Our Wehrly Bro Players of The Month awards for our Men’s and Women’s teams were announced today with seven players picking up awards for standout performances for The Bit O’ Red.

Our friends at Wehrly Bros Ltd on O’ Connell Street in Sligo once again sponsor each award and will present the winners with their trophies at The Showgrounds in the coming days.

For April, Aoife Brennan picked up the Women’s award for a crucial brace scored against Treaty United at The Showgrounds, a game Rovers won 3-1. Brennan struck two fantastic free kicks in the first half to seal the points.

David Cawley won the award for our Men’s team after some brilliant displays, most notably against Drogheda United where he scored two goals in the opening three minutes in a 3-2 win. Cawley also assisted Jordan Hamilton to head home the equaliser against Shamrock Rovers in a 1-1 draw at The Showgrounds.

In May, Emma Doherty picked up the award after scoring in three out of four games across the month. Her first minute goal against Cork City at home sent Rovers on their way to a 2-0 win. She also scored away to DLR Waves and at home to Galway.

Aidan Keena scored two goals after returning from a lengthy lay off through injury, first a powerful strike in Tallaght against Shamrock Rovers followed by a beautiful curling effort against St Patrick’s Athletic at The Petstop End at The Showgrounds.

June saw Shane Blaney pick up the Men’s award after two solid defensive performances against Finn Harps and Drogheda United, earning Rovers four points over the two games and two clean sheets.

Amy Mahon picked up the Women’s award after her heroic penalty save against Wexford Youths in stoppage time to maintain Rovers’ 1-0 lead and earn a huge three points for her side. She also pulled off a number of key saves in the game.

Finally, July’s awards went to Gemma McGuinness for our Women’s team after scoring a goal in each of our four games over the month against Bohs, Galway, Athlone Town and Shelbourne, the latter bringing Rovers back into the game just before half time after falling 2-0 behind early on. This stemmed a fantastic comeback by Rovers, eventually winning 3-2.

Aidan Keena earned his award for July by scoring two goals against Shelbourne in the league at The Showgrounds just days before scoring away to Bala Town in The Europa Conference League First Leg and then scoring a penalty in the all important shoot-out to progress through the tie. Keena once again scored in a vital win away to Motherwell at Fir Park and wrapped up his scoring for the month with a penalty in the defeat to Wexford FC in The FAI Cup.

Wehrly Bros are huge supporters of the club and we wish to thank Richard and all the team for getting behind the club each year.

It is rare for a manager to have two of his formers clubs meeting in an European tie but that is what happened for Ian Baraclough, who has previously managed in The Showgrounds and Fir Park.

Now manager of the Northern Ireland International side, Baraclough wouldn’t be drawn on whom he would have liked to see progress but in the end, The Bit O’ Red were victorious on a 3-0 aggregate scoreline over two legs.

With the game being called the ‘Ian Baraclough Derby’ by some and not just this interviewer as queried by Baraclough, he is happy to hear that this is the case as he has good memories of his time with both clubs:

“It is nice of people if they referred to the game that way, as I said I had good times at both clubs and look back on my time with both fondly. I think that looking back, that I achieved what I set out to do with both.

With Rovers, it was to win the League and win trophies and with Motherwell it was to stay in the League. So I do have a sense of pride from my time with both and I wish both clubs well.”

No stranger to these type games from his time with Rovers when his side faced Slovakian team Spartak Trnava in the Europa League and Norwegian team Molde in the Champions League, Baraclough feels that it is all about who you draw and that what you hope is that you get drawn against a team of a similar standard:

“The thing with those types of games and I know this from my time with Rovers is that when the draw comes around you hope that it will be a favourable one. If you look at the teams we faced during my time with the club – Spartak Trnava and Molde – they were among the toughest teams we could have faced. They were better teams than us and that can be seen by the fact they qualify for Europe regularly and have the group stages at times as well. In the early rounds you want to try and draw a team of a similar standard.”

With Rovers now under the stewardship of one of Baraclough’s former players in John Russell, he was delighted to see Russell get the chance and thinks that the time is right for him to make the move into senior management:

“With the appointment of John Russell, I actually think that it has come at the right time for him. He has been involved in the underage set-up and was assistant manager to Liam Buckley. I brought him back to the club from St. Patrick’s Athletic in 2014 so know what sort of character he is and how determined he is and he will bring that trait into being a manager. He has earned his chance and it is great to see the club promoting from within. He knows the football club and has gotten off to a good start in getting through a couple of rounds in Europe as not many Rovers managers have done that. That will help those around him have confidence and will help him be more confident as well. He has been involved in some great times with this club and I know that he will want to be involved in more and I hope that he does really well with the club going forward.”

