Sligo Rovers have five academy fixtures this weekend, with only Under 17 Women’s team with no fixture.

On Saturday afternoon, Darragh Reilly brings his Under 17 Men’s side to take on Cavan/Monaghan in Cootehill at 2pm. The lads are currently in fourth place in the group table and defeated Saturday’s opponents 3-2 at home last time out.

At the same time, Paul Masterson’s Under 15 side take on Finn Harps in Drumoghill, Donegal. The lads suffered defeat last week against Derry City but are just three points off top spot in the group and face leaders Harps to try and narrow the gap.

Sunday sees both our Under 19 teams in action.

Declan Boyle’s Men’s side travel to Oscar Traynor Centre in Dublin to face Bohemians at 2pm, knowing a point will mean qualification for the Elite Phase of The Under 19 League. The lads are in good form having won their last three matches.

Darragh Healy and our Under 19 Women’s team host Athlone Town at 4.30pm at The Sean Fallon Centre. The game is free to attend and the girls are in third spot in the group. The team are looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat to DLR Waves away from home.

On Monday, our Under 14’s travel to take on Shamrock Rovers at 2.30pm in a friendly.

Sligo Rovers host Shamrock Rovers on Friday night at The Showgrounds in the second clash between the two sides this season. On March 18^th at Tallaght Stadium it was certainly a game of two halves as The Bit O’ Red raced into a two goal lead in the first half with goals from Will Fitzgerald and Aidan Keena. Shamrock Rovers rallied and scored twice in the second half to level the game and it ended 2-2.

Both sides are on a good run of form coming into the game, with Rovers winning two from two games after wins over Finn Harps and Drogheda United last week. Shamrock Rovers have won their last five games and are in second place in the league table, behind leaders Derry City.

Liam Buckley looks forward to tomorrow’s game:

It should be a real good occasion on Friday night. There will be a big crowd and I know from previous experience how much this game means to both clubs. We had a tight encounter up in Tallaght last month and I have no doubt tomorrow night will be the same again.

We were delighted to get the three points against Drogheda last Saturday night. I thought we played some nice stuff at times and we had to be patient and thankfully the goal came late on and we got the win.

Shamrock Rovers are a real good side, they are in good form and we know how tough a test it will be for us but we have some great qualities ourselves and we’re looking forward to the game.

In team news Max Mata missed last week’s game with a strain but is improving and is back in training this week. There are no other concerns for Liam Buckley.

Turnstiles open at 6.30pm and supporters are asked to arrive early as a big crowd is expected.

Last three:

Sligo Rovers: Drogheda United (Won 3-2), Finn Harps (Won 1-0), Dundalk (Lost 2-1)

Shamrock Rovers: Bohemians (Won 3-1), Dundalk (Won 1-0), St Patrick’s Ath. (Won 1-0)

Following our win over Drogheda United, we now turn attention to our next game which is down for decision tomorrow, Friday night, April 29th at The Showgrounds against Shamrock Rovers.

The away side come into the game in fine form, having won their last five games, all coming since our last meeting which was at Tallaght Stadium in March, a game that ended 2-2. Rovers are on the back of two straight wins after picking up three points against both Finn Harps and Drogheda United last week.

We wish to issue the following information about the fixture:

Home supporters are advised that payment on the gate will be accepted. This can be by cash or card, by using one of our designated tap and go turnstiles.

Away supporters are asked to note that all away tickets are pre-sold online only, and Shamrock Rovers are dealing with this allocation themselves and priority is being given to members/season ticket holders. Shamrock Rovers supporters must have purchased online and strictly no admission without a valid ticket will be given.

Turnstiles open at 6.30pm and supporters are asked to arrive early as there is expected to be a large crowd in attendance.

Local car parking restrictions are in place, so we advise supporters to please park responsibly and remember that The Showgrounds is in a residential area so park appropriately.

The game will be televised Live on RTE 2 on the night.

“Sligo is home”: Gavin Peers’ love for the club still shines through as he speaks.

It is 10 years since our league winning season of 2012. In the history of Sligo Rovers, our loyal supporters have never witnessed a period of success quite like it. As Gavin spoke to us about the rain soaked lows of our 2009 defeat to Sporting Fingal in our first F.A.I Cup final in 15 years, to Mark Quigley hitting the net in glorious October sunshine in 2012 to clinch our first league win in 35 years, this was an extra special time to follow Sligo Rovers.

