Sligo Rovers will hold their AGM next Wednesday, March 29th at 7.30pm at ATU Sligo’s Aurivo Auditorium. (beside the main canteen at ATU Sligo).

The AGM will see the election of the 2023 Management Committee, a presentation of 12 months of club finances from the club’s Treasurer and the Chairman and Secretary’s report.

Notices have been posted to members, including nomination forms to join the committee as well as details on how to view the meeting online via Zoom if you cannot attend in person.

While the club endeavour to contact all of our members we acknowledge some people may feel they should have received an invite but as of yet did not.

Those people can contact the club via email at administrator@sligorovers.com where we will look at your query.

The Aurivo auditorium is in the main building of ATU Sligo. Supporters can park on site at the University and enter the building through the main entrance. (Beside the Fish statue).

The room will be clearly signposted and we will have volunteers there to direct you.

The AGM is an invite only event.

Sligo Rovers have a number of players away on International Duty this week across senior and Academy level.

Nando Pijnaker and Max Mata are in Auckland with the New Zealand senior squad for two friendlies against China on Thursday at 6am Irish time and Sunday at 4am Irish time.

It’s Mata’s first call-up for four years after an impressive start to his 2023 Bit O’ Red season. Pijnaker has now become a regular in the squad and has started their previous games in World Cup Qualifying.

Bogdan Vastsuk is in Hungary with Estonia for a friendly on Thursday at 6.30pm as Puskas Arena. Vastsuk made his first Rovers start last Friday in Derry and flew to Tallinn at the weekend to join up with his team-mates. The squad then face Austria in Linz on Monday in a Euro 2024 Qualifying match.

Stefan Radosavljevic is away with his native Faroe Islands. The Faroes take on Moldova in a Euro 2024 Qualifier on Friday at 7.45pm followed by a friendly against North Macedonia at 11am on Monday.

Eanna Clancy has joined up with Tom Mohan’s Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad to train with them as they prepare for a friendly with Iceland in Cork on Sunday. Clancy will return to The Showgrounds later this week as the squad depart Dublin for Cork.

Senior Women’s players Jodie Loughrey and Alice Lillie are both part of the Republic of Ireland Under 17 Women’s squad for Euro Qualifiers in France against Kosovo (Thursday), Italy (Sunday) and the host nation (Wednesday 29th March). Jodie is the captain of the squad.

Aron Heaney from our Under 15 squad is included in the Republic of Ireland Under 15 squad for two friendlies against Latvia at Home Farm FC in Dublin today and Thursday. Aron, from our partners in Westport United is a brother of first team player Cillian.

Best wishes to all our players this week.

Sligo Rovers Academy teams had four games between them over the weekend with two home games and two away games taking place at Under 17 & 19 Men’s and Women’s level.

First up, on Saturday, our Under 17 Men’s team defeated Shamrock Rovers 3-2 at The Sean Fallon Centre. Niall Kenny bagged a brace and Keelan Mullin added a third to seal the three points.

Sunday saw three games take place, with the only home game seeing our Under 19 Women defeat Bohemians 3-0 at The Sean Fallon Centre thanks to goals from Eimear McIntyre, Orna Murphy and a first of 2023 for Nola Eivers.

In The Brandywell, Owen Elding scored his first goal of the season for our Under 19 Men’s team in a 1-1 draw with Derry City.

Our Under 17 Women had a good win away to Longford Town thanks to a first club goal for Kya McKenna, which saw the Bit O’ Red win 1-0.

Our thoughts are with Under 19 Men’s player Sean McAteer who suffered a nasty knee injury in Derry yesterday. Stay strong, Sean.

Two second-half goals in as many minutes sent Peamount United on the way to a 4-0 victory against Sligo Rovers as the Dublin side brought three Women’s Premier Division points home from The Showgrounds, writes Conall Collier.

Following a scoreless first-half, Peamount took control and were quite comfortable in the closing stages as Carla McManus, Becky Watkins, Kate Mooney and Avril Brierly found the net.

Peamount dictated the opening minutes without creating any clearcut chances, but then hosts Sligo Rovers began to press in the opposition half and this posed a few problems for the Dublin side’s rearguard.

The result of all that was an increase in the tempo from Peamount and between the 15th and 30th minutes the Bit O’Red rearguard was stretched on a number of occasions.

Orna O’Dowd and Alice Lillie at the back along with Lauren Boles and Jodie Loughrey kept a compact unit sufficiently intact to deny Erin McLaughlin, Tara O’Hanlan and Kate Mooney, twice, before there was a chance for the hosts at the other end.

That was in the 32nd minute when Emma Doherty was narrowly wide with a good effort while soon after both Loughrey and Casey Howe earned corners from good approach play, but it remained scoreless at the break.

