Athlone Town had to work hard for a 2-1 WNL victory against Sligo Rovers
at the Showgrounds with Gillian Keenan hitting the winner in the 86th minute.

Athlone started smartly and Roisin Molloy was denied by the crossbar inside 60 seconds to put the pressure on debut goalkeeper Farrah McDonagh who deputised for the unavailable Amy Mahon.

However, Sligo Rovers hit the front on eight minutes when a quick break from Emma Doherty unhinged the Athlone rearguard.

She played a precise pass wide to Gemma McGuinness on the edge of the Athlone penalty area and the Donegal woman finished superbly past Niamh Coombes at the far post.

Athlone raised the tempo and McDonagh advanced smartly to clear a good ball from Athlone before Orna O’Dowd blocked a shot from Madison Gibson soon after.

Gibson was rewarded in the 20th minute when she rifled home the equaliser from the edge of the penalty area.

Sligo Rovers had to replace the injured Amy Roddy with Ruth Monaghan midway through the half and the substitute was quickly into the action to deny Athlone’s Emily Corbett at the expense of a corner.

Athlone huffed and puffed for the remainder of the half, but it Was Emma Doherty who went close at the other end when a speculative effort skimmed the top of the Athlone crossbar 10 minutes from half-time.

Athlone resumed smartly after the resumption and created a couple of half chances that were well off target.

It remained 1-1 midway through the half and the hosts had a chance that was cleared, but there was nothing of any serious threat at either end.

Athlone continued to dictate, but were restricted to shots from frees that were off target and they also posed a threat from corners.

As Athlone continued to press, Lauren Boles blocked a free from Madison Gibson and needed attention in the 79th minute.

When play resumed Athlone eventually made the breakthrough in the 86th minute when Gillian Keenan  finished from a tight angle to secure a valuable three points.

Sligo Rovers – Farrah McDonagh; Leah Kelly, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Hyndman, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Alana Doherty, Amy Roddy, Kerri O’Hara, Paula McGrory. Subs – Ruth Monaghan for Roddy 23 mins, Katie Melly for A Doherty 57 mins, Helen Monaghan for Hyndman 79 mins.

Athlone Town – Niamh Coombes; Jessica Hennessy, Muireann Devaney, Gillian Keenan, Emily Corbett, Laurie Ryan, Madison Gibson, Roisin Molloy, Scarlett Herron, Melissa O’Kane. Sub – Kelly Brennan for Corbet 57 mins,

Referee – Joe Hession.

Assistant-Referees – Richard Storey, Keenan Deering.

Fourth Official – Sean Stephens.

Our Academy teams are all in action this weekend, starting with our Under 17 Mens team playing Bohemians away from home on Saturday at 2pm. The game takes place in St Aidan’s CBS in Dublin. The lads had a 1-0 midweek win over Athlone Town at The Sean Fallon Centre.

Our Under 14’s travel to UCD, also tomorrow at 2pm. The game takes place in Marlay Park. The lads are two defeats from their opening two league games but performances have shown there is much to be happy with.

Our Under 17 Womens team host Wexford Youths at 4.30pm tomorrow at The Sean Fallon Centre. Admission is free and we appreciate all support for the girls.

Our Under 19 Mens team travel to Maree in Galway to take on Galway United at 7pm tomorrow evening. The lads come into the game on the back of an impressive win away to Dundalk last weekend.

On Sunday, our Under 15 mens team face a long journey to Waterford with a 2pm kick off time against the Blues. The lads were beaten by Shelbourne at home last Sunday.

Our Under 19 Women travel to Kilkenny to take on Carlow/Kilkenny at 2pm, also on Sunday. The girls come into the game following a narrow 2-1 home defeat to Athlone Town last weekend.

The second half of the season resumes properly on Saturday for Sligo Rovers following an unexpected FAI Cup postponement last weekend after FAI Intermediate Cup semi-finalists Douglas Hall conceded a walkover.

That came seven days after Sligo Rovers returned to action with a narrow (1-2) defeat at Dalymount Park against Bohemian FC.

Rovers will be looking to improve on their last meeting with Athlone, which ended up in a 5-0 defeat at Lissywoolen, a scoreline which, on reflection, might have been a tad harsh.