            I have been following Rovers for as long as I can remember. It was in Summerhill College that the passion for the club really flourished. The floodlights had arrived in the town and the team was flying under Willie McStay. Since 2004, I have been filming sport, documentaries and news for a range of broadcasters. I have filmed projects across Europe, Africa and beyond but I have always wanted to make a documentary about my home town club. Michael Moran was a word smith with “The Sligo Champion” for many years. He covered the Showgrounds activities as both reporter and sports editor. These days he is deeply involved in the clubs’ heritage committee.  As talk over a few pints turned to the topic of Rovers, we decided to work on a documentary about the Club.  

            Our first documentary on the Club was called ‘Shine’. This film covered some of the clubs’ major achievements from winning the league in 1977, to the cup wins in 1983 and 1994. We were delighted with the reaction from the Rovers fans to our project. As the dust settled on ‘Shine’ we decided to go again!  After much debate, we decided to focus our attention on the league winning day of October 13^th 2012. In our eyes this was the real high for the club.  League titles have not been a frequent visitor to the North West. 

            Our filming began with Alan Keane in the Sligo Fire Station. This made a great backdrop for the interview with plenty of  Red on screen!  Alan was one of my own favourite players to watch on the pitch; always moving, always getting involved in the play. Alan got involved, enabling us to contact various players, moving the documentary along nicely for us. ‘Building from the back’ if you will.

Joseph Ndo was an artist on the pitch so we were delighted when the Model facilitated our interview with him in their gallery. Joe, who has played in two world cups, spoke to us for over an hour.  It was truly a fascinating experience to listen him speak about life and football.

            In a way October 13^th  2012 will be remembered for two players. Mark Quigley and Raffael Creataro. One from Dublin and one local; both exceptionally talented forwards.

As Mark told us his story of growing up in Dublin city centre and Raff showed us around Tubbercurry, the common thread was a dedication to their craft, spending hours each day sharpening their skills. Both fulfilled the childhood dreams of many on the same day, helping Rovers lift the league title.

            As the production continued a number of fans came forward to share their stories of the day.  From family memories, running down the Jinxs stand celebrating, to cancer journeys – it is these stories that keep Rovers fans going year after year.

            Once again Sligo provided the soundtrack to the documentary with all the artists being Rovers fans. In fact all the musicians were part of my 1998 class of Summerhill and I have great memories of standing in the “Shed” with them.

The soundtrack ranges from the piano of Jongmyo Shine by Pearse McGloughlin to the hip hop of This Side Up with Near Vandals and The Hooks providing the guitars. 

The openness of the musicians to allow us to use their work for the club has to be commended. As a community we are lucky to have both on pitch and on stage talent of this level!

            Michael & I hope that you enjoy the documentary ‘2012’ and that it brings back some amazing memories for you all. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the production for their help, without which this documentary would not have been possible.

We had hoped to sit down with other members of the playing squad or management squad including Manager Ian Baraclough, but unfortunately, due to COVID protocols we were not able to do so.

Hon the Bit O’ Red

Oisin Moran

Documentary maker

It was a year of contrasting fortunes for young Sligo Rovers ‘keeper Luke McNicholas as a loan spell with Finn Harps saw him largely used as an unused substitute before then coming back to Rovers and ending up playing in their European matches and is now in the midst of a successful loan spell with Cliftonville.

“It was surely, a lot of things happened that I didn’t expect and then some things didn’t happen the way I thought they would. I was very lucky to play the few games for Rovers during the season given that both keepers were injured but then the loan spell with Finn Harps didn’t work out the way I would have hoped as I thought I would have played in more games. But that’s football and things don’t always work out the way you want.”

For McNicholas the games against FH from Iceland in the Europa Conference League were an expected bonus coming after the end of his spell with Harps and as he looked for another loan move:

“That was unbelievable and when I went back to the Showgrounds I never thought I would end up playing in those games. At the start of the season I had went on loan with Harps and then ended up coming back to Rovers halfway during the season. The plan was that I would go back out on loan and that club would find somewhere for me for the rest of the season. Then both keepers picked up injuries, Richard Brush got injured in training and then Ed McGinty got injured in the game against Longford Town and I came on in that match. Playing in Europe despite the result was class. I loved it, the whole experience of playing a team from another country and travelling to Iceland. It makes you want to do it again and again and gives you that drive to have those opportunities again.”