The hosts resumed smartly and a 51st minute Keela Scanlon header was saved by Niamh Reid-Burke, but that was as good as it got for the Bit O’Red and the prospects of victory disintegrated in that two-minute spell.

Carla McManus fired Peamount into a 54th minute lead after capitalising on a defensive lapse and then Becky Watkins finished a fine effort to the net for a 2-0 advantage.

Sadhbh Doylke missed a sitter for 3-0, but there was a major let-off for Peamount with 20 minutes remaining.

Emma Doherty was denied twice by Reid-Burke and as the ball pinged around the penalty area Lauren Boles and Jodie Loughrey had a go, but a corner was the only reward.

Peamount continued to dominate and Kate Mooney made it 3-0 with a fine goal in the 77th minute and thescoring was wrapped up near the end through substitute Avril Brierley.

Sligo Rovers were denied a late consolation when Emma Hansberry hit the crossbar in the final minute.

Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Alice Lillie, Keela Scanlon, Orna O’Dowd, Sarah Kiernan, Leah Kelly, Lauren Boles, Emma Hansberry, Jodie Loughrey, Casey Howe, Emma Doherty. 

Subs – Keri Loughrey for Kelly and Kerri O’Hara for O’Dowd both 73 mins, Aoife Brennan for Doherty and Katie Melly for Howe both 80m, Aife Haran for Scanlon 88m.

Peamount Utd – Niamh Reid Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Jetta Berrill, Chloe Moloney, Becky Watkins, Sadhbh Doyle, Carla McManus, Erin McLaughlin, Tara O’Hanlon, Karen Duggan, Kate Mooney. Subs – Jessica Fitzgerald for Doyle 72 mins, Avril Brierly for McManus and Helen Dolan for Mooney both 77m, Dora Gorman for McLaughlin and Orla Fitzpatrick for Watkins both 85m.
 
Referee – Mark Lynch.
Assistant-referees – Chris Campbell, Ciaran Delaney.

The Bit O’ Red Academy teams are in action again this weekend as we begin week 3 of the 2023 season.

There are no games taking place at Under 14 or 15 level but both our Men’s and Women’s Under 17 & 19 teams are in games across Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday at 1pm, Anthony Elding’s Under 17 Men’s team host Shamrock Rovers at 1pm at The Sean Fallon Centre. Admission for supporters is free and all support is welcome.

Our Under 17 Women’s team take on Longford Town away from home on Sunday at 2pm. Darren Kelly’s side won their first game against Treaty United before last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Athlone Town.

Our Under 19 Men’s side are in The Ryan McBride Brandywell on Sunday at 2pm to take on The Cancdystripes in their second game of the new season. The opening game away to St. Patrick’s Athletic ended in a 3-1 defeat.

Finally, Darragh Healy’s Under 19 Women’s team host Bohemians at 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon at The Sean Fallon Centre.

The side were narrowly beaten away to Shamrock Rovers last weekend.

Two games into the Women’s Premier Division campaign and Sligo Rovers have encouraging performances in defeat in the credit account, but points are the sole target as the Bit O’Red settle into a second campaign in the top tier, writes Conall Collier.

The bottom line is quite simple – there will be no easy games this season regardless of the opposition

Sligo Rovers will go into Saturday’s home encounter against Peamount United with aspirations of success and if the team can produce its best form then those expectations could be realised.

During last week’s reversal at Ferrycarrig Park, the Bit O’Red pushed hosts Wexford all the way for 90 minutes.

There was an early goal-of-the-season contender from Sarah Kiernan’s equaliser and the same player was denied a second soon after when Wexford ‘keeper Maeve Williams produced a spectacular finger-tip save.

That was a turning point and by the stage Steve Feeney’s side had adapted to the loss, through injury, of new signing Casey Howe.

Wexford made the most of that reprieve and regained the lead in the 70th minute when Rianna Jarrett powered a header to the net and with 14 minutes remaining former Athlone striker Emily Corbet claimed her first goal of the season for the hosts.

This weekend it’s Peamount Utd, the team that was the first opposition Sligo Rovers faced in last season’s inaugural campaign.

The Dublin side will arrive at the Showgrounds with full points from two outings.

An opening day 3-1 win against Athlone Town and an impressive 1-0 last weekend against DLR Waves will have manager James O’Callaghan in a positive mood despite the loss of some key players from last season.

Peamount finished third in the WNL in 2022 and began this season without Aine O’Gorman and Stephanie Roche, that duo featured in the opening day encounter at the Showgrounds where O’Gorman hit a 92nd minute winner.

Becky Watkins scored in the 85th minute against DLR Waves as Peamount made it two wins from two last weekend

On day one Kate Mooney, Erin McLaughlin and a late Kate Duggan penalty gave the Dublin side the points in Athlone.

