Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm that striker Aidan Keena has put pen to paper on a new Two-and-a-Half Year contract at the club to see him remain with The Bit O’ Red until at least the end of the 2024 season.

The striker has been in impressive form of late, scoring in our win over Bala Town on Thursday night after a brace against Shelbourne in the league last weekend.

Keena has now got twelve goals in all competitions this season after signing from Falkirk in January.

Sligo Rovers Manager John Russell expressed his delight at the news:

‘’I’m delighted that Aidan has committed himself to the club for the next Two-and-a-Half years. He has become a real fan’s favourite in a short space of time so I’m sure the supporters will be excited by this contract extension.

Aidan is a real talent. He’s one of the best finishers I’ve come across. He is currently the top scorer in the league bit it’s his all round game that is so impressive. He not only scores goals but creates chances for others and has a real willingness to work hard for the team. He’s enjoying his football and it’s up to him to now keep pushing and raising his levels.

The Mullingar native (23) made his competitive debut in our opening game of the season against St Patrick’s Athletic, where he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win for Rovers.

Keena picked up the Player of The Month award for March following an impressive hat-trick at home to Finn Harps along with some other strong performances.

The striker currently leads the goalscoring charts in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on 11 goals.

Keena is enjoying his football in Sligo:

I’m delighted to be at Sligo Rovers and I have really settled in well here in the town. My family enjoy it too and that’s important.

I’m thrilled to sign a new deal today and look forward to what the future holds for the club.

We have a big game on Thursday and I’m looking forward to it and the next two and a half years here’’.

All focus now turns to Thursday night at The Showgrounds where the Bit O’ Red host Bala Town in the Second Leg of our Europa Conference League tie, with Rovers 2-1 up from the First Leg.

Tickets are available online and we ask supporters to get to The Showgrounds to get behind the lads and pack the ground.

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

Sligo Rovers are excited to officially launch our 2022 Annual Draw. With Stadium Infrastructure and Masterplan updates at the forefront of club’s plans, this draw is one of our most important in years. The draw will take place on October 1^st when we host Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds.

In the past two years, The Annual Draw has raised almost €100,000 for the club.

This year’s top prize is €5,000 which would be a great addition as you head towards Christmas planning.

PetStop Discount Warehouse have once again come on board and sponsored a €1,000 voucher as the second prize.

Third prize is an overnight stay at Dublin’s 5-star Shelbourne Hotel with Bed & Breakfast.

Our partners Dalatta Group have kindly sponsored a 2-night stay at Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley including Bed & Breakfast and one evening meal.

There are other top prizes such as four Westlife tickets for their 2022 World Tour in Belfast in December, two tickets for a Liverpool game at Anfield, a pair of Rod Stewart tickets for his concert in Dublin this November, two Intersport Elverys vouchers worth €100 each and a €200 Kates Kitchen voucher.

The Annual Draw is one of the club’s three major fundraisers each year (500 Club and Club Lotto). For 2022, the club have decided that all proceeds from the draw will be invested back into our stadium and to help deliver our Masterplan which was launched in 2021.

The Masterplan is a proposed Multi-Million Euro Redevelopment of The Showgrounds with the creation of an Academy Training Centre and hub for the North-West region of the country.

The redevelopment, when complete, plans to have a seated capacity of around 6,000, surpassing all UEFA requirements of a Category 3 Stadium, a new hybrid playing pitch and new state of the art facilities with altercations to the existing Treacy Avenue and PetStop Stands and two brand new stands on the Jinks’ Avenue side of the ground and the Churchill Road End, including hospitality facilities, a club shop, office areas, Bit O’ Red Cafe and more.

To date, Rovers have received planning permission for the upgrade of our floodlights to be upgraded to the high standard LED floodlights and have successfully applied for Sports Capital Funding for these lights, which we hope to have in position for the start of the 2023 season.

The club will also lodge a planning application in the next couple of months for the redevelopment of the stadium. The Sports Capital Grant will require matching funding and the costs associated with the planning application are around €100,000.

Annual Draw co-ordinator Mark Cummins expresses the importance of the draw:

‘’This year we have set an ambitious target of reaching €100,000 for our Annual Draw. Prior to COVID-19, we had reached over €80,000 so we feel that with a big push we can achieve our new target, with the help of our loyal supporters and the North-West region.