In a dramatic and action packed Bet McLean League Cup Final in March in Windsor Park Cliftonville beat Coleraine 4-3 after extra time meaning a first ever senior winner’s medal for McNicholas. A winner’s medal had looked unlikely given that Cliftonville trailed 2-0 with half an hour to go yet equalised in stoppage time to take the game into extra time making the occasion even more memorable for McNicholas:

“Yeah that’s it, it seemed unlikely that we could come back especially against a team like Coleraine who have such a good defensive record. But with half an hour to go and even though we were two down you still had that hope that we could turn it around and when Paul (O’Neill) got the equaliser in the last minute well you couldn’t write it! For a game to finish 4-3 in that manner especially a final is madness like. You don’t see high scoring finals such as that game come around too often. Cup finals are usually tight, tense affairs and this game was anything but!”

This was the first cup final played on a Sunday in Northern Ireland and it proved to be a great success not only producing a high scoring game but also a large attendance with over 11,000 present with the supporters making for a special atmosphere.

“It was class, the atmosphere was unreal, there was over 11,000 there and the noise was like nothing else I had played in front of before especially when we scored our goals. When we scored and the way in which we did the noise was unreal, it was a great experience. The whole experience was great; playing on a Sunday afternoon in a class stadium like Windsor park and with the amount of people that were there the ground seemed to be full.”

After the game Cliftonville players and supporters took their newly won trophy back to Solitude for a special celebration in the club’s social club which again was another special moment for McNicholas:

“The party afterwards in Solitude was class. We went back to the social club and the fans were in with us and moments like that are something that you never forget. For me it is my first senior winner’s medal and to be able to celebrate it with our supporters like that meant you could see how much it meant to them as well. It has been some 12 months and I played in Europe for Rovers and have now won the League Cup with Cliftonville. If you had told me that this time last year I wouldn’t have believed you when I was sitting on the bench with Finn Harps.”

Cliftonville are now on course for a domestic double as they remain in contention for the League which concludes this coming Saturday when they take on Glentoran at The Oval. Rivals Linfield host Coleraine at the same time in what promises to be an exciting final day.

“We have to keep going now; we have won the League Cup but still have the League to play for. We can’t rest on our laurels and have to keep to momentum going ahead of Saturday. I was delighted when the clubs agreed to extend the loan as this has been a great experience for me and for me to be able to play in big games like the ones we had and the one we have coming up can only benefit me in the long run.”

To add further to what turned into a memorable year for McNicholas he was also drafted into the Irish U-21 squad an experience he enjoyed greatly and he now looks to take the lows and highs from 2021 and push on further in 2022:

“Yeah another huge positive from the year was being called up to the Irish U-21’s. It was an unbelievable experience. I came in for the game against Montenegro and was involved then for the games against Sweden and Italy. I’m 21 now so that was really my last chance to be involved with the U-21’s.

Luke will be expected to be involved in the squad again in June for internationals against Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Italy.

By Keith O’ Dwyer

Our Academy teams were all in action over the weekend apart from our Under 14 team who have a break in their fixture list.

First up on Saturday at The Sean Fallon Centre, our Under 17 men’s team were defeated 3-2 in an entertaining game against Galway United. Luke Mavrak and Lee Conway were on the mark for Rovers.

Our Under 17 women’s team had an impressive 3-0 win away to Bohs in Dublin at 2pm, also on Saturday. Goals from Alice Lillie, Orna Murphy and Heather O’ Sullivan brought Rovers a well earned three points.

In Letterkenny, our Under 15 side were well beaten by Derry City. Jayden Reynolds scored for The Bit O’ Red however the hosts ran out 8-1 winners.

On Sunday, our Under 19 teams were in action. Our men’s team were at home to Dundalk at The Sean Fallon Centre and ran out 3-2 winners, making it three wins in a row. Peter Maguire continued his good scoring form and Cillian Heaney and Patrick Montgomery were on the mark again to seal the points.

DLR Waves were the opposition for the women’s team and they ran out 5-1 winners on the day with Becky Doddy scoring Rovers’ only goal.

Sligo Rovers hosted Drogheda United on Saturday night at The Showgrounds in front of 2,125 supporters on a beautiful Sligo evening.