Another tight contest is on the cards and Peamount certainly won’t underestimate the challenge that Sligo Rovers will pose.

However, Peamount will be aiming to sustain early season momentum and will expect to keep a winning run intact.

They won’t find it easy and will be anticipating a stern test from the hosts who will certainly be overdue a slight tilting of the scales in what will be a finely-balanced encounter.

TEAMS THE LAST DAY

Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Alice Lillie, Amy Roddy, Keela Scanlon, Sarah Kiernan, Emma Hansberry, Lauren Boles, Katie Melly, Aoife Brennan, Casey Howe, Leah Kelly. Subs – Jodie Loughrey for Howe, Keri Loughrey for Melly, Aife Haran for Brennan and Helen Monaghan for Kiernan.

Peamount – Niamh Reid Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Jetta Berrill, Chloe Moloney, Becky Watkins, Sadhbh Doyle, Carla McManus, Erin McLaughlin, Tara O’Hanlon, Karen Duggan, Kate Mooney. Subs – Dora Gorman for McManus, Ellen Dolan for McLaughlin, Avril Brierly for Mooney.

Sligo Rovers take on Derry City tonight at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium at 7.45pm.

The game is Live on RTE 2 television with commentary provided on Ocean FM.

The hosts, who finished as runners up in 2022 have made a positive start to the new campaign and remain unbeaten so far with three wins and two draws in their opening five games.

Rovers come into the game on the back of two home games against St. Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City respectively, winning the game against the Dublin side and drawing 2-2 last Saturday night against the Rebels.

Manager John Russell reflects on the games last week and says he was happy with his side’s overall performance over the two fixtures:

‘’I was really happy with the character of the players last weekend.

‘’To come back from two goals down shows the resilience and the quality we have at the club.

‘’We know the areas we need to improve on and the players are working extremely hard in training’’.

Russell is well aware of the threat Derry City cause and is looking forward to the game:

‘’Derry have started the season well and are still unbeaten so we expect this to be a tough test.

‘’They have a good home record but it’s important we go there and try to impose ourselves on the game and utilise our strengths’’.

In team news, Rovers should have a fully fit squad to chose from apart from long term absentees Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne and Gary Boylan. Buckley is on course to be the first of the three injured players to return with the defender expected to be back sometime around the mid-season break.

John Mahon returns to the squad having served his one-match suspension following a sending off against St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Sligo Rovers striker Max Mata has been rewarded for his fine start to the 2023 season by winning the Wehrly Bros Player of the Month Award for February.

Max scored three times away to UCD on February 24th which helped him win the prize.

The New Zealander was presented with his award by Richard Wehrly from Wehrly Bros Jewellers on O’ Connell Street in Sligo who sponsor the Men’s and Women’s awards each month.

Sligo Rovers Women host Peamount United at The Showgrounds this Saturday in the third game of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season.

Rovers come into the game having faced a difficult start to the season against Shamrock Rovers and Wexford Youths Women in the opening two games.

Manager Steve Feeney will be happy with his side’s overall performances having been level in the games for some time but eventually losing out to second half goals in both games.

Gates will open at 4pm on the day and admission is just €5.

The game kicks off at 5pm.

Conall Collier interviewed Sligo Rovers defender Garry Buckley for the matchnight programme against Cork City and discovered the frustrations that go with long-term injury and road to recovery for the former Cork City man who is planning a wedding in 2024.

THE INTERVIEW:

“My mother said I was special and that’s why I’m Garry with two R’s”

Proud Cork man Garry Buckley arrived at The Showgrounds ahead of the 2020 season and after an initial role at midfield established a great partnership in central defence with John Mahon.

However, last August Garry sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the first leg tie of the Europa Conference League Qualifier against Viking FK in Stavanger and has been sidelined since.

Long-term injuries are what all players want to avoid and Garry outlined the challenges he faced in terms of dealing with the matter.

“That was the first time in my playing career that I have had a long-term injury, usually they have only been for knocks and niggles that meant a few weeks on the sideline,” he commented.

“I’ve been in the League of Ireland since I was 18 or 19 and I’ve never had to deal with an issue like this before.

“It was a bit of a journey into the unknown, I didn’t really know what to expect, there were days when it was very dark and depressing, you’d be wondering if there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

“I have never experienced the type of frustration and depression, until now, that can go with a long-term injury, but you have to try and stay positive and stay focused and all I want to do is get back playing.

“I had targets that I set myself, firstly, I wanted to get back on my feet, then I wanted to get back walking and after that I wanted to get back running.

“It can all play a bit negatively on your mind, it’s a mental type of thing I suppose, but you have to try to find something positive in a situation like that.