Of course 2022 marks the ten year anniversary of Baraclough’s first season with Sligo Rovers when the club won its first Premier Division title in 35 years, great memories for Baraclough who can’t believe how fast the years have gone:

“Well the first thing I thought is didn’t those 10 years go quickly! It was when I was asked to be involved in the recent documentary on that season that it dawned on me that it had been ten years.

”I have great memories of that season. It is always great to bring success to a football club because in this game you experience more disappointments than you do success. So when you win cups and trophies those memories always stay with you. I look back on that season and it was nothing but a happy time, it was great for the town and the team and it was just a great period that I can always look back on. To be a part of the club’s history is something very special to me and as well after winning the League we backed up that success with winning the FAI Cup and the Setanta Sports Cup. It’s just that it was ten years ago, I can’t believe where that’s gone!”

By Keith O’ Dwyer

Emma Doherty attended a home based Republic of Ireland Senior squad training session in Abbotstown this afternoon as she continues to progress since joining the club back in January.

In her first season at Women’s National League level, The Donegal striker has scored nine goals and has been at the heart of Rovers’ attacks throughout the season.

Doherty has been capped at International level before through the underage system and today met up with other home based players under the watchful eye of Senior Women’s Team manager Vera Pauw.

Doherty will join up with The Rovers’ squad for training tomorrow before making the trip to Athlone on Saturday as the team face Athlone Town at 7pm.

Our 500 Club Draw for June and July took place recently with twenty members being drawn out to win prizes totaling €2,800

Our 500 Club is one of the club’s most important fundraisers with over 500 members contributing just €20 per month to help towards the running of the club.

Since the start of July, the club have been increasing awareness around the 500 Club and has been seeking new members to join. Those who join the 500 Club will become Members of the club after three years. With that, Members can contribute at AGM’s and become a part owner of the Football Club.

To become a member you can visit https://srfcdirect.com/fundraising/500-club/ or contact the club through shane@sligorovers.com

The latest winners were Paul Kivlehan (June) and Declan McGarrihy (July). Both members take away €500.

Draw results:

June:

1^st: €500: Paul Kivlehan, Ballymote, Co. Sligo

2^nd: €100: John Verdon, Greenfort, Sligo

3^rd: €100: Austin O’ Callaghan, c/o Ocean FM

4^th: €100: Mary Burke, Dromore West, Co. Sligo

5^th: €100: Yvonne French, Calry, Co. Sligo

6^th: €100: Keith Taylor, Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo

7^th: €100: Shane Martin, Oakfield, Sligo

8^th: €100: Noel McLoat, Cleveragh, Sligo

9^th: €100: Michael Comny, Culleens, Co. Sligo

10^th: €100: John Roaf, Ferndale, Sligo

July:

1^st: €500: Declan McGarrihy, Rathcormac, Sligo

2^nd: €100: Pauric Casey, Ransboro, Sligo

3^rd: €100: Gavin Gilmartin, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo

4^th: €100: Eileen Rossiter, Collooney, Co. Sligo

5^th: €100: Ian McLoughlin, Calry, Co. Sligo

6^th: €100: Jim Gray, Cartron, Sligo

7^th: €100: Pat Devaney, Ballincar Co. Sligo

8^th: €100: Jim Gallagher, Kintogher, Co. Sligo

9^th: €100: Conall Collier, Navan, Co. Meath

10^th: €100: Brendan McIntyre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh

Congratulations to all members who won a prize and we wish to thank all our 500 Club members and 500 Club committee for their continued support.

Be part of it, join The 500 Club

Sligo Rovers had five academy fixtures take place over the weekend with everyone bar our Under 14 side in action on either Saturday or Sunday.

The weekend kicked off with a home game against Athlone Town for our Under 17 Womens team. Ella Vahey scored for Rovers but the visitors ran out 3-1 winners.

Our Under 17 Men’s team drew 1-1 at home to Kerry at The Sean Fallon Centre. Conor Cannon had given Rovers the lead but a late goal from the away team meant the points were shared.

On Sunday our Under 15’s defeated Bray at The Sean Fallon Centre thanks to goals from Under 14 player Jack Nicholson, his first at Under 15 level and Reuben Gillespie. This made it two wins in a row for Paul Masterson’s side.

Our Under 19 Mens team took on Cork City on The Showgrounds main pitch and goals from Kailin Barlow, Eanna Clancy and Niall Holohan secured a 3-1 win and three points.

Our Under 19 Womens team faced Galway away from home in Dangan. It was the second week in a row to play Galway after last week’s home win. Goals from Katie Maguire and Alicia Hogge weren’t enough as the hosts won 3-2 in a tight encounter.

Our 2022 Annual Draw is well underway as our ticket sellers are out and about in the local community selling tickets door to door.

Our volunteer sellers wish to thank the people of Sligo and surrounding areas for their kindness and support of the draw so far.

How can you help?