All funds will be ring-fenced for our stadium redevelopment so we see this Annual Draw as our most important ever as it could leave a lasting long-term legacy for the club in years to come’’.

Since launching the masterplan, club officials have continued to work on all aspects of the plan and are really excited about the prospects of bringing it to fruition.

The Masterplan will create a sports and cultural hub for The North-West region in Sligo, which we feel will help people in our community through many avenues, in particular with job creation on a full-time and part-time basis as we create a greater match-night experience at The Showgrounds.

Club Chairman Tommy Higgins:

‘’This year’s Annual Draw is vitally important to Sligo Rovers. We are at a stage now where we are almost ready to go for planning permission on our Masterplan. While we understand that it’s important to continue to fund our teams on the pitch, which we will do, it’s also important, perhaps more important to create something special for this region in the form of a state of the art facility at The Showgrounds. This facility could cater for many things such as conferences, parties, functions, gym use and much more. We would ask all supporters to take a book of tickets and sell it on behalf of your club’’.

Tickets for our Annual Draw are available now on the link below:

You can purchase a full book of tickets and sell them to your friends, family or colleagues or you can buy them individually.

Books of tickets are also available through club officials or The Showgrounds office.

We would encourage all supporters to get behind the draw and help the club with our ambitious but achievable goals with regards the Sligo Rovers Masterplan.

There is also a special business competition which will see businesses in the region able to purchase a book of tickets and be entered into a draw to win a free pitch-side advertising hoarding at The Showgrounds for the 2023 season worth €1,500.

Businesses can buy the book and sell tickets to customers making it cost neutral.

Businesses can contact the club by emailing colinfeehily@sligorovers.com or calling 0719171212 or by simply buying a book online and leaving their business name.

Sligo Rovers are a community ran club with supporters at heart and this Masterplan will provide a cultural and sporting hub in Sligo that we can be proud of.

Our 2022 Senior FAI Womens cup campaign got off to a disappointing start today as the club were handed a walkover as opponents Douglas Hall were unable to fulfil the fixture.

The game was due to be played at The Showgrounds this afternoon however after talks with the FAI, Douglass Hall confirmed their unavailability and Rovers now progress to the next round which will be the quarter final stage due to be played at the start of August.

Sligo Rovers Women take on Douglas Hall on Saturday at 3pm at The Showgrounds in the first ever meeting of the two clubs in what promises to be an entertaining cup tie.

Douglas Hall are in the CWSSL in Cork and will prove a tough test for Rovers with some quality and experienced players in their squad.

The game sees Rovers take to the field in our first ever Senior Womens Cup tie and the game will be live on LOI TV from 3pm.

Tickets are on sale on the turnstiles and are priced at €5 for adults, with under 18’s free.

Manager Steve Feeney will hope his side can bounce back from an away defeat last weekend against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. He has added two new signings Aife Haran and Alana Doherty this week which will help bolster the squad and add good quality to the group.

Rovers continue to be without goalkeeper Kirsten Sample as she recovers from an arm injury but Steve Feeney is hopeful of a fully fit squad otherwise.

Gates open from 2pm and all support is welcome as we look to progress to the next round.

Sligo Rovers defeated Bala Town on Thursday evening in a warm and sunny Park Hall Stadium at Oswestry, England.

Since the draw was made on June 14th, Bit O Red supporters have been plotting and planning their journeys and they travelled in large numbers to ensure a sea of red and white took over the stadium, set just outside the small village of Oswestry.

Manager John Russell made no changes to the side that defeated Shelbourne last weekend, but Garry Buckley returned to the bench in place of the injured Greg Bolger.

It wasn’t the best of start for Rovers, who fell behing on six minute. The ball broke on the edge of the box to winger Lassana Mendes who powered home a left footed strike past Edward McGinty.

This stunned Rovers and the Bit O’ Red sustained long periods of posession at the back and through midfield as we looked for an equaliser.

Max Mata hit the post following Will Fitzgerald’s cross from the left and soon later Rovers did score. Colm Horgan floated a great through ball over the top and in form Aidan Keena took it down, brought it onto his left food and lobbed it over the advancing Bala goalkeeper.

Keena tried his luck again soon after but his strike went over the crossbar and the sides were level at the break.

Rovers started the second half well and Niall Morahan picked up possession inside his own half before driving forward across the half-way line and finding Max Mata in behind, the New Zealander’s effort well saved by the goalkeeper and out for Rovers’ first corner of the half.