Rovers came into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Finn Harps on Monday night and our visitors drew 1-1 with in form Derry City also on Bank Holiday Monday at Head in The Game Park.

Liam Buckley made four changes to his starting team from Monday’s game, with Greg Bolger, Will Fitzgerald, Garry Buckley and Aidan Keena all coming into the starting eleven in place of Nando Pijnaker, Max Mata, Adam McDonnell and Karl O’ Sullivan.

It took just 57 seconds for the game to spark into life. Will Fitzgerald’s inch perfect through ball found Cawley who ran into the box and fired low past Sam Long in the Drogheda United goal.

The supporters were barely back in their seats when Cawley got his and Rovers’ second just a minute later, again firing past Long after another assist from Fitzgerald.

It was almost 3-0 on 17 minutes. Again Cawley found space and his shot flashed just wide of the goal but Long got a finger tip on it to push it around his post.

Ten minutes later, Drogheda had a chance to pull one back. Edward McGinty was adjudged to have fouled Ryan Brennan in the box and referee Damien MacGraith pointed to the penalty spot. McGinty was unhappy with the referee’s decision and replays suggest he did get a touch on the ball. McGinty saved Chris Lyons’ penalty but the ball rebounded to the on rushing Georgie Poynton who scored from 12 yards.

Rovers didn’t let this setback effect them and went in search of a third goal. Fitzgerald, Byrne, Keena and Cawley were instrumental in Rovers’ attacks and created some good openings all night.

Fitzgerald was hauled down in the area by a Drogs defender on 35 minutes and referee MacGraith had no hesitation and pointed to the spot for the second time of the evening. Keena stepped up but saw his kick saved by Long and it remained 2-1.

Cawley controlled a dipping volley brilliantly just before half time but Long tipped over for a corner, the resulting set piece was headed onto the bar by defender Shane Blaney who rose highest in the box.

It was 2-1 to Rovers at half time in what was a highly entertaining half of football.

The away side came out in the second half in search of an equaliser and they were rewarded on 54 minutes. A cross from the left wasn’t dealt with and Blaney knocked the ball into his own net with pressure from Chris Lyons who was closing him down from behind.

Less than a minute later, Drogs defender Evan Weir was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Colm Horgan and referee MacGraith showed him his marching orders.

Rovers rallied and Liam Buckley made a number of changes with Adam McDonnell, Lewis Banks, Jordan Hamilton and Karl O’ Sullivan all brought on in place of Horgan, Niall Morahan, Byrne and Bolger as Rovers looked for an equaliser.

Some good football from the home side produced some fine chances but a combination of good defending and good goalkeeping just about kept Rovers at bay.

There were chances for Banks, Hamilton and Keena but it was the 91st minute that brought the all important winner. Karl O’ Sullivan’s corner from the left found Lewis Banks. He couldn’t work a shot but it fell to Garry Buckley to slam home his first goal of the season to seal all three points for Liam Buckley’s men and send the home crowd into raptures.

Next up is Shamrock Rovers next Friday night at 7.45pm at home.

Experience was the key factor as hosts Wexford Youths negotiated first-time visitors Sligo Rovers with a hard-earned victory in the Women’s National League at Ferrycarraig Park on Saturday evening, writes Conall Collier.

Rovers travelled with some degree of confidence buoyed by a first home win last Saturday against Treaty Utd.

It was a first visit to Ferrycarraig Park for Steve Feeney’s team to tackle an experienced Wexford side that had won four FAI Cup finals and four League titles since 2015.

That was the enormity of the task facing a Bit O’Red side that has adapted quickly to the demands in a debut season at senior level.

Kristen Sample, Emma Hansberry and Amy Hyndman all started for Sligo Rovers as manager Feeney made three changes from the victory against Treaty with Amy Mahon, Sarah Kiernan and Amy Roddy all dropping to the bench.

Wexford dominated the early exchanges, but were unable to make any impact against a Sligo Rovers rearguard in which Orna O’Dowd and Leah Kelly were outstanding.

Kristen Sample handled confidently throughout and saved well from a Kylie Murphy header in the 22nd minute and again from the same player close to the interval.

However, Wexford grabbed the lead in the 38th minute when Becky Watkins displayed superb control in the penalty area before finishing to the net for the wind-assisted hosts.