Buy a ticket:

You can buy a ticket online at https://srfcdirect.com/annual-draw-ticket/ Here you can buy one ticket or a book of ten tickets.

Take a book to sell:

You can take a book (or more) to sell on behalf of the club to your friends or work colleagues. Contact the club on 0719171212 or email colinfeehily@sligorovers.com who will assist you with this.

Take a book for your business:

Have a business where you can sell some tickets for us? We sell full books of ten tickets to businesses for €100 and in turn each business gets entered into a draw to win a pitch-side sign at The Showgrounds for the 2023 season.

Businesses can keep the tickets themselves, offer them to customers as a thank you or sell them at the counter, meaning if you sell all ten tickets, you’re in the draw for free.

This year all proceeds from the draw are going toward our Showgrounds Development plans.

We seen this season with our European games what can be done here in Sligo and we want more.

Our Annual Draw takes place on Saturday October 1st at The Showgrounds at our Shamrock Rovers game.

Sligo Rovers travelled to Finn Park on Friday night in The SSE Airtricity League for a North-West Derby against Finn Harps.

Harps started the game bottom of the table, with Rovers sitting in fifth spot, four points behind St Patrick’s Athletic.

Manager John Russell was without defenders Garry Buckley and Colm Horgan but welcomed back Aidan Keena in attack which came as a welcome boost for Rovers.

There was just one change from the team from the previous game with St. Pats last Sunday, with Frank Liivak dropping to the bench and Karl O’ Sullivan coming into the team in his place, to face his former club.

Rovers started brightly and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the opening moments. O’ Sullivan crossed from the right and Max Mata poked the ball toward goal only to be denied by the arm of a Harps’ defender but referee Rob Hennessy didn’t give it and play continued.

The home side picked up some early bookings with Ryan Ryan and Ryan Connolly both yellow carded inside the opening ten minutes before manager Ollie Horgan was dismissed from the line for dissent.

Soon after however, Harps took the lead. The ball broke to Barry McNamee around thirty yards out from goal and he set himself and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the far top corner via the upright past Luke McNicholas.

The Bit O’ Red tried to get back into the game and had half chances through O’ Sullivan, Will Fitzgerald and Aidan Keena but it was the hosts who doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Gary Boylan’s corner was headed to the net by Ryan Rainey from close range.

The sides went in at the break with Harps two goals to the good and Rovers with a mountain to climb but the deficit was halved inside the opening two minutes of the second half. Harps had a long throw in on the right in line with the edge of Rovers’ penalty area. Ethan Boyle’s throw was cleared and Karl O’ Sullivan broke forward at pace. He reached half way and slid the ball across to Aidan Keena who ran toward goal. Keena found himself inside the box one on one with James McKeown and cooly lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to score.

It was all Rovers at this point and it looked as if they would get back on level terms during the second half with plenty of possession and half chances but the game turned again on 67 minutes. Ryan Rainey had the ball inside the Rovers’ area and Will Fitzgerald was deemed to have fouled him and referee Hennessy pointed to the spot. Replays suggest the decision was extremely harsh but Harps extended their lead once again through Ryan Connolly from the spot.

John Russell introduced Frank Liivak for Will Fitzgerald soon after and the Estonian won his side a penalty on 81 minutes after being fouled just inside the box by Ethan Boyle. Aidan Keena smashed the penalty home to make it an interesting last ten minutes or so.

Sub Kailin Barlow, brought on for Lewis Banks found himself free at the back post but he couldn’t find the net as his header was straight at McKeown.

Shane Blaney went close with a free kick from the edge of the area and Keena went close once again but it wasn’t to be and Harps ran out 3-2 winners, a win which saw them come off the bottom of the table after their close rivals UCD were beaten by St Pat’s, a result which didn’t suit Rovers either.

Next up is a home game against second placed Dundalk at The Showgrounds next Monday night at 7.45pm (August 29th)

Cork City struck a late winner to get the better of Sligo Rovers by 3-2 in the Women’s National League at Turner’s Cross on Saturday in an exciting contest.

The hosts enjoyed the better of the first-half exchanges, but had to settle for parity at the interval after the sides exchanged goals in the space of three minutes.

Cork City hit the front in the 13th minute when the impressive Laura Shine found the net, but the Bit O’Red reacted positively and were back on level terms in the 16th minute when a Paula McGrory shot beat home ‘keeper Abby McCarthy.

The play moved from end-to-end and Emma Doherty went close with a good effort for the Bit O’Red while for Cork, Laura Shine was a constant threat and had a great chance in the 32nd minute, but was denied by the post.

At the other end a Paul McGrory header from a corner hit the Cork post as Sligo Rovers went in search of a lead goal.

However, Cork City almost found the net close to the interval, but Christina
Dring failed to capitalise on some defensive hesitancy by the visitors and it
remained level at the half-time.

