Rovers were back to winning ways on Good Friday thanks to a 2-1 victory at Oriel Park against Dundalk.

John Russell made one change to the side that lost to Bohemians last weekend with Greg Bolger being replaced in midfield by Lukas Browning. Owen Elding came onto the bench instead of Cillian Heaney in the youngsters first appearance in the First-Team match day squad.

The game started with a fast tempo with both sides trying to get the ball down on a quick playing surface.

On 16 minutes, Rovers took the lead. Fabrice Hartmann found space in the middle and slipped in Will Fitzgerald down the left. The Limerick man’s touch was perfect and it set himself up for a low drilled cross into the six yard box and Max Mata was on hand to score from close range.

The hosts came back into the game soon after, forcing a couple of corners which were well dealt with by the Bit O’ Red.

On 43 minutes, Dundalk were awarded a penalty. Rayhaan Tulloch showed some great skill on the left to go by Frank Liivak and he ended up in the penalty area with his back to goal. John Mahon was behind him and the referee Damien MacGraith pointed to the spot, adjudging Mahon to have clipped the winger.

Tulloch picked himself up and his penalty was initially saved by Luke McNicholas but the former West Brom man scored from the rebound and it was level at half time.

The second half was a tight and tense game with both teams looking for an all important second goal.

Conor Malley done well for the hosts, getting into the area but shooting well wide. Max Mata scuffed at a chance after a cross from Fitzgerald again and Frank Liivak couldn’t quite keep his cross down when he was in a good position inside the Dundalk area.

Greg Bolger, Stefan Radosavljevic and Kailin Barlow were all brought on for the last 25 minutes or so and this proved an inspired decision from Russell as both Bolger and Radosavljevic combined in the 89th minute.

Dundalk’s goal kick went short to Alfie Lewis who was disposessed by Bolger who teed up Radosavljevic and the Faroese attacker dribbled into the area past two defenders and shot into the corner past Nathan Shepperd to give Rovers the win and a valuable three points.

Next up is a trip to Shelbourne on Monday night at Tolka Park before two home games against Drogheda United and UCD next Saturday and Saturday April 22nd respectively.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to receive a brand-new Club Kit Van, powered by Porter Ford in Castlebaldwin, Sligo.

The van, which will be used across the club for our Kit & Equipment needs is a welcome addition and will see the Bit O’ Red brand seen nationwide throughout the 2023 season.

Chairman Tommy Higgins says the van is an important part of our logistics and operations:

‘’This is a welcome addition to the club and we are very grateful to everyone at Porter Ford for helping us bring it to fruition.

‘’The van looks great and it will be brilliant to see it travelling around the country with the team and around the region for promotional activity or community work and school visits.

‘’It is something we have been trying for for a while now so, we are delighted to get it’’.

The new 2023 Ford Custom Transit is consistently the best selling van in Ireland and Europe and is the perfect partner for us in our pursuit of points.

David and Ray Porter from Porter Ford are happy to come on board to provide the club with the kit van:

‘’We would like to thank everyone from Sligo Rovers for giving us this opportunity and welcoming us to their family. We are inspired by the club ethos and real feeling of positivity within the club which has made the decision to support the club an easy one to make. The timing is perfect for us as we embark on a new era of commercial vehicles with the Ford Pro service and the beginning of our electrification journey for vans.  

The van will be on the road for the first time tonight as the Bit O’ Red take on Dundalk at Oriel Park.

On Saturday at 3pm, the club are holding a Walk and Talk event as part of our 50KM Challenge.

Supporters are asked to meet at The Showgrounds and the group will leave at 3pm and walk as a group towards Mitchell Curley Park at Kevinsfort.

Participants will be encouraged to walk around the park and make their way back to The Showgrounds which will add around 3 kilometres to their totals so far.

Car parking is available at The Showgrounds for all participants.

Слайго Роверс запрошує українські сім’ї, що живуть у Слайго Таун/Стрендхілл, на нашу домашню гру чемпіонату проти UCD у Суботу, 22 квітня, початок о 19:45.

Цей захід є безкоштовним, але потрібно, як найшвидше, подати заявку, щоб взяти участь.Будуть надані транспорт зі Стрендхіллу та квитки на матч, також ми приготували подарунки для українських дітей, які відвідають захід.Sligo Rovers раді організувати цей вечір для наших друзів з України.

