Another tough outing for Sligo Rovers this weekend as manager Steve Feeney takes the team on a relatively short journey to Strabane to tackle Sion Swifts in the Avenir Sports Women’s All-Island Cup at 2pm, writes Conall Collier

It’s yet another first for a fledgling Sligo Rovers team that is surely due a large dollop of good luck after last weekend’s reversal against Bohemian FC where a couple of own goals contributed to a flattering 3-1 victory for the Dublin women.

Sion Swifts came into this competition as a late replacement for Derry City and are currently eight games into the Women’s Premiership and sit in fourth place some nine points adrift of leaders Glentoran.

The Northern Ireland Women’s Premiership has expanded to 10 teams this season with the addition of Ballymena Utd and Larne and this year also marked the advent of professionalism for women’s football in Northern Ireland.

The Sion Swifts women’s club was formed in 2010 and made the top division in 2015 following a play-off victory.

The club has enjoyed success also and won the Women’s Irish Cup in 2017 and the League Cup last season, the manager is Tony McGinley and home games are played at the Melvin Sports Complex in Strabane.

Both teams lost in the first round of Group C last weekend with Sion Swifts edged out by the odd goal in three away to Cliftonville after taking a first-half lead through Zoe McGlynn while the Bit O’Red ended up on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline against Bohemian FC.

Consequently, both teams need to win this encounter to have any chance of finishing top of the four-team group and earning the semi-final ticket.

It’s a tall order as other results will have to be favourable also, but that won’t deter either side from going for victory in what should be a well-contested encounter.

Sion Swifts didn’t have too much time to brood over the narrow loss against Cliftonville as they were in action on Wednesday night and bounced back with an impressive 4-0 League Cup quarter-final victory against Mid Ulster.

Sion Swifts recorded a 6-1 win in the preliminary round of the competition in mid-June against Ballymena Utd and will face Crusaders Strikers in the semi-final next month.

This weekend the Tyrone women will be looking to players like Zoe McGlynn and Caoirse Doherty, who both scored against Mid Ulster, to hit the target again on Saturday.

There are a number of positives for Sligo Rovers going into this game, the first one is that away form this season is more encouraging and then there is the display last weekend against a Bohemian FC side that is enjoying a good season in the Women’s Premier Division.

If hard work, grit and determination were sufficient to win a game, then Sligo Rovers would be relatively short-priced for this encounter.

However, a kinder bounce of the ball is overdue for the Bit O’Red and with players like Casey Howe, Emma Doherty, Lauren Boles, Alice Lillie, Ciara Henry and Kate Nugent all poised to capitalise, Saturday’s showdown in Strabane could produce lots of goals.

Booking is now open for our week long Summer Camp in Westport using the below link

https://westportunited.com/categories/camp/products

The camp takes place from July 31st – 4th August – Monday to Friday and begin at 10am and finish at 1pm.

The camps are for children aged between 7 and 13 and include a free Rovers training top and a meet and greet with some of our first team players during the week.

Places are limited, so booking early is recommended to avoid disappointment.

We would like to thank our friends at Westport United for partnering with us on this initiative helping to make Rovers more accessible to all across the region and we look forward to spending the week in Westport.

The 500 Club members draw for April and May were recently made by the 500 Club Committee.

These monthly draws see ten members drawn each month for cash prizes, with the top prize being €500.

The 500 Club continues to be one of the club’s most important Fundraisers and we thank the 500 Club committee for their continued hard work.