Eleven minutes into the second-half Amy Mahon came to the rescue for the Bit O’Red with a smart save to deny Nadine Seward who looked certain to score.

There was a swift reaction from Sligo Rovers when Paula McGrory claimed her second goal. She won possession inside the Cork penalty area and was totally composed as she sidestepped a defender and fired into the far corner on the hour.

The lead lasted all of seven minutes and Cork were back on terms when Becky Cassin got on the end of a long ball over the top and finished to the net.

Soon after there was a yellow card for Cork City manager Danny Murphy from referee David Connolly.

On the pitch, Cork had a great chance just narrowly wide from Lauren Walsh while Sarah Kiernan tested the ability of Cork custodian Abby McCarthy from a free.

With three minutes remaining Cork City hit the front when Eva Mangan fired to the net from a well-struck free from the edge of the penalty area to give the Munster women a first win of the season against the Bit O’Red.

Cork City – Abby McCarthy; Danielle Burke, Zara Foley, Heidi Mackin, Nadine Seward, Christine Dring, Aoibhin Donnelly, Laura Shine, Becky Cassin, Eva Mangan, Lauren Walsh.
Subs – Orlaith Deasy for Donnelly and Fiona Bradley for Dring both 66 mins, Ciara McNamara for Seward 75m, Aoife Cronin for Shine 87m

Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Leah Kelly, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Kerri O’Hara, Paula McGrory, Amy Boyle-Carr, Sarah Kiernan, Helen  Monaghan, Aife Haran. Subs – Aoife Brennan for Haran 63 mins, Fiona Doherty for O’Hara 75m, Lauren McLellan for Monaghan 86m.

Referee – David Connolly.

Our Academy teams are all in action this weekend bar our Under 14’s who have the weekend off with a break in their fixture schedule.

On Saturday there are two games taking place at Sean Fallon Centre with our Under 17 Men and Women’s teams both in action.

At 12pm our Under 17 Womens team host Athlone Town. It will be the first home outing of our new kit sponsored by Avenue Mould Solutions.

At 3pm, Our Under 17 Mens team host Kerry. The sides met recently in Kerry with the hosts winning 2-1 on the day.

On Sunday, our Under 19 Men’s side host Cork City at 3pm on The Showgrounds main pitch in the Under 19 league.

Our Womens Under 19s are in Dangan to play Galway at 2pm. The sides met last Sunday also, with Rovers winning 4-2 at home.

Our Under 15s host Shelbourne at 2pm at The Sean Fallon Centre. The lads had an impressive 4-1 win in Kildare last weekend.

#bitored

Sligo Rovers make the long journey to Turner’s Cross on Saturday for a showdown with Cork City in the Women’s National League.

Sligo Rovers manager Steve Feeney will be looking for the form that saw his team record a victory over Shelbourne in front of the TG4 cameras at the Showgrounds at the end of July and two wins against the Cork women already this season.

The Cork women are Without a victory since they defeated Treaty Utd in June, but that will not count for much between two evenly-matched teams that both lost last week and also exited the FAI Cup at the quarter-final stage the previous week.

Cork City lost narrowly (1-2) to Athlone Town last week, but were unlucky not to take something from the game.

Athlone took an 18th minute lead through Madison Gibson, but the equaliser for Cork came in the 55th minute from Christina Dring.

Athlone were awarded a penalty soon after, but Abby McCarthy saved from Emily Corbet, but in the 74th minute Madison Gibson hit the winner. Cork also lost to Athlone in the Cup.

Sligo Rovers conceded an early goal against Bohemian FC last week and a second goal for the Dublin side arrived close to full-time. The Bit O’Red also lost to Bohemian FC in the Cup.

A lot of similarities there between the two teams, but the Bit O’Red will take positives from an impressive display last May and a 2-0 victory against Cork.

On that occasion it was a first clean sheet for the Bit O’Red as early and late goals earned victory at the Showgrounds.

It was another solid display by the Bit O’Red with an impressive showing from the defence and goalkeeper Amy Mahon.

There was a dream start for Sligo Rovers with July player of the month recipient Emma Doherty heading the hosts into a first minute lead while Gemma McGuinness hit the second goal.

Although he was disappointed with the defeat by Bohemian FC last weekend, there was a positive reaction from Bit O’Red manager Steve Feeney as he turned his focus to the trip to Turner’s Cross.

“It was a disappointing result, but I couldn’t fault the players in terms of effort and the young players who have come through the Academy were excellent,” he stated.

“Cork City have changed the way they are playing since Danny Murphy went in (as manager) and it will be another tough game.

“We will want to show that we are better than what we produced against Bohs and there won’t be much in it,” he added.


LAST TIME – 21st MAY, Sligo Rovers 2-0 Cork City