Sligo Rovers Academy have a full programme of fixtures this weekend which starts on Saturday afternoon.

Our Under 14 side host Bohemians at 2pm at The Sean Fallon Centre. The sides met just a fortnight ago in Dublin, with Bohs winning 4-1.

Our Under 17 Mens team are on the road as we take on Bray Wanderers at 3.30pm in Ballychorus. The sides played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at The Sean Fallon Centre during the summer.

Our Under 17 Womens team host Shelbourne at 4.30pm at The Sean Fallon Centre. The teams have met twice this season with The Dubliners winning on both occasions.

Sunday sees both our Under 19 teams in cup action.

At 2pm at The Showgrounds, our Mens team host Dundalk in the quarter final of the Under 19 Men’s Cup.

At the same time, in Greenogue in Dublin, our Under 19 Womens team are also in quarter final action against Peamount United. This will be the first meeting at this level this season between both clubs and a repeat of Saturday’s Senior Womens team fixture at the same venue.

Our Under 15 team travel down South to take on Cobh Ramblers at 2pm at St Colman’s Park. These sides met at The Showgrounds recently with Cobh winning 2-0.

Rovers goalkeeper Luke McNicholas has been called up to The Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad for their upcoming European Play-Off games against Israel.

McNicholas has been selected regularly throughout the past twelve months or so and will once again join up with Jim Crawford’s squad from Sunday as they prepare for next Friday’s First-Leg in Tallaght Stadium (7pm).

The Second-Leg takes place away from home on Tuesday September 27th.

Luke will return to Sligo ahead of the game against Shamrock Rovers on October 1st.

Emma Duffy was part of The Republic of Ireland Under 16 Womens team who defeated Wales for the second time this week in Newport.

Duffy started yesterday’s 1-0 victory, which followed Tuesday’s 5-1 win at the same venue.

Emma has been in good form for our Under 17’s this season and returns to the squad ahead of tomorrow’s game at Sean Fallon Centre against Shelbourne.

Sligo Rovers Senior Womens striker Emma Doherty captained The Republic of Ireland Under 19’s on Thursday in a friendly against Portugal.

This was the second game between the sides in the matter of 48 hours as they played out a scoreless draw on Tuesday afternoon.

Emma started in that game also and was given the honour of leading her team out as they were defeated 3-0 Thursday evening.

Emma returns to the Rovers squad for Saturday’s game away to Peamount United.

Sligo Rovers travel to PRL Park on Saturday evening to tackle title-chasing Peamount Utd in a crucial Women’s National League (WNL) encounter having already lost twice on the pitch to the Dublin side this season.

However, that opening day victory for Peamount was reversed and the Dublin club forfeited three points over fielding an ineligible player.

That error could yet prove very costly for Peamount as they currently sit in third place some six points adrift of leaders Wexford with five games remaining.

The form of the Sligo Rovers players has been noted also with striker Emma Doherty playing twice for the Republic of Ireland Under 19’s against Portugal this week and captaining the team on Thursday.

The focus for the Bit O’Red will turn to the trip to Dublin to tackle a team that last Saturday knocked defending champions and leaders Shelbourne off top spot when they grabbed a 1-0 victory at Tolka Park with a 77th Stephanie Roche winner.

That’s the challenge facing a Sligo Rovers side that hasn’t won in the last four WNL outings, the previous victory was achieved against Shelbourne at the Showgrounds at the end of July.

Apart from that victory, Sligo Rovers also defeated Wexford when the current leaders visited the North West in June.

That type of form suggests that, on a good day, Sligo Rovers can compete with the best.

Scoring goals hasn’t been a major problem for Steve Feeney’s side, six in the last four games, but the concession of 14 goals tells its own story.

“We’ve conceded goals too easily, it has been a problem all season for us and it’s an area we have to improve on,” commented the Bit O’Red manager.

“If we can make it more difficult for teams to score against us, then we are going to have a chance, it’s as simple as that,” he added.

On a positive note, the form of Paula McGrory who has scored five goals in the last three games is one area where Sligo Rovers may pose questions for Peamount.

“It’s great to see Paula getting the goals, but her overall game shows that she is as good as anyone in the League,” said Feeney

“We have a decent squad of players, we have a decent tally of points, but we have been on 19 now for a while and it would be nice to get on to 20 or 22 with this visit to Dublin.

“If we can defend a bit better than we did last week against Galway in the second-half, then we won’t be too far off the pace,” he concluded.

Bit O’ Red defender Nando Pijnaker will join up with his New Zealand team-mates this week ahead of the upcoming International window where the New Zealanders will take on Australia in two friendly games.

