Sligo Rovers take on Derry City tomorrow (Monday) evening at The Showgrounds in The SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Rovers come into the game following defeat on Friday night away to Bohemians at Dalymount Park, as do the Candystripes who were defeated at home to Dundalk on the same scoreline (2-1).

Last time out the sides played out a scoreless draw in February at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

It will be the first game since the departure of Liam Buckley with John Russell taking charge of the team on an interim basis.

Russell:

‘’A lot has happened in the last 24 hours but the players have worked extremely hard this morning and are fully focused on the game tomorrow night.

Derry have had a strong start to the season so we know it will be a difficult game but we have a lot of quality in our group and the ability to get a result especially being at home in The Showgrounds with our fans behind us.

In team news, Max Mata continues to recover from injury while Shane Blaney and David Cawley are doubts.

The game is at 7.45pm and turnstiles open from 6.30pm.

Sligo Rovers announces that First Team Manager Liam Buckley has departed the club by mutual consent.

Liam was appointed at the end of 2018 ahead of the 2019 League of Ireland season in which the club finished in 7^th place as well as reaching an FAI Cup Semi Final.

In 2020, European football was secured for the first time since 2014 by finishing in fourth position as well as reaching our second FAI Cup Semi Final in as many seasons.

In 2021, our highest league finish since 2013 was achieved by finishing third, once again ensuring European football for this coming summer.

Rovers currently sit in 6th position in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after seventeen games.

Club Chairman Tommy Higgins:

‘’Liam came to the club in 2019 and directed us to securing two seasons of European football since, which is the aim for the club each season.

Liam carried himself with great dignity throughout, with his experience and knowledge of the league of Ireland being a great asset and his style of football being pleasing on the eye for our supporters.

We wish to send our unreserved thanks to Liam for his commitment during his time and we wish him all the best for the future’’

Assistant manager John Russell will take interim charge of the Bit O’ Red squad, starting with tomorrow’s home game with Derry City FC.

Sligo Rovers kept a first clean sheet in the Women’s National League (WNL) today as early and late goals from Emma Doherty and Gemma McGuinness earned a 2-0 victory against Cork City at the Showgrounds, writes Conall Collier.

This 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 Emma Doherty heading the hosts into a first minute lead from a Gemma McGuinness cross.

Fiona Doherty had an excellent chance for a second goal two minutes later, but her well-struck shot was superbly saved by Maria O’Sullivan between the Cork posts.

Cork settled into the game and created a number of chances that posed problems for the Sligo Rovers rearguard without making any impact on the scoreboard.

After absorbing a period of pressure, Sligo Rovers created a good chance in the 20th minute when Gemma McGuinness almost got through, but a timely tackle by Cork City’s Orlaith Deasy averted the danger.

The Bit O’Red continued to press and McGuinness had a good chance, but was off target after Fiona and Emma Doherty combined to create the opening.

Cork then had a lucky escape in the 26th minute when an attempted clearance by defender Ciara McNamara hit her own post and was then cleared.

Cork City made three changes at half-time, but the hosts created the early chances with Fiona Doherty denied by a smart O’Sullivan save and then she hit over as the pressure was maintained on the Munster women.

It was midway through the half before Cork created a decent chance when a shot from Nathalie O’Brien was saved by Amy Mahon who handled confidently throughout.

At the other end Emma Doherty had a good chance saved and in a quick counter Cork City created an opening but Orna O’Dowd’s timely intervention averted the danger.

In the closing stages the hosts added a crucial second goal when Gemma McGuinness raced on to a Leah Kelly pass and finished past the advancing O’Sullivan to seal the victory.

Sligo Rovers – Amy Mahon; Leah Kelly, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Hyndman, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Amy Roddy, Kerri O’Hara, Fiona Doherty, Paula McGrory. Subs – Jessica Casey for O’Hara half-time, Katie Melly for Fiona Doherty 70 mins, Aoife Brennan for McGrory and Lauren McLellan for E Doherty both 80 mins, Sarah Kiernan for McGuinness 85 mins.