Лінк для реєстрації на участь у цьому особливому вечорі: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N7KYP9H

Заявки приймаються до 12:00 Вівторка, 11 Квітня¹ 

Кількість місць обмежена²” 

Sligo Rovers make the journey East to take on Dundalk at Oriel Park on Friday night in the 8th game of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season.

Rovers are currently in fourth, a place behind tomorrow’s opponents who are in third spot.

Both sides suffered defeat last weekend, John Russell’s side lost 1-0 at home to Bohemians and Stephen O’ Donnell’s Dundalk were beaten 4-0 by Shamrock Rovers, also at home.

John Russell looks ahead to Friday’s game:

”We are all set for a massive game tomorrow night in Dundalk.

”The players have trained really well this week, and everyone is fully focused on bouncing back after last weekend’s defeat against Bohemians”.

This is the first meeting of the teams this season and the last encounter saw the points shared in a six goal thriller last October at the same venue.

Russell is aware of the test that awaits his side:

”I know Dundalk took a heavy defeat in their last game against Shamrock Rovers but the sending off had a big impact on that result.

”We’ve shown good signs so far this season. There is a lot of belief within the group and I feel there is a big performance in us”.

In team news, Rovers are without Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne and Gary Boylan with ACL injuries while Johan Brannefalk and Karl O’ Sullivan remain sidelined with ankle injuries. Goalkeeper Conor Walsh is set for a return from an ankle injury soon also however this game might come too soon for the Westport man. Sean McAteer remains out also.

The game is live on LOI TV from 7.45pm.

Tickets for our game against Dundalk at Oriel Park on Friday night and Shelbourne in Tolka Park on Monday are now on sale for Bit O’ Red supporters.

Away supporters are asked to buy their tickets online in advance of travelling.

You can buy your tickets via the links below:

Dundalk: https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/dundalk-fc/

Shelbourne: https://shelbournefc.ie/away-tickets-xbfcy/

Safe travels to all Sligo Rovers supporters.

KARL O’SULLIVAN TOLD CONALL COLLIER ABOUT HIS  JOURNEY FROM LIMERICK TO SLIGO VIA BALLYBOFEY, HOW HE WAS ON THE VERGE OF TURNING HIS BACK ON THE LEAGUE OF IRELAND AND HOW HE IS ADJUSTING TO RECOVERING FROM THE INJURY HE SUSTAINED AGAINST DERRY CITY ON ST PATRICK’S DAY. THIS INTERVIEW WAS IN THE MATCH PROGRAMME FOR LAST SATURDAY NIGHT’S GAME.

Karl O’Sullivan took the long road from Limerick to get to Sligo as he travelled via Ballybofey.

Once the Donegal town is mentioned in relation to the League of Ireland, it’s safe to suggest that a certain individual by the name of Ollie Horgan can’t be too far removed from the equation.

And Karl certainly credits the legendary figure that is Ollie Horgan with rescuing his, what could only be described as fledgling, League of Ireland career.

That career in the League of Ireland began with the now defunct Limerick FC and it was there that Karl relished the opportunities handed to him by manager Tommy Barrett before the demise of what then was the latest incarnation of the club.

“When I started with Limerick FC, I made my debut in 2017, I was only 17 and the manager at the time, Neil McDonald, had just left, but that was of no real concern to me, I just wanted to play football and what was going on sort of worked in my favour in as much as I got to play,” said Karl.

“The cracks just started to appear, Tommy Barrett took over as manager and it was probably a blessing in disguise for me in one sense, I got the opportunity to play in the League of Ireland.

“Tommy had been the manager of the u-19 team I had played on for Limerick, so he knew me, he was always willing to give young players a chance and he gave myself and Will (Fitzgerald) a chance – we both made it into the first team at the same time,

“I didn’t mind too much playing with a ‘Townie’ like Will as he wasn’t a bad footballer, I suppose I have to say that anyway, but he wasn’t as good as me,” added Karl.

Taking him back to his early days in Glin, his home town, Karl has great appreciation for the efforts his parents made to get him involved in sport.

“My parents, Joe and Jackie, gave me tremendous support when I was growing up in Glin,” said Karl.

 “I can certainly say that I wouldn’t have achieved as much as I have so far without that backing.

“Glin is a small town on the border of west Limerick and north Kerry, my family would have been steeped in the GAA for starters, Glin GAA club and Limerick GAA as well.

“My uncles would have played football and hurling for Limerick over the years, my mother also played football for Limerick.

