Sligo Rovers host UCD on Saturday night at The Showgrounds in the 11^th game of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

UCD picked up their first win of the season last weekend with a 1-0 defeat of Cork City at home, with Rovers drawing 1-1 at home to Drogheda United 24 hours later.

A Max Mata hattrick meant Rovers won the return game 3-2 back in February at The UCD Bowl.

Manager John Russell looks ahead to another home game on Saturday night:

‘’We are all looking forward to another home game on Saturday night in front of a packed Showgrounds.

‘’UCD will be coming down full of confidence after their win last week against Cork City so we need to be ready for what is a massive game’’.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm and the club are welcoming Ukrainian Families to The Showgrounds for the game. There will be around 250 in attendance at the game with various plans in place for them to enjoy their Showgrounds experience for the first time.

We also welcome back members of our 1983 FAI Cup winning team as guests of honour at the game. The squad will be welcomed onto the pitch at half-time in front of the Bit O’ Red Supporters.

Russell expects this to add to the atmosphere at the game and calls on the home supporters to once again get behind the team from the start:

‘’I have such belief in our group of players. They have shown really good signs so far this season. We know the areas we need to improve on but it’s vital that we continue to impose our style and our game on the opposition.

‘’I am delighted to hear that members of the 1983 cup winning team will be in attendance on Saturday night. I want our current players to put on a performance that they and the supporters can be proud of’’.

In team news, Johan Brannefalk’s return from an ankle injury was welcome as he got minutes against Drogheda United last weekend.

Eanna Clancy and Bogdan Vastsuk remain sidelined along with long-term absentees Karl O’ Sullivan, Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne and Gary Boylan.

Gates open at 6.30pm and tickets are available on the turnstiles or online at https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

Gemma McGuinness scored the historic first goal for Sligo Rovers in the club’s inaugural season in the Women’s National League and now the Donegal native will face her former team when the Bit O’ Red visit Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday for a first-time encounter against Galway United, writes Conall Collier.

Last season saw the end of the line for Galway Womens FC, but the baton was taken over by League of Ireland side Galway United and one of the club’s early recruits for 2023 was McGuinness who had a fine season in 2022 as Sligo Rovers enjoyed an encouraging debut campaign at senior level.

The Bit O’Red will travel to Galway on Saturday still looking for a first win in 2023 after a number of promising outings.

Last weekend at the UCD Bowl against DLR Waves, the Sligo women were well in contention in the opening half, but failed to capitalise on a number of good scoring chances in that first 45 minutes and then conceded in the 46^th minute.

That gave hosts DLR Waves the initiative and the Dublin side had enough in the tank to add a couple of more goals in the second-half for a 3-0 victory as Sligo Rovers chased the game.

That, essentially, has been the crucial factor for Sligo Rovers so far this season, a steady performance in each game, but just lacking the finishing touch in front of the posts.

The Galway girls will be full of confidence after last weekend’s draw with Shamrock Rovers.

McGuinness was the goalscorer for Galway with a fine finish in the opening half and it wasn’t until late in the game that the Dublin side salvaged a draw with an equaliser.Kick-off at Eamonn Deacy Park is at 2pm.

Our Academy teams are back in action this weekend with five games taking place across Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, our Under 17 Men’s team travel to take on Shamrock Rovers at Roadstone, with the game kicking off at 3pm.

The sides last met back in March with The Bit O’ Red winning 3-2 at The Sean Fallon Centre.

Our Under 17 Womens team are at home at The Sean Fallon Centre at 1pm against Treaty United. Rovers won the return game 2-1 on the opening day of the season in an entertaining game.

Colm Jinks takes his Under 14 side to take on Finn Harps at 3.30pm in Letterkenny. The lads have drawn their last two games 2-2 so another exciting game is on the cards here.

Sunday will see our Under 19 Womens team host Shamrock Rovers at 1pm at The Sean Fallon Centre. Rovers beat DLR Waves in Dublin last weekend thanks to an own goal from the home side.