Adam McDonnell’s delivery was a dangerous one and the ball fell nicely to Mata who swept it home to put Rovers in front.

Rovers continued to keep large amounds of possession throughout the half and Keena tried his luck on a few occasions.

Bala were given a lifeline on 79 minutes. Defender Nando Pijnaker was dispossessed around 25 yards out from goal by Bala midfielder Dave Edwards. Edwards looked to be running through on goal but Pijnaker pulled him down and the referee gave him a straight red card.

Bala put on some pressure from there on in however McGinty was never seriously troubled and Sligo Rovers take a 2-1 lead into next week’s return leg at The Showgrounds.

Tickets are selling well and supporters are advised to buy in advance online via the link below:

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

Our Academy teams are all in action this coming weekend. The business ends of the seasons are fast approaching so results at this stage could be important for each sides progression.

Our Under 14 side host Treaty United at 2pm in Ballisodare Astro. The lads were beaten 4-2 by Kildare last weekend and will be looking to get their first win of the season proper.

Our Under 15’s host Shelbourne at 3pm on Sunday at Sean Fallon Centre. Admission to the game is free and all support is appreciated.

Our Under 17 Mens team host Athlone Town at 7.30pm on Tuesday at Sean Fallon Centre and have a friendly on Saturday against Fermanagh.

Our Under 17 Womens team host Treaty United at 4.30pm on Saturday, also on Sean Fallon Centre Astro. The girls had a big 2-1 win away to Athlone Town last weekend.

Our Under 19 Mens team face a long journey to play Dundalk on Sunday afternoon. They will look to recover after last week’s second half loss to Shamrock Rovers, having been 2-0 up, the visitors scored three without return to seal the win.

Our Under 19 Womens team play Athlone Town at 2pm on Sunday afternoon at Sean Fallon Centre. The squad had no game last weekend and return with a home game which is free to attend.

Thanks to all our team sponsors for their continued support:

Under 19 Men: EJ Menswear

Under 19 Women: Overstock

Under 17 Men: Ivor Parke

Under 15 Men: O’ Connor Cabins

Under 14: Paul Gallagher (Alzheimers Society Ireland)

Sligo Rovers take on Bala Town tomorrow in the First Round (First Leg) Qualifying Round of The UEFA Europa Conference League. The game takes place in Oswestry, which is a small town on the England and Wales border and home of The New Saints FC.

Rovers qualified for the competition after a third place finish in 2021, the second consecutive season the club have reached this stage. There was disappointment last year with defeat to FH Hafnarfjordur of Iceland, losing 3-1 on aggregate.

Rovers come into the game undefeated since Manager John Russell took interim charge of the club with a victory over Derry City and a draw away to UCD before being appointed Manager a week later. Since then Rovers have beaten Finn Harps and Shelbourne with a draw away to Drogheda United in between.

On Saturday The Bit O’ Red won 3-1 at home to Shelbourne, showing a great reaction to falling a goal behind early in the game to come back and score three goals with two from Aidan Keena and one from strike partner Max Mata.

John Russell looks ahead to tomorrow’s game:

‘’We are expecting a difficult game tomorrow night against Bala Town. They have competed in Europe of the past few seasons and have an experienced group of players. We know the threat they bring so we need to be ready.

European nights are always special occasions and the players are fully focused and ready for the challenge ahead. We’re in good form so it’s important to bring that into the game tomorrow night. I believe our supporters will travel in big numbers so hopefully we can put on a performance they can be proud of’’.

In team news, Greg Bolger will have a late fitness test tomorrow after an injury picked up against Shelbourne on Saturday night. Garry Buckley returns to the squad having missed our previous two games with injury.

Our opponents finished second in The Welsh Premier Division in their 2021/22 season and come into the game after a series of pre-season friendlies, most notably against Welsh Rivals TNS and Northern Irish team Cliftonville.

The club have made some new additions and will prove a tough test for Rovers who will be followed by around 450 supporters at Park Hall Stadium on Thursday night.

Supporters have travelled to Oswestry by bus, plane, trains, cars and ferrys and it is sure to be a wonderful occasion as we look forward to the return of supporters on a European away night for the first time since 2014.

