Sligo Rovers return to Women’s Premier Division action this Saturday as Galway United are the visitors for the second week running, kick-off at the Showgrounds, 7pm.

Rovers will be without Leah Kelly (hand) and Keela Scanlon (ACL). While Kerri O’Hara, Yvonne Hedigan and Amy Hyndman will be assessed in the lead up to this Connacht derby. 

This is the second week running that the Tribeswomen will visit Sligo. Galway came away with a two-goal win last Saturday in the Avenir Sports Cup, although Rovers were well on top in the second period. 

The Bit O’Red already have their first Premier Division point on the board, following a really impressive scoreless draw with one of the title favourites Shelbourne at Tolka Park. 

Manager Tommy Hewitt will take charge of Rovers for a league game at the Showgrounds for the first time. He says last Saturday’s game gives his team plenty of confidence heading into this weekend’s clash. 

” After a good result up in Shelbourne, we’d be looking to get another good result here on Saturday”, he says. 

“Hopefully there’ll be a big crowd out to support the girls. We spoke before the game last weekend about how the main thing for us was to be competitive against a team like Galway. 

“We’re a very good team and obviously they’re the All-Island Cup holders and they’re doing well in the league. They haven’t conceded a goal, but I felt for stages of the match on Saturday, we did compete with them.”

Hewitt was encouraged by the number of supporters who showed up for last week’s game and the Rovers boss is hoping for even bigger numbers this Saturday. 

He continued: “There was nearly 300 at the game last Saturday and we will be looking for more. But the crowd that were here on Saturday really got behind the girls.

“The big crowds really motivate the girls whether they’re in front or behind. They are the 12th player.”