The Bit O’Red has improved a certain amount since then as demonstrated with a 1-0 win against Wexford, but consistency is something that manager Steve Feeney is still trying to achieve.

Athlone Town had a game last weekend, a 7-0 FAI Cup victory against FAI Intermediate Cup semi-finalists Whitehall Rangers.

The previous weekend, when the WNL action resumed, Athlone managed a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Cork City with a second-half Corbet strike proving the difference.

This will be Athlone’s first visit to the Showgrounds for a WNL game and they certainly won’t underestimate the challenge that the hosts will provide.

After the first game in Athlone, Sligo Rovers manager Steve Feeney commented:

“Athlone have a bit of physicality about them and it will take us a bit longer to get to that level, but we are learning all the time, our players are working hard and over the course of the season that aspect of our game will improve, no question about it.

“We created two or three good chances and on another day one or two would have gone in, but not on this occasion. The real plus for me was the way we kept trying to play football.”

Some 15 games into the season it’s still a learning curve for the Sligo Rovers players.

Just how much they have progressed since that game against Athlone will be evident after another 90 minutes on the learning curve on Saturday.

For Athlone Town, they will be desperately looking for another three points to stay in touch and possibly move into second place if the results elsewhere are favourable.

Sligo Rovers take on Motherwell in next Thursday’s Europa Conference League Second Round First Leg at Fir Park.

Ticket details are as follows:

Tickets for Sligo Rovers supporters will be sold directly via Motherwell’s online ticketing platform.

You must use the following link to buy, and not through their website:

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/motherwellfc/Events?preFilter=20&preFilterName=European%2520Games&groupref=2&digest=e4e656119b924c26fc7f5a4eafb765a69c948b05fc4e92c498bbda236792a648

You will need to use the simple steps to create an account.

Away fans will be in the Tommy McLean Stand of the stadium.

Prices are £20 Adults, £15 for Over 65’s and Students and £10 for Kids aged 17 and under.

For enquiries you can use our contact us section on srfcdirect.com

Sligo Rovers can confirm ticket details for our Europa Conference League Second Round qualifiers with Motherwell at The Showgrounds on July 28th (7pm)

Tickets will go on sale today, Friday from 1pm to 8pm at The BORST Clubhouse at The Showgrounds to Season Ticket holders only.

There are no online sales and supporters are allowed a maximum of two tickets person only.

Season ticket holders must bring their season tickets with them to be eligible to purchase.

All remaining tickets will go on general sale tomorrow, Saturday from 11am to 4pm during our Women’s National League game with Athlone Town (2pm KO).

Tickets are priced at €20 for Adults, €15 for Elderly, Under 18’s and students (ID required) and €10 for Under 12’s.

There are stictly no away fans allowed entry apart from their allocation which is being dealt with by Motherwell FC.

Sligo Rovers qualified for the Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round on Thursday night following a penalty shoot out win against Bala Town at The Showgrounds.

Rovers had lead the tie 2-1 on aggregate coming into the game following victory away from home last week, but Bala came with a game plan and executed it to perfection in front of a sold out Showgrounds, winning the game 1-0 on the night, ensuring we went to extra time and then the nail biting penalty shoot out.

They took the lead on 35 minutes when David Edwards steered home Lassana Mendes’ cross.

Rovers came close soon after with Shane Blaney’s free kick skimming the crossbar but it was 1-0 to the visitors at the break.

The second half started with Rovers putting on some early pressure to try and get an equaliser. Wll Fitzgerald came on for Frank Liivak at the break and the Limerick man drove forward down the left at every opportunity.

Bala were a threat on the counter and Mendes almost doubled their lead after he met Chris Venebles’ cross from the right but shot at Ed McGinty.

Rovers forced a few corners and on 60 minutes Bala broke from one and midfielder James Davies raced through on goal with Colm Horgan in close proximity. Davies was one on one with McGinty but the ‘keeper smothered the ball brilliantly at his feet to keep Rovers in it.

John Russell introduced Lewis Banks for Colm Horgan and Cillian Heaney for Max Mata in the second half as Rovers looked for the all important equaliser to take us through.

Long spells of possession meant Rovers kept pressing but didn’t create any clear cut chances. Aidan Keena had a half chance as the Bala goalkeeper Alexander Ramsay spilled the ball near his feet but he didn’t react in time to tap it into the net.