The first game takes place on Thursday September 22nd in Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, three days before the sides meet again at Eden Park in Auckland.

Nando will return in time for our League fixture against Shamrock Rovers on October 1st.

Our Womens Under 17 player Emma Duffy is on International duty this week as she is part of the Republic of Ireland Under 16 Womens squad for two friendlies against Wales away from home.

The first game took place yesterday afternoon and The Irish side won 5-1 in Newport.

Emma was named on the bench yesterday and is expected to feature again in tomorrow’s game.

Well done Emma.

Womens striker Emma Doherty started in yesterday’s Republic of Ireland Under 19 Womens 0-0 friendly draw with Portugal.

The squad are preparing for upcoming UEFA Womens U19 Euro Qualifiers against Poland, Northern Ireland and France in Poland.

Report: https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/wu19s-impress-in-draw-with-portugal

The two sides meet again tomorrow (Thursday) in another friendly.

The Bit O’ Red took on Derry City on Tuesday night at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium as John Russell looked to make it three wins from three after recent wins over Drogheda United and Shelbourne.

Russell made just one change to the starting team from the Shelbourne game, with Max Mata dropping to the bench for Will Fitzgerald.

Derry were without the injured Ciaran Coll who was stretchered off on Friday night in their victory over Bohemians at the same venue.

The hosts started the game the brighter and created the first chance on nine minutes when Cameron McJannet got down the left wing and crossed for Ryan Graydon who headed into the ground and over from close range.

Just five minutes later and the hosts were in front. Will Patching showed some neat footwork on the edge of the area and he was fouled, with referee Rob Harvey giving a free kick in a dangerous area.

Patching picked himself up and his shot took a slight nick off the Rovers’ wall and the ball flew into the top corner. Luke McNicholas got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out.

Rovers got into the game after that and kept possession of the ball and probed forward, most notably when Paddy Kirk was put through down the left by Frank Liivak, The Dubliner’s cross was deflected and needed goalkeeper Brian Maher to divert it away from goal.

Before half-time there was a series of yellow cards, with Rovers pair Robbie Burton and Shane Blaney carded to add to Derry’s Jamie McGonigle in between them.

Michael Duffy tested Luke McNicholas just before half time but the ‘keeper gathered his effort at the second attempt and the score remained 1-0 at half time.

Rovers came out in the second half with a higher intensity and Aidan Keena won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area on 47 minutes. Shane Blaney stepped up but his effort hit the wall and was cleared by the Derry defence.

Derry went close a couple of times soon after when a well worked corner routine found Cameron Dummigan inside the box but McNicholas got down well to save. Ronan Boyce tired his look on the half volley from distance moments later but his strike flew over.

Niall Morahan and Max Mata came on in place of Greg Bolger and Adam McDonnell after an hour as John Russell tried to turn the screw in the attempt to find an equaliser.

Rovers had big claims for a penalty which were waved away by referee Harvey on 79 minutes. Frank Liivak was in on the left, his cross from the byline seemed to have hit Mark Connolly’s arm but the referee said no.

It was all Rovers by now and on 89 minutes Robbie Burton’s free kick from the left landed in the six yard box in a dangerous area but Patrick McEleney cleared before Max Mata got to it.

Four minutes of added time were shown by the fourth official and Rovers best chance of the night came on 93 minutes.

Aidan Keena’s perfect lobbed through pass found Mata in behind. He got a touch on it but the ball wouldn’t come down enough for him to be able to keep his effort on target and it went over and Derry held on for an important home win.

Rovers are not in action until October 1st when we host Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds at 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers face a second away game in four days when we take on Derry City tonight in The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Both sides come into the game on the back of wins on Friday night.

Derry defeated Bohemians at home thanks to Michael Duffy’s strike from distance while John Russell’s Sligo Rovers won 2-0 away to Shelbourne thanks to goals either side of half time from Frank Liivak and Aidan Keena, the same duo who scored in a win over Drogheda United the previous weekend.

The Candystripes sit in second position in the league table, four points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers but with one game more played than the Dublin club.

Rovers are in fifth spot and another result away from home tomorrow night would continue good recent form.

John Russell:

‘’We’re now coming into the business end of the season and every point matters. I was pleased by the character shown last weekend. We grew into the game and got a good result away from home.

‘’Tonight will be another tough test. Derry are in decent form and have some good attacking players so we know we will have to be at our best.

‘’The players are ready and we’re hoping for a big performance’’.

In team news, Rovers continue to be without long term absentees Garry Buckley and Seamas Keogh. Keogh is improving every week and hopes to return soon. There are no other concerns ahead of the game.

The game is live on LOI TV from 7.45pm and Ocean FM will also be covering the game.