Cork City – Maria O’Sullivan; Danielle Burke, Ciara McNamara, Zara Foley, Nadine Seward, Riona Crowley, Becky Cassin, Orlaith Deasy, Eva Mangan, Lauren Walsh, Lauren Singleton. Subs – Ellie O’Brien for Crowley, Shaunagh McCarthy for Singleton and Nathalie O’Brien for Walsh all half-time, Aoibhin Donnelly for Deasy 79 mins, Chloe Atkinson for Seward 85 mins.

Referee – Michael Connolly.

Assistant-referees – Darren Corcoran and Keenan Deering.

Fourth official – Declan Toland.

Sligo Rovers travelled to Dublin for the third time in a fortnight on Friday to take on Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

The sides had already met earlier in the season at The Showgrounds when Bohs ran out 1-0 winners after a Liam Burt strike in the first half.

Liam Buckley made two changes to his starting team from last week’s draw with St Patrick’s Athletic with Colm Horgan and Robbie McCourt coming into the team in place of Lewis Banks and Paddy Kirk.

Nando Pijnaker hadn’t fully recovered from an injury so could only make the bench while Jordan Hamilton returned to the squad having missed last week’s game.

The first half was an even encounter with neither side creating much of note. Aidan Keena shot from distance and Robbie McCourt headed wide from one of Rovers’ four corners but James Talbot wasn’t tested in goal. Defender Ciaran Kelly went closest for the hosts as his header didn’t have enough power to get past Ed McGinty in Rovers’ goal.

The sides went in level at the break.

Bohs started the second half the better team and created one or two half chances, most notably through Dawson Devoy who volleyed over after a cross from Max Murphy.

Devoy didn’t have to wait long however and he scored the opening goal on 61 minutes. Jordan Flores broke into the box and his cross come shot fell to Promise Omochere who couldn’t find enough space to work a shot but he teed up Devoy who made no mistake from close range.

Liam Buckley made four changes soon after this to try and get back into the game with Nando Pijnaker, Lewis Banks, Adam McDonnell and Jordan Hamilton introduced for Morahan, O’ Sullivan, Fitzgerald and Blaney.

The home side doubled their lead with 15 minutes remaining however thanks to a goal from ex Rovers striker Junior Ogedi Uzokwe following another assist from Omochere.

Rovers pushed forward late on and Adam McDonnell dispatched a loose ball from the edge of the area past Talbot to bring us back into it but it wasn’t enough and the home side held out for three points.

(Pic: Sportsfile)

Cork City visit The Showgrounds this Saturday for a Women’s National League showdown against Sligo Rovers at 2pm and Bit O’Red manager Steve Feeney is anticipating a tight game against the Munster side who have a new manager, Jess Lawton, on the sideline.

Sligo Rovers won the first game at Turners Cross when Gemma McGuinness wrote herself into the history books of the club when she grabbed a sensational first WNL goal with a sensational strike while Emma Doherty added a second in the 70th minute.

Cork City got back into contention with 15 minutes remaining when Nadine Seward finished well, but Sligo Rovers held for that historic first victory.

Last Saturday was a first game in charge for Cork’s interim manager and she would have been reasonably pleased with the performance against a good Wexford side despite a narrow (1-2) defeat.

Following a scoreless first-half at Turners Cross, Ellen Molloy put Wexford in front from a free that Cork goalkeeper Abby McCarthy got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Cork got back into the game when ex-Wexford midfielder Becky Cassin hit a fine equaliser.

And while Cork showed great character and looked likely to score on a couple of occasions, Emma Walker claimed the winning goal for the Wexford women.

Sligo Rovers also lost last weekend when they were edged out by DLR Waves at The UCD Bowl in a game that manager Steve Feeney suggested his side should have got something out of.

“It was a very even game, DLR Waves are a good side, but I thought our players were excellent,” stated Feeney.

“We defended well and we were a big threat going forward, it’s probably the most chances we created in a game so far this season.

“While we scored two goals, it was definitely a day that we should have scored more with the chances we created.

“We played well in the last two games now, against DLR and Galway the previous week, but we have no points from either game and that’s something that we need to address now.

“We have to start picking up points and we are under no illusions, we know that it won’t be easy, every game will be a big test and we have to keep finding improvement.