The game ended in normal time with 7 additional minutes played and neither side able to break each other down, meaning we headed to extra time.

Adam McDonnell made way for Kailin Barlow ten minutes into the first half and the local Academy graduate found himself in possession in midfield on many occasions as we looked to probe forward. Fitzgerald and Paddy Kirk raided down the left wing time after time but again the Bit O’ Red created no clear cut chances and the visitors threatened each time they broke.

The Showgrounds was in full voice throughout the night as the home support tried to help the team over the line.

Barlow had a shot from distance and Cillian Heaney almost teed up Aidan Keena but the defence cleared their lines.

The biggest chance of extra time fell to the visitors. The ball was sent into the Rovers’ penalty area and somehow David Edwards hit the crossbar and another Bala forward’s rebound did the same thing and it was cleared.

This saw us head to penalties in front of a packed out Pet Stop Stand with the tension around the ground clear to see.

Chris Venebles stepped up first and scored and Rovers’ skipper David Cawley levelled matters soon after.

Johnny Spittle’s spot kick was saved by McGinty and Aidan Keena drove home for Rovers to put us in front.

David Edwards scored Bala’s third before Paddy Kirk smashed home his penalty to bring it to 3-2.

Defender Anthony Kay rolled his spot kick into the bottom corner to bring Bala level but Shane Blaney powered his home after to put Rovers back in front.

Bala’s last kick went to James Wall who had to score to keep his sides hope alive but McGinty saved it down to his left to cap a Man of The Match performance and take Rovers through to the next round.

We now face Motherwell of Scotland next Thursday night at 7.45pm at Fir Park before welcoming them to The Showgrounds for the 2nd Leg a week later.

Tomorrow’s Europa Conference League Qualifier against Bala Town is now sold out.

The game kicks off at 7pm at The Showgrounds and sees Rovers lead the tie 2-1 after last week’s victory in Oswestry.

Tickets have sold out for the game with none left available to buy either online or at The Showgrounds.

There will be strictly NO admission tomorrow evening on the turnstiles without a ticket.

We thank our supporters for getting behind the team and we look forward to a great night at home in front of our fans.

Sligo Rovers are back in action tomorrow night (Thursday) as we host Bala Town at The Showgrounds in our Europa Conference League Qualifying Round One Second Leg.

Rovers currently lead 2-1 in the tie following last week’s victory in Oswestry, with goals from Aidan Keena and Max Mata giving us the win.

The tie is still very much open with Bala feeling like they will have a good chance to qualify themselves following a strong First-Leg display lastweek.

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell is fully focused on the task ahead:

‘’The players performed really well last week. I was delighted with the reaction after conceding the early goal. It’s never easy in Europe, especially playing away from home so to respond in the manner we did was satisfying.

Tomorrow night will be another tough test. Having seen Bala Town up close we know the threat they bring.

The players are fully focused and ready for what will be a massive game. Our fans were immense last week and we’re expecting a big crowd tomorrow night. I know the players will feed off that energy again’’.

The Bit O’ Red come into the game with a couple of fitness concerns in the squad. Garry Buckley hasn’t played since limping off against Finn Harps in June while Greg Bolger returns following a knock and Robbie McCourt also returns to the squad having missed the First-Leg due to illness. Nando Pijnaker is suspended.

The game is close to being sold out and Sligo Rovers ask supporters to buy tickets in advance online or at The Showgrounds.

There are no tickets on sale at the ground on Thursday with all remaining tickets being sold online here https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell didn’t wait long to make his first new signing bringing in attacking midfielder Frank Liivak from Levadia Tallinn. The Estonian International said that it was John who instigated the move with an assist from a former Rovers team mate:

“It was actually the Manager, John Russell who initiated the first approach and had been in contact with me from there on in and it all happened very quickly. We had a number of calls and some long conversations and I felt that we clicked right away. The move in the end was unexpected but went fast and I am now looking forward to playing for Sligo Rovers. It was Sander Puri who John contacted first to get my phone number. I have not yet talked to him about his time in Sligo but will call him to first thank him and then to get some information on the club and the League. I know that Max Mata is playing with Rovers and to be honest I don’t remember exactly if I played against him while he was playing in Estonia. I do remember hearing his name and being told that he was an exciting young player.”