Declan Boyle’s Under 19 Men’s team face a trip to Athlone Town on Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Last time out, the side drew 2-2 against Dundalk at home, having come back from two goals behind in the first half.

It is 40 years since one of the most famous days in the club’s history on April 24th.

Back in 1983, after an epic semi-final tie against Cobh Ramblers, Rovers met Bohemians in the FAI Cup Final at Dalymount Park.

Thousands departed the North-West for the Capital with the hope of bringing the cup to Sligo at the sixth attempt after Cup Final defeats in 1939, 1940, 1970, 1978 and 1981.

Paul Fielding’s side however would be the ones to make history. A 2-1 win on the day thanks to famous goals from Tony Stenson and Harry McLoughlin sealed a huge win and brought joy to the town and the surrounding region.

We look forward to seeing members of the team again on Saturday night.

Tickets for the UCD game can be bought online at https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/ or at the turnstiles from 6.30pm.

The 1983 team will be presented to the crowd at half-time at the game.

The Bit O’ Red Academy had a full fixture list over the weekend with all six teams in action on Saturday or Sunday.

On Saturday afternoon, our Under 14 side hosted Treaty United at Ballisodare United Astro and the sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Ryan Cunningham got both the goals for Colm Jinks’ side.

Our Under 17 Men’s team took on UCD at The Sean Fallon Centre at the same time. The Dubliners took all three points in a tight game that ended 3-2.

Niall Kenny and David Jonathan were Rovers’ goalscorers.

Darren Kelly’s Under 17 Womens team travelled to Galway to take on Galway United.

Amy Murphy’s goal wasn’t enough to take any points in a 3-1 defeat.

Sunday saw three more games with our Under 15 side playing Galway United away from home. Oran Murphy and Adam Feeney scored in a 4-2 defeat.

Our Under 19 Womens team defeated DLR Waves at Marlay Park in Dublin. An own goal from the home side meant Rovers took the points in a tight game.

Our Under 19 Mens team played host to Dundalk at The Sean Fallon Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The lads found themselves 2-0 down at half time but goals from Eli Rooney and Bridel Bosakani ensured the game finished all square in an entertaining game.

We wish Keeva Flynn all the best this week as she is away with the Republic of Ireland Under 16 Womens squad for three games in Serbia.

Sligo Rovers hosted Drogheda United at The Showgrounds on Saturday night in front of 2317 supporters.

The game was played in very poor conditions as the rain poured down all evening and a strong wind made football difficult in an evenly contested game.

John Russell made a couple of changes from Monday’s game against Shelbourne with Stefan Radosavljevic and Reece Hutchinson coming in for Bogdan Vastsuk and Daniel Lafferty.

Defender Johan Brannefalk came into the squad following a recent ankle injury and was fit enough to make the bench.

The opening period of the game had a fast pace to it with both sides looking to create some chances early on. Frank Liivak had a penalty appeal waved away be the referee and Freddie Draper went close to Drogheda but the half was ultimately an even game with little or no goalmouth action and the sides went in level at the break.

The visitors took an early lead in the second half through midfielder Ryan Brennan who reacted quickest in the area to poke home from close range on 53 minutes.

John Russell brought on Kailin Barlow and Niall Morahan for the last half hour in place of Radosavljevic and Lukas Browning and Rovers started to get on top and were level on 63 minutes through this season’s top goalscorer Max Mata.

Will Fitzgerald waited for Reece Hutchinson to go down the outside on the overlap and he teed him up to cross for Mata to power a header home from close range.

This lifted the home crowd and Rovers pushed for a winner but Drogheda also looked threatening on the counter attack.

Barlow went close with a couple of shots and Dylan Grimes shaved the crossbar late on.

Johan Brannefalk was introduced late on for his return to action and he couldn’t quite keep his cross down in the final moments for Mata who almost got on the end of it.

The referee blew for full-time and the points were shared.

Next up is UCD at home next Saturday night at 7.45pm.

