A special presentation was held before Rovers last game of the season against Pat’s. Bernard and Teresa Culligan were honoured for their 30 years exemplary service to the Club.

Chairman Tommy Higgins commended Bernard and Teresa for their work in the Hospitality area for Rovers, saying that along with Damian and Mairead Grimes, they were always professional, courteous and reliable.

Club President Ray Gallagher said it was a privilege to know Bernard and and Teresa for many years, they made all visitors feel welcome and in this capacity were excellent ambassadors for the Club.

The presentation was attended by members of Rovers Management Committee, Club volunteers and FAI Match delegate John Byrne

Photography by Alan Finn

TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR CLUB’S CENTENARY

Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm that the club has been granted €16,400,000 under Government’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) for the redevelopment of the Sligo Showgrounds. This level of Government funding is unprecedented for a sporting project in the north-west. It represents one of the most significant grant awards to a League of Ireland Club and will see the delivery of a new regional multi-sport stadium, the first UEFA Category 3 Stadium outside Dublin.

The development will increase the seated capacity of the Showgrounds to 6,129 and entails major modernization of stadium facilities. This will include a new grass based hybrid pitch, which will accommodate other sports and activities, new stands on the Church Hill and Jinks’ Avenue ends, upgrades to the Treacy Avenue and Railway end stands, new hospitality areas, fan zones, meeting rooms, gymnasium, club merchandise shop, media area and a new club museum.  

New visiting supporter seating will be provided in the Jinks Avenue stand with associated food and beverage facilities. The new stadium will also meet the requirements for modern TV broadcasts.

Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins said ‘This is a momentous day for everyone in Sligo and an exciting one for our Sligo Rovers fanbase in Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Donegal, Roscommon and indeed throughout Ireland. We have experienced nothing but full cooperation and encouragement from our own community, our local authority, local TD’s and Senior Government Ministers, and for this we are very grateful.  

Due primarily to the efforts of our late colleague Tommie Gorman, we were able to present detailed briefings in the Showgrounds to Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tanaiste Micheal Martin, Ministers Catherine Martin, Heather Humphreys and Thomas Byrne. We also briefed Minister for Finance Jack Chambers. 

We especially thank Minister Catherine Martin for her sustained and supportive interest in our project and whose Department prioritised our application and recommended the grant award.

We are deeply appreciative of the contribution made by Frank Feighan, TD, in particular his practical advice and guidance, and his representations on our behalf, as we pursue the significant investment we need to make our stadium development plan a reality.

We would like to thank the FAI for its national ranking and valued support, especially Mark Scanlon, Walter Holloran, FAI adviser Tim Tuomey and the FAI Board, who all took a deep interest in our project. Another valuable contributor is Special Olympics Ireland, who awarded us a national ranking and we thank Myra Merrick for her assistance and support. Sligo County Council agreed to act as the project sponsor and awarded the project local priority ranking – we particularly acknowledge the help given by Martin Lydon, Chief Executive and Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services.

Sligo Rovers Development Officer Mark Cummins acknowledged the contribution of the many individuals and agencies involved in the project. ‘We had an exceptional support team in place at every stage of the very detailed application process, Design Team lead Gavin Phelan of Rhatigan’s Architects, Enda Candon of First Western Consultants, and within the Club, Shona Heffernan and Jamie Murphy. Tom Kelly on our Project Team coordinated all the various elements of the detailed submission with great professionalism’. 

We have an excellent working relationship with Chair Albert Higgins and the Showgrounds Trustee Board, they have a hugely important remit in preserving the Showgrounds as a sporting and community facility, sharing our conviction that this development will be a major boost for the Club and the people of Sligo and the north-west.’ 

Sligo Rovers Secretary Brendan Lacken reaffirmed the support of the FAI (the FAI Board and David Courell, CEO) and Special Olympics Ireland (Matt English, CEO), who committed their support for the project by awarding it a priority ranking within their respective strategies for the development of their sports. It also enhanced our application to receive letters of support from those two organisations, along with Cairn National Community Games (David Hoysted, CEO), Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership (Deirdre Lavin, CEO), Sligo Business Improvement District (BID) (Gail McGibbon, CEO) and Sligo Volunteer Centre (Geraldine McCloat, ACE Officer).

