Sligo Rovers will go in search of a first Women’s Premier Division point on home turf this season when they welcome Galway Utd to the Showgrounds on Saturday for a 5pm kick-off, writes Conall Collier.

Last weekend the Bit O’Red earned a 3-3 draw away to Treaty Utd and last month enjoyed a 2-0 away win against Cork City.

Galway will go into this encounter on a losing streak after defeats against Peamount, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne in the last three outings with the previous victory achieved at the beginning of May with a 1-0 home win against Treaty Utd.

The Sligo Rovers players will adopt a confident approach to this encounter buoyed in no small part by the resilience the team displayed against Treaty Utd last weekend with a spirited performance as the sides shared six goals.

There was plenty to admire about the character of the team after the concession of two early goals as they recovered from an interval deficit to earn a vital point.

Two goals from Emma Doherty and one by Jodie Loughrey revived Sligo Rovers and now the focus will be on bringing that type of potency to the Showgrounds for a first home win of the season.

Galway Utd sit in fifth place some 12 points adrift of leaders Peamount Utd and four points behind fourth-placed Bohemian FC.

Last Saturday Galway conceded two goals in two minutes midway through the opening half against Shelbourne and failed to get back into contention.

A worrying statistic for the Galway crew is the lack of goals, an average of one per game has a total of 12 in the credit side, but there is a similar number on the debit side which points to a well-disciplined defence.

Sligo Rovers have scored 10 goals in 11 outings, but the concession of 29 goals reflects the issues that the Bit O’Red face this season with only one cleansheet achieved in that 2-0 away win against Cork City.  

Saturday will mark the return of former Sligo Rovers player Gemma McGuinness to the Showgrounds, the Donegal woman scored the first goal for the club in the inaugural 2022 season, but her focus will be on helping the team she joined this season to pick up three points.

For Sligo Rovers, Lauren Boles could return to the panel after she missed out on the action against Treaty last weekend, but the message from manager Steve Feeney will be to keep it tight and compact at the back and avoid the concession of an early goal.

When the teams met last April at Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway managed a 2-1 victory with goals from Kate Thompson and Jenny Slattery in the opening six minutes. Emma Doherty pulled one back for the Bit O’Red in the second-half, but an equaliser proved elusive.

Both teams will be targeting three points and an action-packed encounter is anticipated ahead of a mid-season break in WPD action until mid-August.

The innovative All-Island Cup is set to start next weekend, Saturday 17^th June when Sligo Rovers will host Bohemian FC ahead of away games against Sion Swifts (24^th June) and Cliftonville (1^st July).

The Bit O’ Red take on Shelbourne on Friday night at Tolka Park in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

The game is the last one before this season’s mid-season break, with no fixtures next weekend before we get back to action on June 23^rd away to UCD.

Rovers come into the game on the back of two defeats, one last Friday away to Bohemians and on Bank Holiday Monday against Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds.

Manager John Russell is keen to go into the break with a positive result:

‘’It’s been a tough run of results lately. We’ve suffered with player injuries which has no doubt impacted us.

‘’We are fully aware of the situation we’re in and everyone is working extremely hard to turn the corner.

‘’We want to go into the mid-season break on the back of a positive result. The last time we played Shelbourne, we never turned up. Friday night gives us an opportunity to put that right’’.

Away supporters travelling to the game can purchase their tickets now via the following link: Supporters will be situated behind the goals in the terraced area at Tolka Park.

Russell thanks supporters for a large following in last Friday’s game in Dublin and is hopeful of another big turn-out in Tolka Park

‘’Our travelling support has been immense this season. Even during tough moments like last week, away to Bohemians, they stuck with us.

‘’We’re expecting another big following on Friday night in Tolka Park. We want to send our supporters home happy’’.

In team news, Rovers continue to be without a number of players with injury.

Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne, Karl O’ Sullivan, Gary Boylan, Eanna Clancy, Fabrice Hartmann, James Finnerty and Conor Walsh are ruled out.

Greg Bolger, Nando Pijnaker and John Mahon could return to the squad having missed Monday’s game with Shamrock Rovers.

The game is live on LOI TV from 7.45pm

Over the past few months you may have seen Bit O’ Red supporters selling Lucky Envelopes at The Showgrounds or in town.