“The fact that the girls were disappointed that they didn’t win the game against DLR is a reflection of where we are now, where we have come from since the opening day back in March against Peamount.

“Emma (Doherty) had that great strike that came down off the crossbar, if that had gone in, we were in front, but then DLR go up the other end and score from a corner, that was disappointing, to concede from a set play.

“Even after that, we had some chances and just couldn’t finish, but it was pleasing to see that we were still creating opportunities,” added the Bit O’Red manager.

Taking stock of the situation and looking ahead to the challenge that Cork City will pose this weekend, Feeney has some injury concerns, goalkeeper Kristen Sample is sidelined with a broken arm and Emma Hansberry is also on the doubtful list.

“If we look at the bigger picture for a moment, DLR Waves would have been one of the teams aiming to win the title this year,” said Feeney.

They recovered from the concession of an early goal against us and then we went a goal down, it would have been very easy at that stage for the girls to drop the heads, but they didn’t.

The reaction was great, they got back into the game even after going 2-3 down in the 81^st minute, we could have won.

“All this won’t count for anything this coming Saturday when we have Cork City at the Showgrounds.

“There will probably be an expectation that we should win this now, we beat them in Turners Cross, but they missed a lot of chances that day, a bit like us against DLR last Saturday, but we got two chances and scored.

“They have a caretaker manager now as well, but that will just make them more determined, they would like nothing more than to come to Sligo and win.

“If we can repeat the performance we produced against DLR Waves against Cork, then we will be in with a chance of winning the game, we will have a chance, but it’s going to be tight,” he concluded.

In team news, Emma Hansberry and Kristen Sample remain out and both Ruth and Helen Monaghan are unavailable.

Admission is €5 for Adults and free for Under 18’s. Gates open from 1pm.

All six academy teams are in action between Saturday and Sunday in an action packed weekend of youth football.

Aaron O’ Connor’s Under 17 Women’s side face the long journey to Oriel Park to take on Dundalk at 1.30pm. The girls were narrowly defeated at the same venue a few weeks ago on a 2-1 scoreline.

Also on Saturday at 2pm our Under 17 Men’s team face Finn Harps in Drumoghill, Donegal. Rovers got the better of Harps back at The Sean Fallon Centre in the last meeting between the sides, winning 2-0.

At 4pm, Alan Farry’s Under 14 team host Shelbourne at Sean Fallon Centre in a friendly game. The lads proper league season is just a few weeks away and preparations continue.

Sunday sees both Under 19 teams in action at The Sean Fallon Centre.

First up at 1.30pm Bray are the visitors for our Women’s team. Rovers won the return fixture 3-1 in the first game of the season.

The Men’s side are in cup action at 4.30pm. Declan Boyle’s side will top their group with a win having won last weekend in Longford.

Paul Masterson’s Under 15s are in Ballisodare at 2pm to face Derry City. The last meeting between the sides in Letterkenny saw the Candystripes win convincingly.

Admission to all games is free of charge and all support is welcome.

The Bit O’ Red are back on the road tomorrow as we face a trip to Dublin to take on Bohemians at Dalymount Park at 7.45pm.

Both sides met at The Showgrounds in April with the visitors winning 1-0 thanks to a Liam Burt goal in the first half in a tight encounter.

There is often little between the teams with last season both sides winning one of the three outings between the pair, the last game ending in a 1-1 draw in the final league game of the season.

Rovers drew with St Patrick’s Athletic last time out last Saturday with Bohs defeated in Oriel Park by Dundalk.

Manager Liam Buckley is looking forward to the game:

‘’The team have trained well this week and we have almost a fully fit squad to chose from which always helps. We were better on Saturday against St Pats and we need to bring those performance levels into the next games starting this Friday night in Dalymount Park.

Games against Bohs are always nip and tuck and we’ve had some close battles with them over the last couple of seasons and we know that Friday will again be a tight game so we’ll need to be at the top of our game to get the result we want.

The crowd are always loud and get behind their team up there and I know we will have a good away support on the night and we hope to put on a performance to make them happy. We’ve got three big games in the space of seven days before a short break in fixtures so the lads are keen to go into the break in good form and on the back of a good run of results’’.