SLIGO ROVERS MASTERPLAN – KEY MILESTONES 

• May 2021 Sligo Rovers publishes its Masterplan for the Showgrounds. 

• February 2023 Statutory planning for the main stadium works achieved. 

• October 2023 Design Team appointed to take forward the detailed design of the stadium.

• June 2024 Updated design and current cost plan delivered to the Club by the Design Team.

• July 2024 Grant application made to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund. 

• September 2024 Supplementary planning approval for some amendments to the stadium secured. 

• November 2024 Government award under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund announced. 

BENEFITS FOR SUPPORTERS AND VISITORS TO THE SHOWGROUNDS

• The project provides for the development of a multi-sport stadium to UEFA Category 3 and World Rugby standards for the hosting of soccer, rugby and other sports.

• The new stadium will deliver a seating capacity of 6,129, as follows:

• Churchill End stand                1,408
  • Jinks Avenue End stand      1,576 (up to 750 seats for away supporters)
  • Treacy Avenue End stand   1,855
  • Railway End stand              1,290

• The new hybrid grass based pitch will bring a modern playing surface to the highest international standards and on par with the best available in the country. This modern pitch will be more durable and weather resistant and will enable the club’s coaches to improve playing performance as they develop our senior and academy players.

• New Churchill End stand with food and beverage hospitality areas for supporters and visitors, club shop, modern gymnasium and facilities for the Men’s and Women’s teams and offices for team management and club management. 

• New Jinks Avenue End stand with new players and officials changing rooms, medical room, anti doping room, players tunnel and dug outs and a stadium control room. 

• Upgrades to the Treacy Avenue and Railway End stands. 

• Additional media facilities and camera positions within the new Jinks Avenue stand ensuring that the new stadium can meet UEFA standards and modern TV broadcast requirements. 

• New paved entrance plaza leading to new home turnstiles and a large fanzone adjacent to the Churchill stand.

• New away turnstiles at the Jinks Avenue stand approached via a designated pathway from a new away supporter entrance on Churchill. New food and beverage area, and toilet facilities, for away supporters in the Jinks Avenue stand.

• Two new pavilion buildings at the main stadium entrance on Churchill, which will include matchday ticketing and a new club museum.

• Sustainability measures including rainwater harvesting, solar generation, extensive landscaping and the installation of charging points for electric vehicles and e-bikes.

• New secure parking for match officials and media vehicles  along with Improvements to onsite car parking and site services

• Accessible seating will be provided in the new Churchill and Jinks Avenue stands (in both home and away sections) to supplement existing seating in the Treacy Avenue stands. 

• Accessible parking will be provided in designated areas within the Showgrounds.

• Removal of existing pre-fabricated and small buildings adjacent to the current main entrance

• Stadium amenities will be available daily throughout the week for sporting and social use, and the Showgrounds, with its new Bit O’ Red Museum complementing our existing acclaimed outdoor museum, will become an important cultural, tourist and leisure destination for the people of Sligo and attract visitors to the area.

DESIGN TEAM AND PROJECT SUPPORTS

• The club’s design team, led by accomplished Sligo based firm, Rhatigan Architects (Director – Trevor James and Lead architect – Gavin Phelan), includes the following consultants:

• AtkinsRéalis (civil and structural engineers)
• Patrick McCaul (mechanical and electrical engineers)
• ORS (fire safety and health & safety consultants)
• CQS (quantity surveyors)

• Along with Sligo County Council, the Football Association of Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland awarded our project a national priority ranking in their respective sports;

• The following organisations provided Sligo Rovers with letters of support:

• Football Association of Ireland
  • Special Olympics Ireland
  • Cairn Community Games
  • Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership
  • Sligo Business Improvement District
  • Sligo Volunteer Centre

ROVERS IN THE COMMUNITY

• Sligo Rovers has always been a welcoming club and, as part of our project, the Club has agreed advanced licensing of the new facilities for use by the local amateur soccer leagues – boys and girls, men and women, the ATU, all of the local Colleges, Sligo Community Games and the Sligo Sports and Recreation Partnership. We also see our popular summer camps for boys and girls growing in the future.