Brenda Kearins, co-ordinator or the fundraiser and her team of sellers have raised a brilliant €5,000 for the club from this brilliant initiative.

On Monday, Brenda and her team presented a cheque to the club at the Shamrock Rovers game.

There were over thirty sponsors who donated prizes for the Fundraiser, with almost 100 lucky supporters winning a prize.

Thank you Brenda and all the volunteers.

Here is the full list of sponsors:

Carraig Donn

John Kent Sports

The Wine Buff, Sligo

Davis’ Restaurant

The Record Room

The Swagman Bar

O’Hehirs Bakery

Naturelles Hair Salon

Mullaney Brothers

Elvery Sports http://www.elverys.ie

Lillies Bar

Clayton Hotel Sligo http://www.claytonhotels.com

4 Lanterns

E.J.’s Menswear www.ejmenswear.com

Golden Discs, Sligo

Fiddlers Creek Bar 

Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-athlone

Debba Bakes

Lloyds Chemist

Omniplex, Sligo

Langs Of Grange

Derry Taheny Electrical

David Gavin artist

Harvey Norman, Sligo

Higgins’ Chemist

Filan’s Centra Castle Street

Raff Cretaro coaching

Currys, Sligo

Penneys, Sligo

Taheny Electrical, Sligo 

As part of the ever-developing relationship between ATU Sligo and Sligo Rovers, three students from ATU Sligo’s Sport with Business degree completed their 13-week work placement with the club on a new coaching programme.

Students Peter Maguire, Ultan Mc Kenna and Caoilte Brannigan visited primary schools within the Sligo area twice per week and delivered expert coaching sessions on the fundamentals of football. The schools involved were Scoil Ursula NS, St John’s NS, Strandhill NS, Carraroe NS, Ballymote NS, and Réalt na Mara NS.

A new education agreement with the FAI gives students on the Sport with Business degree free access to advanced football coaching awards. This was ideal for Peter, Ultan and Caoilte who all have a deep passion for football and wanted to gain experience coaching with the Sligo Rovers Academy.

The success of the programme has been outstanding. Conor O Grady, Head of the Sligo Rovers Academy said, “This new initiative between ATU Sligo and Sligo Rovers strengthens our partnership, but more importantly gives students experience of organising and implementing coaching sessions for children. The FAI involvement is vital for this programme going forward as students receive coaching badges whilst completing their degree. This gives them a head start if they have an interest in pursuing FAI coaching.”

Roddy Gaynor, work placement co-ordinator for the Sport with Business degree added, “It is so important for our students to experience what it is like to work full time in a potential career area. In this instance, the three students had to step up professionally every day to plan and deliver coaching to young children in the fundamentals of sport. Even though the students are only 20 years of age, there is no hiding place when it comes to the importance of guiding young children in a safe environment for physical activity. They return to university with a completely different perspective on what it means to work professionally in sport.”

The schools involved in the programme have also been delighted to get a weekly coaching programme delivered to their pupils. Bernard Mulhern, Principal of St. John’s NS said, “The coaching programme in association with ATU Sligo and Sligo Rovers was an extremely enjoyable initiative. Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the interaction perfecting their skills and playing football. I hope that the programme will resume in the 2023/2024 academic year and that our school will again be part of it.”

The ATU Sligo Sport with Business degree combines fundamentals of business with the practical application of coaching, teaching and development within the sport and education sectors. One of the key components of the degree is the work placement programme where students can work full time in a chosen field. For more information on ATU Sligo’s Sport with Business programmes please visit atu.ie/au903 (Level 8) or atu.ie/au804 (Level 7).

We are excited to announce a partnership with Youth Action Project for Sligo/Leitrim to bring Twilight Football back this Summer. 

Sligo Rovers Head of Academy, Conor O’Grady will lead the coaching sessions this year and he will be supported by Gardaí from Sligo Garda Station as well as staff members from Youth Work Ireland, North Connaught.

The sessions take place in Ray MacSharry Park on Thursday evening’s from June 15th for six weeks.

Twilight Football is drop-in; however, pre-registration is required .  

Only participants that are pre-registered will be admitted on the night with numbers limited to 45 per age group.

The link for registration can be found on the YAPSL YDP Facebook page, @YAPSligoLeitrim on Instagram, or WhatsApp 0838126915 

Twilight Football is funded by YAPSL and the Irish Youth Foundation.