In team news Max Mata remains out following a calf injury picked up against Shamrock Rovers. Nando Pijnaker is progressing and may be back in contention to start if he is passed fit to play and Jordan Hamilton should return having missed last week’s game against St Patrick’s Athletic.

The game is live on LOI TV and Ocean FM will have live commentary also.

Away fans are reminded that you must buy your tickets on advance via the link below:

https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/bohemians-fc/

The past few seasons have seen a number of New Zealand internationals come to play in The Showgrounds including Ryan De Vries, Max Mata and defender Nando Pijnaker. The talented defender joined Rovers this season on loan from Portuguese side Rio Ave and De Vries played an indirect role in the move:

“How it came about was all a bit crazy in the end. Things had been really quiet in terms of a potential move for me and I was due to go on an international break with New Zealand in Dubai. I actually brought all my bags with me in case Rio Ave agreed to loan me out to a club while I was away. I was looking to try and get away to somewhere new so that I could get more game time. In the end the move kind of came about through Ryan De Vries who played here for a couple of seasons. There was a connection between his agent and my agent and that got things started and I ended up speaking with Liam on the phone and really liked his ideas and how he talked about how he likes his side to play football. So I thought why not and agreed to come here on loan and it has been a case of so far, so good.”

Pijnaker didn’t know much about Rovers or the League even though he did follow De Vries on social media, he spoke with his friend Adam Thomas ahead of signing to get feedback from him on what the League the like:

“I didn’t know much about Sligo before I signed, I was following Ryan on Instagram so saw his posts about the club and the town. Then I have a good friend Adam Thomas who has signed for Shelbourne and I talked with him and he filled me in a lot on the League and what to expect not necessarily on Sligo Rovers. So it was all a little unknown for me but I am really enjoying it.”

Indeed the links between Sligo Rovers and New Zealand run deep going back to Kevin Fallon who played for the club in the 1960’s and later went on to manage the country in the 1980’s. Indeed his son Rory is part of the coaching set up now for the national team:

“Yeah I was actually talking to Rory about this during the last international break. He told me that he actually came here to train with the club at one stage; I think it was when he was in-between clubs. It’s funny that we have that connection and quite cool that we can talk about the club and people who are involved with it seeing as his Dad is a former player.”

Pijnaker was also familiar with another New Zealand signing Max Mata as they two had played together for Swiss club Grasshopper:

“With Max we actually played together for Grasshopper in Switzerland for a year and get on really well with each other. I came here first and then 3-4 weeks later Max arrived which was great in terms of helping me to settle in. To be fair Irish people have been very nice and everyone involved with the club and the people of Sligo really helped me in those first couple of months and I feel well settled in now.”

Pijnaker is finding his feet in the League and has experienced both sides of the coin so far in terms of form as Rovers made a powerful start, had a small bad patch and now look to be back on track:

“So far it had been good albeit somewhat up and down. We had a great start and then a rough patch but that’s the way it is in football that there are times when things don’t go your way. That happened to us but then we got back to winning ways with the games against Finn Harps and Drogheda United. Now we need to keep it that way. I’m finding it really good. Football can be different in every League and every Country but it becomes easier to adapt with every training session and every game that I play.”

Despite his young age Pijnaker has already played in New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal and now Ireland and feels that every League is different which can take getting used to:

“I think it’s quite different, it has been different in every Country that I have played in and that can take getting used to. Here in Ireland it is a lot more physical, transitional in play and there is more long ball played. It can be more demanding on the body. But then you have the top teams likes Derry and Shams and they are very good teams who like to play with the ball a bit more so there is a big range but on the whole I think the level is quite good. I just want to keep improving and keep my place in the side and help the team to do well and hopefully challenge for honours.”

Of course Rovers have European football coming up in the Summer which was a big attraction in signing for Pijnaker as he hasn’t yet played in any such continental competition:

“100%, it is really exciting and when the manager told me about the games it was something that really caught hold of my imagination as something that I wanted to be a part of. I’ve talked the lads to ask them what the games are like and they have told me and told me how we have got on the past. I just hope now that I can play my part in ensuring that we are in good form leading up to the games in July.”