• The Showgrounds will return to its multi-sport roots with Sligo Rugby Club and Sligo College rugby teams having the opportunity to play there. 

• The Club also welcomes the potential for the future hosting of the Sligo and regional community games finals in soccer and other sports at the Showgrounds once our facilities are constructed.

• As a community based club, we also thank those local sporting organisations and schools who confirmed their support for our project and will contribute to multi-sport use of the Showgrounds when complete:

• Sligo Leitrim Schoolboys and Girls League
  • Sligo Leitrim and District Soccer League/Sligo Women’s Soccer League
  • Sligo Community Games
  • Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership
  • Sligo Rugby Club
  • Atlantic Technological University
  • Mercy College
  • Ursuline College
  • Ballinode College
  • Sligo Grammar School
  • Summerhill College

• One of the founding principles of the Showgrounds Trust Foundation is that the ground will always be available to the local community as a cultural, sporting and recreational facility and this commitment informed the club’s engagement with the Showgrounds Trustees at every stage of the application process and will be delivered on in the new Showgrounds. 

NEXT STEPS

• We are now about to enter an exciting phase of our journey to create a stadium comparable with the best in the country and one that Sligo and our region will be proud of. It is our intention to keep the stadium operating to the maximum extent possible while the works are in progress. 

The club will appoint a Project Team, reporting to the Club Management Committee, to oversee and manage all aspects of the development project including legal, financial, technical, procurement, contracts, handover/certification, co-ordination with ongoing operations and community engagement. The Project Team will be made up of club officials and external experts working in a voluntary capacity.

• During 2025 the Design Team will finalize the detailed design of the stadium and will tender the construction works. 

• The club expects to appoint a building contractor and specialist sub contractors in the fourth quarter of 2025 with works commencing in early 2026. 

• The design team estimate that the overall stadium works will take 21 months to complete.

• The laying of the new pitch will cause the most significant disruption to the continued operation of the stadium as the new grass based pitch installation cannot be done in the off season. The pitch will most likely be unavailable for 4 months mid season and the Club will need to negotiate the rescheduling of home games with the FAI and the other LoI clubs for this period. This is likely to happen in 2026.

• In the interim, the club has recently been awarded €376,000 by Government under the Community Facilities Programme to carry out further improvements at the Showgrounds, most notably the final phase of the floodlights on the Treacy Avenue side and the renewal of the astro pitch playing surface. It is intended that these works will be completed in 2025.

• And in 2028, in time for the centenary anniversary of the founding of Sligo Rovers, the new era will commence with the full opening of the new Sligo Showgrounds stadium, and we look forward to welcoming our current supporters and attracting new ones as we seek to continue the proud heritage, history and achievements of the Bit O’ Red. 

November 2024  

The 2024 Player of the Year Awards took place last night at Lola Montez. The event was organized and presented by the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust, drawing a large crowd and featuring awards for players across both senior and academy teams.

The list of prize winners as voted by supporters was as follows:

Mark Brindley Memorial Men’s Player of the Year: Ed McGinty

Women’s Player of the Year:  Eimear Lafferty 

Men’s Young Player of The Year: Ellis Chapman

Women’s Young Player of The Year: Anna McDaniel

Men’s Under 20 Player of the Year: Daire Patton

Women’s Under 19 Player of The Year: Rachel McGoldrick

There were also presentations on the night for Player of the Year as voted by the players:

Men’s Under 20 Players’ Player of the Year: Thomas Morley

Men’s Under 17 Players’ Player of the Year: Callum Lynch

Men’s Under 15 Players’ Player of the Year: Cillian Barlow

Men’s Under 14 Players’ Player of the Year: Ryan Maloney

Women’s Under 19 Player’s Player of the Year: Lauren Devaney

Women’s Under 17 Player’s Player of the Year: Natasha Kelly

Women’s Senior Player’s Player of the Year: Keri Loughrey

Women’s Senior Player’s Young Player of the Year: Keeva Flynn

Thank you to the Bit O Red Supporters Trust for organising the night and awards. Special thanks to Richard Wehrly of Wehrly Brothers for sponsoring the trophies, Fergal Quinn of Lola Montez for hosting the event, Donal Ryan as MC, and Kevin Noone for music on the night. 

Congratulations to all the players who received awards on the night.

Sligo Rovers signed off on the 2024 season with a narrow two goal defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds.

Ex-Rovers man Aidan Keena opened the scoring shortly before half-time in this one, while substitute Roman Palmer settled the result for the visitors at the death. 

The result means Rovers finish the season in very respectable sixth place. 

The home side made one change from last week’s score draw with the Tribesmen. Centre half John Mahon was handed his first start just two days short of one year since his last start for the club following an achilles injury which kept him sidelined for the vast majority of the year. 

Pat’s likewise made the one switch. Jake Mulraney replacing Zach Elbouzedi from the narrow win over Derry City in Inchicore.

The occasion certainly didn’t have an end of season feel with both sides contributing to an entertaining pace to the game. 

The Saints looked like they might steal a march inside the opening 60 seconds, but Kian Leavy’s touch let him down when it looked like he was through on Ed McGinty’s goal. 

Three minutes later, Sligo’s Luke Pearce then spurned a great chance to open the scoring but fired wide from close range.

McGinty was on hand to keep the scores level shortly after when he kept out a Chris Forrester effort from the edge of the area. Forrester almost capitalising on the space offered to him by Ollie Denham who had strayed well out of position. 

McGinty’s opposite number Joseph Anang reacted to block a Fitzgerald snapshot from the angle on the half hour. While Rovers were forced into a change ten minutes from the interval when Simon Power was forced off with injury. 

Things deteriorated further for the hosts seven minutes from half-time when they fell behind to their former player. Jake Mulraney striding around Fitzgerald before laying a cross onto the forehead of Keena who nodded past McGinty for his fifth goal of the campaign and his second against his old club.

McGinty kept Rovers from sinking further when he flashed a wrist at Brandon Kavanagh’s shot on 43 minutes as Stephen Kenny’s charges ended the half on top. 

Three minutes into the second period, Pearce went close again. Sligo skipper Niall Morahan picked out the former Southampton man with a sublime through ball, but Pearce was repelled by a great save down to his right from Anang. 

Rovers had plenty of possesion in opening 20 or so minutes of the second half but couldn’t unlock a stubborn Pat’s defence.

Anang did grab a Fitzgerald header from an Owen Elding cross on 73, while the Ghanian got behind Elding’s shot on the turn 30 seconds later as Sligo began to push for the leveler.

Substitute Palmer settled the score on 90 minutes when he slotted the ball under McGinty.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson (Daire Patton 79), John Mahon (Kyle McDonagh 60), Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Jack Henry-Francis, Niall Morahan; Simon Power (Owen Elding 35), Connor Malley, Will Fitzgerald; Luke Pearce. 

St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Ryan McLaughlin (Carl Sjoberg 79), Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester; Jake Mulraney (Romal Palmer 66), Kian Leavy (Zach Elbouzedi 58), Brandon Kavanagh (Jason McClelland 79); Aidan Keena (Cian Kavanagh 79). 

Referee: Rob Harvey.

Attendance: 3,620.

The Showgrounds hosts its final game of the season this Friday night as Sligo Rovers welcome St Patrick’s Athletic to the north west, kick-off 7.45pm.

With a fifth placed finish still possible for Rovers and the Saints looking to break into the top two, there’s plenty to play for in this one as the teams meet for the fourth time this year.