Defeat for Steve Feeney’s Sligo Rovers side in the Women’s Premier Division as they lost to DLR Waves at the Belfield Bowl this evening, writes Conall Collier.

There was plenty of positives for the Bit O’Red in the opening half, but they failed to capitalise on a number of good chances and conceded in added time ahead of the break.

DLR dominated the second-half and scored twice in the closing stages to seal the victory.

Rovers controlled most of the opening half, but went in a goal down at the interval when the hosts found the net after a corner was conceded in the 46^th minute. Jess Gleeson finished well with an opportunist header.

Prior to that goal, DLR also went close through Katie Malone who was off target from close range.

Up to that stage, the Bit O’Red made most of the openings and Emma Doherty had a couple of chances while Casey Howe also went close when her shot from outside the penalty area in 38^th minute brought a smart save from Eve Badana.

Sligo Rovers resumed the second-half smartly and both Doherty and Emma Hansberry had good chances, but DLR dictated subsequently.

However, the hosts had to wait until the 76^th minute for a second goal which arrived from substitute Sarah McKevitt with a long-range effort and then another substitute, Michelle Doonan, added a third goal with eight minutes remaining.

DLR Waves – Eve Badana; Robyn Bolger, Oleta Griffin, Jess Gleeson, Aoife Brophy, Eve O’Brien, Neema Nyangasi, Rebecca McMahon, Amber Cosgrove, Katie Malone, Joy Ralph. Subs – Hannah Tobin-Jones for Griffin 20 mins, Sarah McKevitt for McMahon 68m, Freya Roche for Malone and Eve O’Brien for Ralph both 77m, Cliodhna Donnelly for O’Brien 85.

Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Alice Lillie, Kate Nugent, Keela Scanlon, Sarah Kiernan, Leah Kelly, Emma |Hansberry, Lauren Boles, Casey Howe, Emma Doherty, Jodie Loughrey. Subs – Keri Loughrey for Kelly 58 mins, Aoife Brennan for Loughrey 68m, Amy Roddy for Lillie and Aife Haran for Hansberry both 86m, Orna O’Dowd for Scanlon 88m.

Sligo Rovers host Drogheda United on Saturday evening at The Showgrounds in our tenth game of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season. The game kicks off at 7.45pm.

Rovers come into the game on the back of a narrow 2-1 defeat in Tolka Park on Monday night against Shelbourne and the Drogs come here after a 3-1 defeat at home to St. Patrick’s Athletic, also on Monday.

Both sides had important Good Friday wins away from home over Dundalk and Derry City respectively.

John Russell is expecting another tough game in what has proven to be a tight Division so far:

‘’Everyone can see how competitive the league is this year. We have now completed the first series of games and only a few points separate the teams.

‘’After two tough away fixtures, the players are ready for what will be a massive home game against Drogheda United. They have performed well this year so we know we will need to be at our best to get a result’’.

The game is expected to attract another large crowd with over 3,000 supporters at both of our previous home matches.

Tickets can be bought in advance online or at the turnstiles which open from 6.30pm.

Rovers boss John Russell is looking forward to being back in front of The Showgrounds supporters:

‘’We want to make The Showgrounds a fortress this season. You can’t underestimate the role the supporters play in making this happen. The players feed of the energy in the ground.

‘’We’re expecting a big performance tomorrow night’’.

In Bit O’ Red team news, Rovers continue without Garry Buckley, Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne and Karl O’ Sullivan who are all ruled out. Defender Johan Brannefalk is improving after his recent ankle injury.

Bogdan Vastsuk and Eanna Clancy are both set to miss the game after picking up injuries in Monday’s game in Dublin.

We host Drogheda United tomorrow night (Saturday) at 7.45pm at The Showgrounds in The SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

We outline all our Match Night information below:

Turnstiles:

Turnstiles open from 6.30pm.

Buy tickets in advance: https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/ (Home fans only)

Away tickets are on sale now via Drogheda United’s social media platforms.

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