Of course that isn’t the only big game on the horizon for Pijnaker as New Zealand will be playing Costa Rica in June in Dubai in a World Cup play-off with the winner progressing through to the World Cup Finals in December meaning it is shaping up to be a Summer to remember:

“For sure there is a big build up to that game. We have actually done a bunch of tours in the Middle East and played games there 3-4 times at this stage which will hopefully stand in our favour. We know what to expect, we know what the pitch will be like and how the weather will be. In international football you don’t get much time together before you meet for the matches so it is important that I am doing as well as I can for Rovers and playing well then hopefully it will be same for my team-mates and they will all be doing as well as they can. So yes 100% it is shaping up to be a really exciting Summer and I think you play your best football when you enjoying it and I am enjoying mine at the moment and hope that things can continue to go well.”

Pijnaker was keen for the loan move from Rio Ave as felt he needed to get stability in his career and have a good run of games something he happy to be getting in Sligo and he hoping that will continue:

“Things for a football player in the World of football can be very tough at times and I have experienced that for whatever reason. It’s not been my fault or the club’s fault and there is an element of luck needed, look at how this move to Sligo came about. At the moment I hope the coach here is happy with me and the club and that we can keep working together, that would be my goal.”

While he is enjoying his football and feels that Irish people share a lot in common with his New Zealand countrymen, he did have to admit that the Irish weather took some getting used to:

“The biggest shock has been the weather. I think in my first training session there was sun, rain, hail and wind!! So I was kind of shocked at that but in the past few weeks the weather has turned. But the people at the club and in the town have been great to me and it is a big help to be in an English speaking country. They do speak English in Portugal but it wouldn’t be their first language. I feel like the culture here in Ireland is quite similar to that of New Zealand and I enjoy the banter with the lads in the dressing room. We have a good group of players and have all connected really well and hopefully that can translate on the pitch and lead to success.”

Former Bit O’ Red defender Gavin Peers has officially announced his retirement from Professional football today following his final game for Warrenpoint Town.

Peers had a highly successful career especially while here at Sligo Rovers, winning The SSE Airtricity League Title in 2012, The EA Sports Cup in 2010, The Setanta Sports Cup in 2014 along with three magnificent FAI Cup wins in 2010, 2011 and 2013 at The Aviva Stadium.

The defender arrived at The Showgrounds in 2006 when then manager Sean Connor signed him from Mansfield Town.

Peers started off his Rovers career as a right back until manager Paul Cook felt he was better suited to central defence, where he would remain for the rest of his career.

Peers was not just outstanding in defence but also a threat in attack from set pieces. One of the defenders most famous goals came in The FAI Cup Semi-Final in Dalymount Park against Bohemians, heading home Richie Ryan’s corner to secure a famous 1-0 win to take Rovers to their second FAI Cup Final in two seasons.

A testimonial game against Portsmouth at The Showgrounds in 2016 brought a fine end to Peers’ time at the club in front of a large home crowd.

He went onto play for St Patrick’s Athletic, Derry City, Glentoran and Warrenpoint and will be forever remembered at The Showgrounds.

We wish Gavin all the best and sincerly thank him for his service.

There were just two games down for decision this weekend and both were in respective cup competition.

On Friday evening Declan Boyle’s Under 19 Men’s team took on Longford Town away from home.

Goals from Patrick Montgomery and Eanna Clancy ensured Rovers progressed to the next round in a 2-1 victory. Both sides played some good football in an entertaining game at City Calling Stadium.

On Saturday afternoon in Ballymun, Aaron O’ Connor’s Under 17 Women’s team were defeated 4-1 against Shelbourne. A goal from Katie Heaney proved only to be consolation as Rovers bow out of the cup. The Bit O’ Red did create some chances and could have had more goals on another day.

We’d like to thank our sponsors of all our academy teams:

Under 14: Alzheimers Society (on behalf of Paul Gallagher)

Under 15: O’ Connor Cabins

Under 17 Men’s: Ivor Parke

Under 19 Men’s: EJ Menswear

Under 19 Women’s: Overstock