Rovers go into the game having been beaten just once in their last five outings, but face a tough assignment in the Saints who are in incredible form having won each of their last eight leading up to this one.

In team news, Gareth McElroy will miss the final day having picked up a knee injury in the draw with Galway United last week. Stephen Mallon and Wilson Waweru remain unavailable in the long-term.

Ollie Denham was withdrawn with a knock during that draw at Eamonn Deacy Park, but he should recover in time for Friday. While it is hoped fellow centre half Conor Reynolds will be deemed fit enough to be included in the match-day squad. 

Speaking ahead of Friday’s game, Rovers manager John Russell praised his players following what has been an enjoyable season at the Showgrounds. The boss also assured supporters that he plans to see out 2024 with a victory. 

“It’s been a really positive year from our point of view and although we’re thinking no further than Pat’s on Friday, we have plenty to build on for 2025 both on and off the pitch”, he said. 

“We proved a lot of people wrong this year. There were more than a few who predicted we’d struggle to stay in the division and we managed to end up in a race for the top with the youngest and smallest squad. We’re only eleven points off the top of the table going into the final game and we guaranteed our Premier Division status a few weeks before a few of the other teams who were fancied to finish above us.

“Our players and staff deserve plenty of credit for that. We kept any negativity at the door and focused only on ourselves on what we could do. Yes, there have been bumps along the way but even the two teams left fighting for the league title had their extended run of games where they struggled. I hope we’ll see a big crowd on Friday to see the boys off and show their appreciation for a team who does absolutely everything for the badge.   

“People may think we don’t have much to play for on Friday but we are desperate to finish the season on a high note and try and get that fifth spot. 

“Pat’s are in stunning form at the moment and can easily turn over any team in this division, but we’ll be well prepared. We want to finish things on a positive note going into the off-season and we know we have more than enough about us to pick up a win.” 

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers twice led but were twice pegged back by a stubborn Galway United as the sides played out an absorbing Connacht derby at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Luke Pearce scored his second league goal of the season to put Rovers ahead after 34 minutes, the visitors leading at the break.

Former Bit O’Red midfielder Jimmy Keohane leveled the game just shy of the hour before Simon Power headed Sligo back into the lead.

The second half was played mainly in the Rovers half and the United pressure told again seven minutes from time when substitute Stephen Walsh grabbed Galway’s second. 

The result means fifth place is the highest position Rovers can finish in ahead of next Friday’s final game of the season against St Pat’s.

Rovers started this one the better of the two sides although Ed McGinty did have to make a save to deny an early United effort. 

John Russell’s men went ahead when Will Fitzgerald glanced a Power cross from the right towards Pearce who was on hand to head home. 

Rovers easily dealt with Galway for the remainder of the half and limited them to opportunities from range. Although Francely Lomboto did strike McGinty’s post with one of those efforts. 

John Caulfield adjusted the hosts’ approach and Rovers struggled at times to deal with the Tribesmen’s direct style of play in the second period. 

Their equaliser came just before the hour when Keohane headed home from close range.

Undeterred, Rovers struck back 90 seconds later. Power rising majestically to divert Reece Hutchinson’s cross beyond the helpless Brendan Clarke.

Rovers lost both starting centre halves Gareth McElroy and Ollie Denham to knocks. John Mahon, playing his first competitive game in almost one year to the day and Charlie Wiggett, both sprung from the bench, finished the game in front of McGinty. 

Galway targeted Rovers from set-pieces and long throws and their efforts paid off when Walsh, again with a header, equalised to share the spoils. 

Galway United: Clarke; Brouder, Hurley, Hickey, Borden (McCormack 45); Burns (Donelon 45), Lomboto (Walsh 69), Keohane, Horgan (Esua 45), McCarthy (O’Sullivan 80); Buckley.

Sligo Rovers: McGinty; Wilson, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Morahan; Pearce (Elding 62), Denham (Mahon 76), Henry-Francis, Power, Malley (Chapman 62); McElroy (Wiggett 89).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan.

