has made a total of 296 appearances so far.

The midfielder has won a League Title, an FAI Cup, Setanta Sports Cup and helped guide the club through two rounds of Europa Conference League Qualification in 2022, captaining the team for historic wins over Bala Town and Motherwell as well as the third round tie against Viking FK, where he became the first ever Sligo Rovers to scored in a third round European fixture.

The testimonial will comprise of David’s ex Bit O’ Red team-mates who will take on the current 2023 squad on Saturday, August 12th at The Showgrounds (kick-off TBC).

Ticket information and further details, as well as David’s squad announcement will be available soon.

Shamrock Rovers are the visitors for a Bank Holiday clash in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division on June 5th at The Showgrounds.

The game will kick off at the earlier time of 6pm.

Tickets are now on sale for the game via the below link:

https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

Gates will open from 4.45pm on the day and we ask all supporters interested in attending to buy your ticket in advance online as this game is expected to have a large crowd.

There were four games down for decision between Saturday and Sunday with our our male Academy teams in action.

The Womens Under 17 and 19 teams had the weekend off.

Saturday saw our Under 14 side host Finn Harps at The Sean Fallon Centre at Noon and the lads ran out 6-1 winners in the Eddie Wallace Cup group stages in front of the home supporters with a five goal haul for Conor Whittaker and a sixth added by Stephen Gibbons. It was Conor’s first time to score for Rovers since signing and he capped a fantastic display with five well taken goals.

Our Under 17’s had a strong performance away to Finn Harps in Ballybofey on Saturday afternoon as goals from Niall Kenny (2), Femi, Keelin Mullin, David Jonathan, Reuben Gillespie and a brace from Desmond Rejoice Yabouet ensuring a safe passage through to the next round of the Mark Farren Cup.

Sunday saw two home games as our Under 19 Mens team hosted Klub Kildare at The Showgrounds from 1pm.

Goals from Owen Elding (2), Gareth McElroy and Bridel Bosakani ensured Declan Boyle’s side progressed to the next round of the Enda McGuill Cup, winning 4-2.

Our Under 15 side were in League action and defeated Derry City 2-1 in a tight game at The Sean Fallon Centre with goals from Liam McLaughlin and Riverstown’s Troy Kelly. The side are now third in their group table behind Galway United and Finn Harps after nine games.

Next up for our Men’s First Team is a trip to Bohemians on Friday night, June 2nd.

The Bit O’ Red got back to winning ways on Saturday night at home to Derry City and will hope for another positive result in Dalymount Park.

Tickets for Sligo Rovers supporters are now available online via the link below:

https://away.bohemians-tickets.com/85ee3b48-a92f-4666-b989-c4e4c4086e38/index.html

Supporters will be situated in the new Mono Stand in Dalymount Park.

Sligo Rovers welcomed current League of Ireland Men’s Premier Division leaders Derry City to The Showgrounds on Saturday night and a tight game ended in a big 1-0 win for John Russell’s side thanks to Will Fitzgerald’s early opening goal.

Max Mata returned for Rovers in attack after his recent injury and club Captain David Cawley captained the side in his first start of the season in midfield.

Stefan Radosavljevic and Johan Brannefalk dropped to the bench and Niall Morahan started at right back.

Rovers started the game on the front foot and Frank Liivak raced down the right hand side before standing a cross up to the back post. Derry defender Shane McEleney got a head on it but it fell to Will Fitzgerald who scored his first goal of the season, helped by a deflection of Cameron McJannet.

The visitors tried to get back into it and looked threatening through wingers Ryan Graydon and Michael Duffy however there were little or no chances created for the remainder of the half for either side and it went in at the break with the home side in front.

Nando Pijnaker had to be replaced by Brannefalk before half time having picked up a knock in the first half.

Ruaidhri Higgins made a change at half-time with John Joe O’ Neill replaced by Cian Kavanagh up front.

This helped the Candystripes as they looked to get the ball up to Kavanagh and play off him at every opportunity but Rovers were defending well through Morahan, who went into central defence after Pijnaker went off, and John Mahon who stood tall to everything Derry threw at him.

The game’s big talking point came on 64 minutes when Derry midfielder Sadou Diallo lunged in wrecklessly on Greg Bolger on the half-way line.

Referee Paul McLaughlin felt like it was only a yellow card offence when it could possibly have been a sending off.

John Mahon was booked for remonstrating with the referee in the aftermath of the tackle and it would come back to haunt him as McLaughlin sent him off ten minutes later, much to the surprise of everyone at The Showgrounds after it looked like Mahon himself was fouled when breaking forward with the ball by Ryan Graydon.

Daniel Lafferty was introduced late on for Rovers along with Lukas Browning as Derry threw everything forward.

There were chances on the break with Frank Liivak breaking into the area on 88 and 93 minutes respectively but he couldn’t quite score either time from a tight angle.

Five minutes of added time couldn’t bring an equaliser for the visitors and Rovers saw the game out for a valuable three points.

Next up is a trip to take on Bohemians on Friday night before a Bank Holiday Monday home game with Shamrock Rovers on Monday June 5th (6pm).

There are just four games down for decision this weekend in our Academy.

On Saturday, Rovers Under 14’s host Finn Harps at 12 Noon in the Under 14 Eddie Wallace Cup.

At 2pm, our Under 17 Men’s team take on the same opposition in the Under 17 Mark Farren Cup at Finn Park, Ballybofey.

Sunday sees our Under 19 Men’s team host Klub Kildare in the first round of the Enda McGuill Cup at The Showgrounds from 1pm.

Our Under 15 side host Derry City at the same time at The Sean Fallon Centre.