The following are the winners for April and May:

April:

1st: €500 – Brian Boland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

2nd: €100 – Marie Casserly, Grange, Sligo

3rd: €100 – Micheal Keane, Scaredenmore, Sligo

4th: €100 – Kieran O’ Dowd, Gurteen, Sligo

5th: €100 – Joe Davey, Ballisodare, Sligo

6th: €100 – Joe Burns, Aughamore, Sligo

7th: €100 – Colm Foley, Goatstown, Dublin 14

8th: €100 – Susan Fallon, Cranmore, Sligo

9th: €100 – Ultan Guilfoyle, Ballisodare, Sligo

10th: €100 – Ballymote Community, Ballymote, Sligo

May:

1st: €500 – Stephen Cunningham, Ballymote, Sligo

2nd: €100 – Francis Hopper, Church St, Sligo

3rd: €100 – Joe Gilroy, The Orchard, Kevinsfort

4th: €100 – James Creed, Rosses Point, Sligo

5th: €100 – Bernie Fowley, Thurles, Tipperary

6th: €100 – Brian McNally, Westport, Co. Mayo

7th: €100 – Garrett O’ Sullivan, Decantur, USA

8th: €100 – Elizabeth Cullen, Ballinamallard, Fermanagh

9th: €100 – Michael Guilfoyle, Ballygawley, Sligo

10th: €100 – Paul Gilleece, Circular Rd, Sligo

Congratulations to all our prize winners. June’s draw will take place soon.

Our Academy teams are back in action this weekend following a break for examinations throughout June so far.

We have six games taking place across a busy weekend both at The Showgrounds and away from home.

It all starts on Friday evening at The Showgrounds when our Under 14’s take on Derry City at 7pm in the Under 14 Eddie Wallace Cup.

Saturday sees our Under 17 Men’s team on the Sean Fallon Centre from 1pm against Bray Wanderers in the first game of Phase Two of the League. Rovers are in a group with Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town, Bohemians, Drogheda United, Finn Harps, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Longford Town.

Darren Kelly’s Under 17 Womens side are in Cup action on Saturday away to Athlone Town. This is the first group game of the campaign with Rovers joined by Athlone Town, Bohemians and Longford Town in Group A.

There are three games on Sunday afternoon.

Our Under 19 Men’s team travel to Bray Wanderers in Phase Two of the League. Kick off is at 2pm. Other teams in their section include Athlone Town, Derry City, Finn Harps, Dundalk and Longford Town.

Our Under 19 Womens team face Galway United away from home, also at 2pm to mark the start of their cup campaign. There are four teams in Group C, Rovers, Galway United, Treaty United and Athlone Town.

Lastly, our Under 15 boys team are at home to UCD at 1pm at The Sean Fallon Centre in the Under 15 Cup. Admission to the game is free of charge.

The Bit O’ Red are back at The Showgrounds on Friday June 30th (as opposed to the original Saturday July 1st fixture) when we welcome Bohemians in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

The game was recently moved forward 24 hours and supporters can buy tickets now online via the link below:

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

Kick off is at 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers return to action this Friday night when we visit UCD at The UCD Bowl at 7.45pm.

It will be our second away game in a row after our game with Shelbourne at Tolka Park last week which ended 1-1, with Niall Morahan scoring for Rovers.

Tickets for the game are on sale now via the link below:

https://ucdfc.ticketco.events/ie/ie/e/ucd_fc_v_sligo_rovers

The game will also be Live on LOI TV.

Bohemian FC took the laurels in the opening Group C game of the Avenir Sports Women’s All-Island Cup at a weather-battered Showgrounds against Sligo Rovers this evening, writes Conall Collier.

However, this was a bizarre type of contest with a brace of first-half own goals and a penalty claim in each half waved away, but a 92nd minute spot-kick awarded as the Bit O’ Red continued the quest for a first home win of the season.

Bohemian FC took a 2-0 interval lead to the dressing room in unusual circumstances.

An own goal in the 22nd minute and another own goal close to the interval gave the Dublin women the initiative.

Contrast that to the fate of a hard-working Sligo Rovers team that had what looked like a legitimate penalty claim waved away in the 29th minute and also saw efforts from Keela Scanlon and Lauren Boles saved by Rachael Kelly.

Sligo Rovers had a strong position in the game until the concession of that first goal in the 22nd minute. A fine shot for the visitors from Aoife Robinson hit the post, the rebound deflected off Bonnie McKiernan and trickled across the line despite valiant efforts to clear by the home defence.