Sligo Rovers are on the road for the final time this season this Friday as the Bit O’Red travel to Eamonn Deacy Park to face Galway United in the fourth Connacht derby of the season, kick-off 7.45pm.

Both teams are in desperate need of the points if they are to finish in the top four, with fifth placed Galway two points ahead of Rovers in sixth. 

Both teams would require other results to go their way and Derry City to win the FAI Cup whilst also achieving a top three finish, for the final European spot to be handed to the team who finishes fourth. 

It’s still all to play for and Rovers are unbeaten against last year’s runaway First Division champions. 

The sides played out scoreless draws on either’s home patch earlier this year, while Rovers were comfortable victors at the Showgrounds in the summer. Goals from former Galway striker Wilson Waweru and Luke Pearce on his league debut, handing the points to the home side.

In team news, Waweru, Stephen Mallon and Ellis Chapman won’t make the trip down the N17 and miss out due to injury. Conor Reynolds remains unavailable, but it is hoped he will make the Pat’s game. 

Pearce returns following a one-game suspension served in last weekend’s defeat to Bohemians. 

That loss to Bohs ended Rovers’ five month unbeaten run of home league games. But John Russell is adamant that last Saturday is long forgotten about and is keen to finish the season on as high a note as possible. 

“We’re still fighting and we’re still in with a chance of finishing in a European spot”, he says. 

“I know we need results to go for us elsewhere but all we can affect is what Sligo Rovers do. Not what Pat’s or Galway or Shamrock Rovers do. It’s out of our hands but we’re doing all we can to finish the season in as high a position as we can. The aim is to finish the season with two wins and let’s see where it lands us. 

“It’s a derby against our neighbours and it’s a game we’re very much looking forward to. These are games you want to be involved in as a player and our boys are aware how big of a game it is. 

“Myself, the players and the staff all know how much these games mean to our supporters. I understand tickets have been selling really well for the away end in particular and we’re hoping for another huge  crowd of Rovers supporters to travel and roar us on. 

“There seems to be a really big interest in this match and it’s great to see as the Connacht derby is a fixture which should be associated with Sligo and Galway teams at the top end of the Premier Division. 

“John (Caulfield) and Ollie (Horgan) have done a terrific job this year regardless of where they finish. But you’d expect that with their squad and the experience both of them have at both ends of the table. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us but there’s real excitement around the squad for this one.”

David Goulden  

Top scorer Wilson Waweru has agreed a deal which extends his current contract to the end of the 2026 season, Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce. 

Waweru signed for the club in the winter of 2023 from Galway United, following an impressive season on loan at First Division side Cobh Ramblers. The 23-year-old made his Bit O’Red debut in the first home game of the season, when he was introduced from the bench, replacing Max Mata in a scoreless draw with Derry City at the Showgrounds. His first goal for the club came against Drogheda United at the same venue in March. 

Waweru went on to play 30 times for the club in 2024, scoring ten goals including a magnificent FAI Cup hat-trick against Cobh Wanderers. 

The Galway native’s season was cut short in cruel circumstances in September when he suffered an achilles injury in the win over Dundalk at the Showgrounds. Waweru is currently undergoing rehab for the injury after successful surgery and is expected to miss the first few months of next season. 

“I’m over the moon to get the deal done”, Waweru says. “The year didn’t end the way I wanted to but the surgery went well and I’m looking forward to recovering and getting back out there. It’s a slow process but I’ll get there.”

The striker paid tribute to manager John Russell who he says showed great faith in Waweru from day one.

“I can’t thank him enough for backing me the way he has”, Wilson continues. “I’ve learned so much from him, Ryan Casey and all the staff. The training is a step up from anything I’ve ever experienced and it’s helped me improve as a player. I’ve also learned a lot from my team-mates and getting game time and what I have learned can only stand to me when I get back out there. Scoring goals is my favourite thing to do and I want to keep doing it once I get back.”   