Wexford continued to call the shots in the second-half with Ellen Molloy narrowly wide in the 49th minute and then Kristen Sample saved again from Kylie Murphy.

The Bit O’Red continued to battle with great determination and that had a frustrating impact on the hosts who, nevertheless, capitalised on some defensive hesitancy with nine minutes remaining to make it 2-0.

Sample saved spectacularly from Murphy, but Ciara Rossiter pounced on the loose ball and finished to the net to wrap up the victory.

Emma Hansberry limped out of the action for Sligo Rovers nine minutes from time while the hosts were denied a third goal when Sample denied Watkins in the 85th minute.

Wexford Youths – Maeve Williams; Orlaith Conlon, Della Doherty, Kylie Murphy, Teegan Lynch, Becky Watkins, Ellen Molloy, Ciara Rossiter, Meabh Russell, Nicola Sinnott, Aoibheann Clancy.

Subs – Emma Donohoe for Sinnott 76 mins, Jess Lawlor for Murphy and Siun Murdiff for Lynch both 85 mins, Freya De Mange for Rossiter and Freya Roche for Molloy both 88 mins.

Sligo Rovers – Kristen Sample; Leah Kelly, Ruth Monaghan, Emma Hansberry, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Hyndman, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Aoife Brennan, Katie Melly. Subs – Fiona Doherty for Brennan 66 mins, Lauren McLellan for Melly 76 mins, Amy Roddy for Hansberry and Kerri O’Hara for Kelly both 81mins, Ciara Henry for F Doherty 88 mins.

Report: Conall Collier

Our Match Programme will as always be available just inside the turnstiles from 6.30pm this evening.

Our programme team have had a busy period of late with four home games already taking place in April, and another to come next Friday against Shamrock Rovers.

Manager Liam Buckley looks back at recent matches and welcomes tonights opponents in his usual Manager article.

Club Chairman Tommy Higgins also has his usual article inside the front cover.

Our guests this evening are Carrick Town FC from The Sligo Leitrim Youths League. We get some information on the club and have some photos from their Under 12 team. Bit O’ Red midfielder Niall Morahan is sponsored by Carrick Town for the last number of seasons.

There are articles from programme contributors Keith O’ Dwyer, Stephen McLaughlin, Conall Collier and Joe Molloy.

We get a look at both squads with information on players and management in our player bio sections.

Michael Melly was at our Women’s Under 19 fixture against Donegal last weekend and we have some action shots from the 4-0 victory as well as photos from our last men’s home game against UCD.

The LOI TV Roadshow was recently recorded live from The Riverside Hotel in Sligo and we get a look at how it went.

We finish off with our usual Rack Your Brains Quiz and a look at our fixtures and results for The 2022 season as well as a look at our Associate Sponsors.

Tonight’s Match Sponsors are The Snug Bar, Stephen Street Car Park in Sligo and we have an advert from the bar included in tonight’s programme.

Match Ball Sponsors are Oh Hello Clothing who are also official partners to our Senior Women’s team.

Thanks to both businesses for their support.

Programmes are just €4 and available from the programme team inside the turnstiles.

Sligo Rovers host Drogheda United at The Showgrounds on Saturday night in what will be the second meeting between the two clubs this season.

Last time out back in March, Rovers won 3-0 in Head in The Game Park thanks to goals from Lewis Banks, Jordan Hamilton and Will Fitzgerald.

Since then, The Drogs have been in good form and are currently unbeaten in their last six Premier Division games, winning two of those and drawing four.

Rovers are coming into the game on the back of a Derby win against North-West neighbours Finn Harps on Monday night after Karl O’ Sullivan scored his first goal for the club in the first half.

Manager Liam Buckley looks forward to Saturday’s game:

‘’It should be a good game on Saturday night. I am looking forward to it. We were happy to pick up three points on Monday night and are in fourth position going into the weekend. We have been working hard again in training this week and want to play well against Drogheda who have been in good form lately.

When we played them up there we did really well in the first half, going three goals ahead. We’ll be looking to make a good start again and try to keep improving.

The fans have come out in good numbers this season at The Showgrounds and it’s important that they come out again and get behind the lads as always. It should be a decent crowd on the night.

In team news, Buckley expects to have a full squad to chose from and there are no suspension issues.

Turnstiles open at 6.30pm and supporters are encouraged to arrive early and park responsibly around the area.