While Bohemian FC contributed significantly to the opening goal, they didn’t do anything for the second score as Keela Scanlon’s backpass totally flat-footed McKiernan and, once more, the ball rolled into the net.

The Dublin side also had a good early chance, but McKiernan tipped over a speculative Rachel Doyle effort.

Sligo Rovers resumed the second-half smartly without making an impact on the scoreboard and the hill got steeper in the 58th minute when Niamh Prior found space in the penalty area and finished to the net.

Lacking nothing in terms of effort and determination, the hosts kept surging forward in an effort to get back into the game.

Lauren Boles and Casey Howe kept Bohemian FC netminder Rachael Kelly on her toes as the thunder and lightning were followed by torrential rain for the last 20 minutes.

Kira Bates-Crosbie squandered a fine chance to extend the Bohemian FC lead in the 75th minute.

At the other end Emma Doherty could have had a penalty, but had to settle for a free on the 18-yard line.

Then, in the 92nd minute, referee Michael Connolly pointed to the spot after a Bohemian FC defender was deemed to have impeded a home player.

Casey Howe stepped up and rifled to the net, it was academic in terms of the outcome, but was certainly a well-deserved score for the home side.

Sligo Rovers Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Alice Lillie, Keela Scanlon, Kate Nugent, Emma Hansberry, Lauren Boles, Jodi Loughrey, Casey Howe, Emma Doherty, Ciara Henry.

Subs – Sarah Kiernan for Scanlon half-time, Keri Loughrey for Henry and Aoife Brennan for J Loughrey both 66 mins, Seren Ward for Kelly 76m, Katie Melly for Hansberry 83m

Bohemian FC – Rachael Kelly; Lynn Craven, Lisa Murphy, Kira Bates-Crosbie,  Ciara Maher, Rachael Doyle, Mia Dodd, Niamh Prior, Aoife Robinson, Abbie O’Hara, Katie Lovely.

Subs – Lara Phipps for Robinson 56 mins, Amy Ellis for O’Hara 76m, Isabella Chambers for Prior 83m. 

Referee – Michael Connolly.

Sligo Rovers are now accepting expressions of interests from the parents/guardians of boys born in 2010 to attend our Academy Assessments, which start in July.

These assessments will give players the chance to showcase their talents in front of the Sligo Rovers Academy staff.

The assessments are by invite only and each person selected will receive an invite in due course via email.

To register your interest of attending the assessments, you must fill out the form below:

https://forms.gle/rwMqDsL5DMDQmQqB9

Closing date: June 30^th 2023 (born in 2010 only).

Home advantage for a historic game as Sligo Rovers host Bohemian FC in the opening round of the Avenir Women’s All-Island Cup on Saturday at the Showgrounds, 5pm, writes Conall Collier.

Apart from the history attached to the opening weekend of action in an innovative competition, this game also marks the return to action in an All-Island competition by a team from the last club to win a similar event.

The Sligo Rovers men were the last winners of what was the All-Ireland Setanta Sports Cup with a victory against Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium in 2014.

The club has a good tradition in what were different formats of All-Ireland competitions and some 53 years ago, back in 1970, Sligo Rovers played Coleraine in what was then the Blaxnit Cup – a final that was played over two legs.

The first leg was at Windsor Park in Belfast where Sligo Rovers recorded a famous 1-0 victory, but the team slumped to a 4-1 defeat (4-2 on aggregate) in the second leg at a packed Dalymount Park.

While it’s not exactly a case of ‘fast-forward’ 53 years, it’s somewhat appropriate that the first opposition for Sligo Rovers in this Avenir All-Island Cup is the team from Dalymount Park because back in 1970 there was a tremendous tussle in the FAI Cup final of that year against Bohemian FC.

Alas, Sligo Rovers didn’t win on that occasion, but gained some compensation in 1983 when Bohemian FC provided the FAI Cup final opposition and on that occasion Sligo Rovers won.

Against that type of background, the first round contest between the women of Sligo Rovers and Bohemian FC will have a special place in the annals of the perennial survivors from what has often been described as a ‘soccer outpost’ in the North West of Ireland.