“Solely from my own perspective I saw that we were out of Europe and we were out of the FAI Cup and I was out of football, all in the space of a week, we were as good as out of the League title race as well.

“Difficult to imagine that I was able to take anything positive out of those facts, but that’s where I was at the time and that’s the way I had to look at it.

“It was the second half of the season and that meant it was a little bit different, from my perspective, than if it had been at the start of the season,” he added.

Then there was also the challenge of dealing with the arrival of a new baby.

Garry takes up the story again:

“Well, I’m engaged to Ciara, we will be getting married next year, we have a baby boy, Alvey, who was born a few months before I picked up the injury, and putting it quite simply, Alvey doesn’t deal with sympathy.

“I had my operation and then I came home, as I said, Alvey doesn’t give me much sympathy, but it was a great reality check, he doesn’t give me much time to be feeling sorry for myself.

“The only downside was for Ciara, she then had two babies to mind there for a while, but Alvey was a complete distraction and it was a good thing for me, I had to focus on what was really important,” he added.

Looking back to his early time in the League of Ireland and his success with Cork City, Garry explains that at one stage he was of the view that he would never leave the club.

“I suppose I never saw myself leaving Cork, I played under-age football with a Cork club Leeds FC and won a few local titles, I also played for the Cork Schoolboys League before joining Cork City under-19s for the 2011/2012 season.

“We had a good team and won a double and then I joined the senior side in the build up to the 2012 season.

Garry made his senior debut against Athlone Town in the FAI Cup in May 2012 and scored on his League debut away to Derry City in September of the same year.

“I had success with Cork City, but I thought it would never happen, we were always second to Dundalk, but then we won the FAI Cup in 2016.

“That was the best moment of my career at that point, winning the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium with Seanie Maguire, an ex-Sligo Rovers man, scoring the winning goal.

There was another Sligo Rovers man scored in a FAI Cup final for Cork City as well, Kieran Sadlier, I suppose I’ve reversed the trend a bit, a Cork City player going to Sligo Rovers, at least it stopped the one-way traffic, a bit.

“Kalen Spillane did it as well, he’s playing with Kerry now, it’s great to see another Munster team in the League, at one stage there was only Cork and Cobh, now there’s Waterford, Kerry and Treaty as well.

“That FAI Cup in 2016 was my first trophy, my first medal, I thought it would never happen, then we had more success and everything was going well, until it wasn’t.

“There was a lot going on with Cork City in 2019, a lot of managers, a lot of changes, I can’t really explain what happened but everything just seemed to get a bit stale, for everyone, I felt that I needed to get out of the environment.

“Neale Fenn came in as manager, he was the third manager that season, but nothing worked out, the club, everyone was sort of stuck in rut.

“ I’m pleased to see the club back in the Premier Division now, I’d love to be playing this weekend, but hopefully I’ll be back for the second half of the season and will get the chance to play then,” he added.

And the move to Sligo Rovers, that move in the opposite direction that Garry mentioned earlier, how did it come about?

“I got a call from Liam Buckley at the end of the 2019 season, I had a good idea what Sligo Rovers was like as a community club and I was willing to give it a go, I have to say, at this stage, I just love the place,” he commented.

“One of the highlights for me last season was the two wins against Motherwell, a Scottish Premiership team and we beat them twice, not too far behind it would be the win in the Showgrounds against Viking, but unfortunately, I was injured for that one.

“Viking almost made it to the Group phase of the Conference League, it just shows you that there are real fine margins in football and hopefully I’ll be able to help Sligo Rovers achieve more European success in 2024.

“Those European results just show the potential there is with Sligo Rovers, I suppose we just have to get the consistency into our game, we can win games, but we need to find consistency in our performances,” he stressed.

And what about the future and a possible central defensive partnership again with John Mahon?

“We complement each other so well, myself and John, but there is huge competition for places, Nando (Pijnaker), James (Finnerty), John (Mahon), Eanna (Clancy), it’s going to be a challenge for me to get back into that team.

“You know, football is very strange, one minute you are on a high and the next minute you are on a low, it all depends on the result, it can be very quiet coming home on the team bus after a defeat and it’s the exact opposite after a win.

“I’ve experienced both sides of the game, but you just have to pick yourself up and go again.

“As regards the future, it’s something I haven’t dwelled on too much up to now, but I suppose at this stage of my career it’s a consideration, but my total focus at the moment is getting back playing and that’s what I am concentrating on.

“My parents, Michael and Teresa, gave me tremendous support when I was growing up in the North side of Cork, make sure you get that right, the North side of Cork City, or we’ll all be after you and you wouldn’t want that.

“My mother said I was special and that’s why I’m Garry with two R’s and not Gary with one R, mothers are always right,” he concluded.