“She is a real sports enthusiast and also played some camogie, she was a very good player and she’ll probably ‘kill me’ for mentioning that,” suggested Karl as he tried to adjust to the current circumstances where he is supposed to use the crutches for the injury he picked up in Derry two weeks ago.

“I have two brothers and two sisters, Gerardine is the eldest, then there is David, Shane and Jane, I’m the second youngest in the family.

“I suppose it was a typical family in relation to sport, the GAA with the local club and soccer with the local club (Glin Rovers) in the Limerick Desmond League.

“We would have been regarded as the ‘culchies’ by the more ‘refined’ players in the Limerick & District League, at least that’s what Will Fitzgerald tells me, he claims that he is a real Limerick man, but I won’t say too much more about that,” he added.

Getting back to the turmoil in Limerick and how he was resigned to giving up League of Ireland football.

“It was a bit all over the place in the club (Limerick), no one knew what was going to happen, but at least now there is a team (Treaty Utd) and it seems to be going well.

“It’s also great to see a team now from Kerry, that’s good for the League of Ireland in the long-term.

“However, to get back to your question,  my time at Limerick, the way things worked out in 2019, it wasn’t very encouraging,  I was kind of fed up with football by the end of that season and was ready to pack it in, not bother anymore with the League of Ireland.

“I was after dropping out of college also and wasn’t getting paid at Limerick either.

“I was doing business and sports management in LIT (Limerick), but after a year or so I realised that it wasn’t really for me, I had just picked it as an option after the Leaving Certificate, I really hadn’t a clue what I wanted to do at the time.

“I found out that it wasn’t what I wanted so I can take a positive of some sort out of that, what I really wanted was to play football and that’s what I’ve done now for a few years and I want to continue that for the moment anyway.

 “But at that time, back in 2019, I was finished with football, frustrated with everything I suppose, I was determined to pack it in and then one evening I got a phone call.

“It was from a number that I didn’t recognise, I thought it might be one of those scam calls, but I answered it anyway.

“It was Ollie Horgan, he was looking for me, he had driven all the way down to Glin from Ballybofey, that’s a long journey and that got my attention straight away, he wanted to sign me for Finn Harps.

“It was what I really wanted, to play football and I didn’t mind where it was so I decided that I wouldn’t pack in the football just yet and for 2020 was on my way to Finn Park.

“Ollie did a great job at Finn Harps, he didn’t get the credit he deserves, when you go out to play for Ollie at Finn Harps you know exactly what you have to do.

“I lived in Ballybofey for two years, Covid made it difficult in 2020 but the people running the club are great people and made sure that the players were well looked after.

“One thing is certain, there were no egos in Finn Harps, it’s a fan-owned club and I can say at this stage that Ollie Horgan revived my interest in playing in the League of Ireland, if it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be with Sligo Rovers now.

“I suppose my time at Harps was successful in as much as Premier Division status was secured each season and it’s a club I have great time for.

“Not unlike Sligo Rovers in a sense, great people, great supporters, great determination to keep the flag flying and it’s not easy, but it’s important that the players are aware of that,” he added.

And what about the journey back down the road from Ballybofey that was brought to a halt at the Showgrounds. How did that materialise?

“I arrived in Sligo after another random phone call at the end of the 2021 season, this time it was Liam Buckley,” said Karl.

“I was out of contract with Finn Harps and was delighted to get the chance to join Sligo Rovers, the prospects of playing in Europe in 2022 was too good of an opportunity to miss out on and as it turned out it was a brilliant experience.

“There was a downside though, I think the exertions in Europe had an impact on our finishing position last season, we just missed out on fourth place, but our goal this year is to achieve better than fourth and get back into Europe.

“Liam was a bit unlucky in the way that results panned out. For me, his man-management skills were top class.

“It was another new manager, it seems to be the way in the League of Ireland, constant change, John Russell is the boss now and I’m really enjoying my football, well I was until last week anyway.

“The injury I picked up against Derry City, it’s an ankle problem and it will keep me out for for a while.

“I had a boot and crutches, myself and Johan (Brannefalk), we looked like twins going around with the same injury.

“We could nearly pick a team of injured players at this stage, a lot of the injuries appear to be related to playing on the Astro pitches.

“My own opinion is that all games in the League of Ireland should be on grass pitches, but I’m not going to get into that debate, it’s for other people to resolve.

The immediate goal is to recover from the injury and get back playing, I love it here in Sligo, playing full-time football is what I want and when you have people like Greg Bolger around the place, it’s a great bonus.