Speaking on Waweru’s new deal, Russell spoke of the centre forward’s potential and his keenness to see his striker back on the pitch as soon as possible. 

“We’re delighted Wilson has extended his contract with the club”, he said. “Wilson has all the attributes to become a top centre forward in this league. He has scored a lot of important goals for us this season and we believe he will continue to get better and better. 

“We know he will be on the sidelines for a period of time after sustaining his injury against Dundalk but I know from speaking to Wilson he’s determined to come back fitter and stronger. We’re all looking forward to seeing him back next year as he’s an important part of the team and he’s shown that already. 

“It’s vital that we continue to build our team moving into next year and Wilson will play a big part in the future.”

David Goulden

An injury hit Sligo Rovers were beaten by Bohemians at the Showgrounds, ending the Bit O’Red’s magnificent run of seven league wins in a row on home soil. 

Goals from Dawson Devoy and Archie Meekison were enough for a disciplined Bohs who are now seven points clear of Drogheda and therefore cannot be caught by the ninth placed Boynesiders with two games to go. 

The result also hit Rovers’ outside chances of European qualification, as they now sit five points off fourth place with two games to go. 

Missing a handful of attacking players courtesy of both injury and suspension, Rovers were forced into two changes with Kailin Barlow and Owen Elding replacing Ellis Chapman and Luke Pearce from the score draw against Derry last Monday. 

Knowing a second win in Sligo this season would assure their top flight status for yet another year, Bohs made just the one change in personnel from their loss to St Pat’s. Martin Miller returned in place of the suspended Ross Tierney who was sent off against the Saints. 

In front of the biggest attendance this year, Rovers were chasing down eight league wins at home in a row for the first time this century. Skipper Niall Morahan had the game’s first opportunity seven minutes in when Ollie Denham nodded Will Fitzgerald’s corner back across the face of goal for Morahan who was unable to get a clean contact with his header which sailed narrowly wide. 

Arguably Rovers’ outstanding performer this term, goalkeeper Ed McGinty pulled off what is now a trademark reaction save to deny James Clarke from five yards. The Oxford loanee somehow got a hand to Clarke’s point blank effort from a Dawson Devoy cross. 

On his centenary appearance, Sligo’s Will Fitzgerald fizzed a drive across the bow of Kacper Chorazka’s goal on 22 minutes, moments before the Gypsies hit the front. 

Clarke’s work forced the ball through to Devoy who created enough space for himself to fire into the corner of McGinty’s net from ten yards out. 

Lifted by this, Bohs had a short period of dominance but it was the hosts who ended the half the stronger. 

Elding did well to lay JR Wilson’s cross into the path of Simon Power, but the Wicklow man was slightly behind Elding’s assist as he could only wrap the ball the wrong side of Chorazka’s far post. While the Pole had to use both hands to push Fitzgerald’s lusciously struck half-volley over his crossbar 60 seconds from the interval.  

The Dubliners spurned a great chance to extend their lead on 63 minutes when Dayle Rooney blazed over after Denham got the ball stuck under his feet. 

Elding should have had Sligo level on 76 minutes but shot wide with the goal at his mercy. The group of Bohs defenders in close proximity did enough to put off the teenager. 

Russell’s side were to regret this six minutes later when Connor Malley conceded play in midfield. Devoy was allowed travel unchallenged before finding Meekison whose neatly struck effort flew past McGinty. 

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Niall Morahan, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchison; Jack Henry-Francis, Conor Malley; Will Fitzgerald, Kailin Barlow (Stefan Radosavljevic 67), Owen Elding; Simon Power.  

Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Martin Miller, Jake Carroll, Cian Byrne, Paddy Kirk; Adam McDonnell (Danny Grant 78), Jordan Flores; Archie Meekison (Jevon Mills 92), Dawson Devoy, Dayle Rooney; James Clarke (Alexander Greive 84). 

Referee: Rob Harvey

Attendance: 3,436

David Goulden