While Liivak admits that he didn’t much about Sligo or football in Ireland he did play for Levadia against Dundalk last season and watched the games between Flora Tallinn and Shamrock Rovers:

“In the past few years there have been a lot games between clubs from Estonia and Ireland. I played in the European games last year for Levadia against Dundalk and they were really close with Dundalk scoring the decisive goal in extra time to progress. Then you had the game between Flora and Shamrock Rovers and Flora won in those so they give you an idea of the standard. I know that the culture will be different and that there is more of a football culture in Ireland which is different to how it is in Estonia. In Ireland I know that football is a big part of people’s lives and I want to experience that and that is one of the reasons why I am really excited about the move. I think that overall the League in Ireland will be more competitive but the European games showed that the level of the top teams in Estonia and Ireland is not too dissimilar.”

This isn’t the first time that Liivak has played abroad as he had spells with Napoli in their under-age sides, played lower league football in Spain and also played in Bosnia, all experiences that he feels have made him the player that he is today:

“It has been an interesting career so far, I have seen a lot of colours of life as I like to say it. When I was 10 I moved to Holland with my family and there I really learned the abc’s of football so it was a good decision for me that we moved there. The youth programmes and academies there are among the best in Europe. When I was 16 Napoli came in to buy me and as a player from a small county when a club the size of Napoli comes in for you then it is a no brainer to sign. However while I don’t like to live in the past I do sometimes look back at that decision and think maybe it was a step too soon at the time to sign for Napoli. Everything was going great in Holland and there were a number of big clubs from there interested in signing me but you can’t change time. At Napoli I had a taste of what it was like to play with real Champions as I got to train a number of times with the first team, it was a great experience for me. Then I went to Spain which is a big football country and then Bosnia where I really got to experience the culture around football. Then I came back to Estonia where really my winning mentality came. I have won the League and all the Cups you can win in Estonia for 3 straight years. So yes it has been a colourful career but the experience of playing in different countries has made me who I am.”

After returning to Estonia and signing for Flora Tallinn, Liivak raised eyebrows when he made the cross city move to their fierce rival Levadia, a move akin to going from Bohemian FC to Shamrock Rovers:

“It was a bold decision as while in Estonia the rivalry wouldn’t be the same level as in Ireland it is still a move that a lot of players don’t want to take. For me I had won the league twice with Flora and at one point it felt a bit routine so I was really excited to take a new step and I helped Levadia win their first title in 7 years. So in the end it was a good decision and the right one for me as a person and a player.”

Liivak knows that he is joining the club at an exciting time and has made his debut against Shelbourne recently and then came off the bench in last week’s Europa Conference League qualifier First-Leg against Bala Town:

“Yeah it was a busy time. Here with Levadia the first goal is to win everything and the next is to perform in Europe. We were getting ready for our European game when news of the transfer came through. When you want for something for so long you can be anxious to have it happen but it was sad to be leaving but I want to show now with Sligo what I can do and perform in the big games as we come into what for me is the most exciting part of the season with the European games. I want to bring my winning mentality to the club. The worst feeling in football is to lose a football game. I will bring all I have to help the team do well and don’t expect less than to leave a game with 3 points. I want to help this club win trophies.”

Academy had a full weekend just past with six games taking place from Saturday to Sunday.

Saturday saw our Under 14 team beaten 7-1 by an impressive Treaty United side at The Sean Fallon Centre with Rovers’ only goal coming from Troy Kelly.

Our Under 17 Women had a good 4-1 win against the same opposition later that day with goals from Rachel McGoldrick, Katie McGuire, Emma Duffy and Orna Murphy.

Our Under 17 Mens team had a friendly against Fermanagh at ATU Sligo, defeating them 2-1 with goals from Sam Tuohy and Michael Clifford.

On Sunday our Under 15’s were beaten 5-1 at home to Shelbourne, Emmanuel Oyewusi with Rovers’ only goal.

Dundalk were the opposition for Declan Boyle’s Under 19 Mens team and it ended with a victory for Rovers with goals from Sean McAteer and a Cillian Heaney brace.

Our Under 19 Women were narrowly defeated by Athlone Town at Sean Fallon Centre with the only goal coming from Lara Swann.