“Greg brings a competitive edge, that’s the best way I can describe it, I’ll leave it at that, probably the safest thing to do,” concluded Karl.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce a unique opportunity for Schools or Club’s in the region to sign up and register for our 50KM Challenge for and be in with a chance of winning a brand-new football kit for their organisation, kindly sponsored by our Kit & Equipment partners Joma Sport.

The competition will see Primary Schools, Secondary Schools or local Football Clubs complete our 50KM Challenge and the club that raises the most for the Challenge will win the kit, which includes shirts, shorts and socks.

The club that wins will have the opportunity to choose the kit colour and will work with the club on it’s design in order to tailor it for their specific organisation’s colours.

To enter the competition, simply visit www.50kmchallenge.ie and click ‘Start Fundraiser’ and choose the ‘Group Fundraiser’ option.
You’ll then be able to edit your page and keep everyone else updated on how your Challenge is going.

We will be visiting some of the schools and clubs who have signed up throughout the month of April so there’s a chance for your pupils or players to meet their Bit O’ Red heroes.

When the Easter holidays are complete, the club will visit as many school’s as possible with members of the Rovers teams.

Can your school or club win? Good luck.

Our 50KM Challenge is now well underway since it’s official start on Saturday.

We have 200 people signed up and ready to take part in the Challenge with many people already well on their way to 50KM.

Supporters have came up with different ways of completing their challenges with many choosing to Walk or Run their 50KM or a combination of both.

One supporter, Eileen Higgins is going to complete her 50KM along with her horse, Smokey and Niall Curneen, a Season Ticket holder is hoping to finish off his 50KM Challenge by running the Belfast City Marathon at the end of the month. Niall ran an astonishing 34KM on Sunday alone.

Members of the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust are out in force with the likes of Gerard O’ Connor, Donal Kelly, Susan Brennan, Rion Burnside and the Oates Family among others all beginning their 50KM Challenges over the last few days.

Staff members Shane Crossan and Conor O’ Grady have began their challenges at the weekend and members of the club’s Management Committee are also beginning their journeys.

All our teams are also signed up from Men’s and Women’s First Team’s to Academy teams with all the players and staff taking part in the Challenge through training and games throughout April.

Sean Dwyer is being remembered fondly as his daughter Deirdre signed up for the Challenge in his honor this weekend, and has already raised a large amount of money on behalf of the club.

We will continue to keep an eye on all our participants and give people plenty of mentions throughout the month of April as we all get to our 50KM targets together.

SIGN UP HERE www.50kmchallenge.ie

Sligo Rovers welcomed Bohemians to The Showgrounds on Saturday night in front of a large crowd, with the official attendance announced at 3,651.

Both teams went into the game in the top four of the League, Rovers in fourth and Bohs in second after Friday night’s League of Ireland fixtures.

John Russell made just one change from the game against Derry City, with Johan Brannefalk replaced by Frank Liivak in the starting team at right back. Cillian Heaney came onto the bench for the first time this season.

The game started with a fast pace and the first chance of the night fell to Bogdan Vastsuk who was making his first Showgrounds start. Greg Bogler’s clever free kick found the Estonian inside the area and goalkeeper James Talbot was quick off his line to save his effort.

Bolger tried his luck from distance ten minutes later with Talbot off his line and the ball went wide.

Bohs started to have some good spells of possession thereafter with good play from the likes of Ali Coote and striker Jonathan Afolabi. The visitors forced some corners which were well dealt with by Luke McNicholas and his Rovers’ defence.

Frank Liivak forced a corner for Rovers moments later which saw Bogdan Vastsuk go close with a flicked effort and the rest of the half was a tight affair with both sides cancelling eachother out, and the game was scoreless at the break.

In the second half, the same pattern as the first was emerging. Both sides had spells of possession and both goalkeepers had little to do in terms of shot stopping but both were commanding with crosses and any other incidents in their penalty areas.

Bohs had a strike from distance easily saved by McNicholas and both managers made changes, with Stefan Radosavljevic replacing Niall Morahan in midfield for John Russell.

Max Mata had a half chance on 76 minutes after a lovely curled pass with the outside of his right foot from the impressive Vastsuk but Mata’s header floated over the bar.

On 84 minutes, the visitors forced a corner on the left. Ali Coote delivered and Krystian Nowak rose highest in the area to head home and give his side the lead and something to hang onto.

Rovers threw as much as they could at the Bohs’ defence for the final few minutes in search of an equaliser but the Dubliners defended well and saw the game out to pick up the three points.