There has been a range of new Club Accessories added to our online store.

All items are available worldwide as we can ship to anywhere.

There are the following new items added:

• Fridge Magnets €7
• Flags €10 (2 choices)
• Pennants €8
• Showgrounds Street Signs €12
• Pin Badges €4

All items are now available here https://srfcdirect.com/accessories/

The draws for the First Rounds of the Men’s and Women’s FAI Cup have been made today.

Our Women’s team will face Bonagee United at home on week ending August 27th.

Our Men’s team will travel to Drogheda United on week ending July 23rd.

Confirmation of dates and kick off times will be announced soon.

Sligo Rovers suffered a second Bank Holiday weekend defeat after a 3-0 loss at home to Shamrock Rovers.

Rovers were without eleven first-team players through injury or illness and the depleted Bit O’ Red team gave as much as they could on a warm afternoon at The Showgrounds.

Eanna Clancy and Greg Bolger were forced off in the first-half against Bohemians on Friday so Daniel Lafferty and Lukas Browning replaced them in John Russell’s starting line up. Conor Campbell and Daire McCarthy came onto the bench for the first time this season.

The first half was a tight on with little or no chances for either side.

Rovers caused some problems on either wing with David Cawley almost getting in on one occasion and Reece Hutchinson’s cross cleared away from close range before Shamrock Rovers went down the other end and Johnny Kenny forced Luke McNicholas into a smart save.

It remained scoreless at the break.

The second-half was a different story however as the visitors kicked into gear early on, with Kenny getting in behind and squaring for strike partner Rory Gaffney to tap home at the back post.

It was 2-0 moments later as Jack Byrne’s long pass over the Rovers back four found Gaffney again and he raced in on goal and dinked it over the advancing McNicholas.

The pace of the game slowed down from then on in and it was Aaron Greene who put a seal on the win for Shamrock Rovers with a goal from close range two minutes from time.

Next up is a trip to Tolka Park on Friday night at 7.45pm.

There was just one Academy game played over the weekend which took place on Saturday afternoon.

Our Under 14 team took on Longford Town in the Eddie Wallace Under 14 Cup at Bishopsgate.

The game was end to end with both sides having plenty of chances but the hosts ran out 3-2 winners.

Aidan Gabbidon and Conor Whittaker scored for the Bit O’ Red.

There are no games for a couple of weeks as players begin their Junior & Leaving Certificate exams this week.

We wish all our players doing exams the very best of luck.

We host Shamrock Rovers this evening at 6pm at The Showgrounds in The SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

We outline all our Match Night information below:

Turnstiles:

Turnstiles open from 4.45pm.

Buy tickets in advance: https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

Or pay on the turnstiles. Card payments accepted at certain turnstiles.

Seating:

Seating is first come, first served in all areas of the ground. Seats with names on them must be respected as these are Gold Season Ticket members who have paid for their seat to be reserved all season. Anyone found sitting in a seat that is not theirs will be asked to move.

Security:

Members of our security team will carry out on the spot checks on bags and persons entering the ground. Alcohol and Pyrotechnics are not allowed and will be confiscated on entry. We ask supporters to please help the club in this regard and refrain from attempting to get in with any prohibited items.

CCTV:

CCTV is again in operation throughout the evening using our Brand New state of the art CCTV system. Security personnel and An Garda Siochaina will be monitoring the system and anyone found to be behaving in a way which contravenes our ground rules will be removed and potentially banned from attending future games.

Car Parking:

There are limited spaces available at The Showgrounds astro turf car park. This will be closed once full, which is expected to be early in the evening. Supporters should note the club have come to an agreement with Nazareth House for official Match Night use of their grounds which has over 200 parking spaces. There is a charge of €2, with proceeds towards the upkeep of their grounds.

Flares:

Leave your flares at home. These are not wanted and anyone found with flares will be banned from attending future matches. These cause needless fines for the club, money which is raised by our volunteers and fellow supporters.

Pitch:

It is an offence to enter the field of play at any stage. This includes children. It is parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure children do not encroach on the pitch at any time.

We wish to thank all supporters for their support in recent weeks and for the atmosphere created both at home and away.

We thank you for your co-operation