The game will be streamed live at the following link https://www.247.tv/gaa/247/video/1199342-bala-town-v-sligo-rovers-thursday-7th-jul-2022-7-00pm

Ocean FM will provide commentary from Park Hall on the night and there will be viewings in many of our local bars in Sligo.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of Alana Doherty on a short term deal.

Doherty, from near Buncrana in County Donegal is a former Illies Celtic player where she played in her early career before making her first appearance for their senior Womens team.

The versatile midfielder was also part of The Inishowen Academy from Under 12 through to Under 16 and progressed through to the Under 18 side before joining Derry City in 2021.

Doherty is currently attending Oakland University on a Soccer Scholarship where she will return to at the end of the current summer for her third season in The US.

Doherty plays as a central midfielder but can operate at either left or right back, which manager Steve Feeney will be able to use to his advantage in our upcoming games.

New signing Doherty expressed her delight at joining The Bit O’ Red:

‘’I’m excited to sign for Sligo Rovers Women and get the opportunity to play in the Womens League of Ireland.

We have a great bunch of players, and the management team are great too and I’ve no doubt we can go really far together’’.

Doherty is expected to at least be part of Saturday FAI Womens Cup Matchday squad when Rovers host Douglas Hall at 3pm at The Showgrounds.

Manager Steve Feeney:

‘’We’re thrilled to welcome Alana to the club. She will prove to be an important part of the squad over the next few weeks and she will bring some good experience and quality into the group.

She has played at a high level both at home and abroad and we’re looking forward to working with her’’.

Doherty brings to two the number of Summer signings so far after last weekend’s addition of midfielder Aife Haran.

Welcome to The Showgrounds, Alana.

The Bit O’ Red are in European action this Thursday evening as we begin our Europa Conference League Qualifying campaign against Bala Town at Park Hall Stadium.

The stadium is owned by Bala’s welsh rivals The New Saints and it’s located in Oswesty, on the border of Wales and England. The ground holds just over 1,000 seats and Bit O’ Red fans were quick to snatch the first allocation of 300 tickets which went on sale around ten days ago meaning the club looked for a larger allocation of tickets which was secured a few days ago. This means Rovers will have around 400 supporters at the game in what promises to be a big occasion for both clubs.

Bala finished their season back in May and qualified for this stage thanks to a second placed league finish behind TNS who were crowned league champions.

For those who cannot attend Thursday’s game there will be live commentary from our friends at Ocean FM and the game will also be live streamed via the link below:

https://www.247.tv/gaa/247/video/1199342-bala-town-v-sligo-rovers-thursday-7th-jul-2022-7-00pm

The stream costs £7.

The second leg takes place on Thursday week, July 14th at 7pm at The Showgrounds. There will also be a live stream available for this game however we ask all Bit O’ Red supporters to come out and support the lads as we look to qualify for the next round.

Tickets are on sale at The Showgrounds or online via the link below:

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

Almost 2,000 tickets are sold so far and we expect a large crowd in attendance as we attempt to make it four home wins in a row.

Keep an eye on the club’s social media platforms for updates through the next couple of weeks.

Our Academy had yet another busy weekend with five games taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Our Under 14 season got underway after the delayed start to the season and a trip to Klub Kildare awaited Alan Farry’s team who have spent the months since January preparing with a host of training sessions and pre-season friendlies.

It wasn’t to be on the day as the lads fell to a 4-2 defeat with Ashton Conlon and Adam Feeney finding the net.

Our Under 15’s had a long journey to take on Bray Wanderers away from home on Sunday, losing narrowly on a 3-2 scoreline. The goals came from James Lavin and Darragh McKeon on the day.

Our Under 17 Men’s side were beaten 4-3 by Cavan/Monaghan in Cootehill on Saturday afternoon. Luke Mavrak got his seventh goal of the season and goals from Daire Patton and Lee Conway weren’t enough to secure any points.

Our Under 17 Womens team had a succesful journey to Athlone, beating the Midlanders 2-1 thanks to goals from Rachel McGoldrick and Lara Swann.

On Sunday, our Under 19 Mens team hosted Shamrock Rovers at Sean Fallon Centre. The first half was a good one for Rovers who raced into a two goal lead in the first 30 minutes with a Daire McCarthy goal followed by Kailin Barlow’s penalty. The visitors regrouped at half time however and scored three goals to win 3-2 late on.

The Under 19 Womens team had a free weekend.