And it’s almost (not quite) ordained that this could be the game that will bring the battling qualities out of a Sligo Rovers team that is finding the going tough this season and is still searching for a first home win of 2023.

The formbook suggests that this will be a leisurely stroll for the Dalymount Park women who are pushing for honours at the top end of the table and currently sit in fourth place following what was a hard-earned 2-1 victory against Cork City last weekend.

In complete contrast, Sligo Rovers remain anchored in the bottom two, just two points ahead of the aforementioned Cork City, a side the Bit O’Red defeated at Turner’s Cross earlier this season.

However, this encounter is the first of three group games and the only home tie for the Bit O’Red as 16 teams in four groups of four set out to claim qualification places with each group winner advancing to the semi-finals.

It appears to have been a missed opportunity on behalf of the administrators that they just didn’t take the opportunity for subsidiary competitions for the four second-placed, third placed and fourth-placed teams.

It would surely have enhanced the competition and would have provided eight teams with final opportunities instead of the two that will eventually emerge.

And promotion of the cross-border competition is surely important regardless of the grade of the second, third and fourth tier finals that could have been slotted into the schedule.

However, the Sligo Rovers players will be well aware of the challenge that Bohemian FC will provide.

Last May at Dalymount, Lisa Murphy’s 20^th minute goal was the difference between the sides as the Dublin women managed a 1-0 victory.

That result suggests that there won’t bee too much between the sides after 90 minutes on Saturday, but a winning start is what Sligo Rovers require and they might just have learned enough at this stage to tighten up at the back, batten down the hatches and grind out a result.If they can manage that, and with players of the calibre of Emma Doherty, Casey Howe and Lauren Boles driving the team forward, that elusive first home win of the season might be achieved ahead of trips to Strabane next weekend and Belfast the following week.

Over the past few months, Brenda Kearins and her team of sellers from Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust have been out and about selling Lucky Envelopes as a fundraiser for the club.

The campaign raised €5,000 and Brenda and her friends presented a cheque to the club at the beginning of July.

There were lots of lucky winners who are all listed below:

Jade McLoughlin

Margaret Foley

Mags

Philip Lynott

James Blake

Marian Jones

Edward Keane

Jack Scanlon x 2

Lexi Doyle

Lisa Mc Cormack

Gerard O’Connor

Gerry Ryan

Enda Gilmartin

Isabelle Duffy

David Goulden

John O’Connor

Alana Hynes

John O’Dowd

Kieran Mc Garry

Colm Mc Guinn

Victoria Perry

Ryan Scanlon

Mia Hynes

Jimmy

Jack Elliott

Catherine Quinn

Trisha Cawley

Jimmy Lynch x 2

Ciara Shannon

Mary Joe Cawley

Emma Horkin

Joe Finn

Jessie Doyle

Micheala Scanlon

Kayleigh Divers

Alana Hynes

Adrain Kearns

Stephen Scanlon x 2

Enda Scanlon

Billy Scanlon

Kelley Kenny

Jerry  kelly

Enda Mc Gowan

Victoria Scanlon

Rosaleen Moloney

David Gilmartin

Ronan Loughrey

Peter Moran

Michale Quinlan

Alan Mc Garry 2x 2

Bobby Kearins

Ciaran Gunning

Micheal Feehily

Sinead

Clodagh Mc Donagh

Trevor Hunter

Paul Kelly

Hillary Sproule

Dervilla Donaghue

Mary Ferguson

Cassandra Farrell

John Scanlon x 2

Ann Marie Doyle

Fergal Mc Hugh

Chantelle Mc Loughlin

Irma

Mick Kelly

Jerome Kearns

Connor Finan

Rosie Mahon

Darragh Quinn

Kelly Chapman

Fiona Eames x 2

Kevin Mc Nelis Lee

Ethan Kilgunn

Meabh De Faoite

Brian Scanlon

Derek Dwyer

Billy Cawley

Congrats to all those who won a prize and again, thanks to Brenda and The Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust.