Bit O’ Red goalkeeper Luke McNicholas continues his loan spell with Cliftonville until the end of the NIFL season and the Mayo man has been in impressive form so far this season.

McNicholas has played 19 games, keeping 13 clean sheets across three competitions.

Cliftonville are currently in second position in the Danske Bank Premiership, one point off Linfield who are on top.

This Sunday, Luke will be in League Cup Final action at Windsor Park as him and his team-mates face Coleraine at 3pm.

Everyone at the club wish Luke all the best in Sunday’s Final.

Bit O’ Red defender Nando Pijnaker has been included in New Zealand’s Senior squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Qatar.

The eight team tournament starts on March 17th and consists of two groups of four. Nando and New Zealand have been drawn to play Papua New Guinea on Friday March 18th (2pm Irish Time), Fiji on Monday March 21st (5pm Irish Time) and New Caledonia on Thursday March 24th (5pm Irish Time).

The top two teams in both groups will advance to semi finals with a final set to take place on March 31st.

The winner will then progress to play in the Intercontinental Play-Off against the fourth placed Concacaf team for a place at The World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Pijnaker will play for The Bit O’ Red against Shamrock Rovers next Friday night in Tallaght (March 18th) before travelling to Qatar to join up with the squad for their games against Fiji and New Caledonia.

Pijnaker:

”I am happy and excited to be back involved with the national team and I am looking forward to the games ahead”

Our Associate Sponsorship package has been highly successful this year with almost 100 sold to local supporters and businesses throughout the region.

Our package consists of a book of tickets, one ticket to each SSE Airtricity League Men’s match over the season which can be torn off and brought along and presented for entry.

This proves an ideal way for businesses to give a ticket away in a social media competition, treat some staff or give something back to their own loyal customers.

They also get a window sticker for their premises to let people know they’re supporting The Bit O’ Red as well as being placed on our website in our Associate Sponsor section and in our Matchnight programmes.

To view a list of all our Associate Sponsors you can visit https://www.sligorovers.com/associate-sponsor/

Thanks to all our volunteers who sold Associate Sponsor packages throughout the off season and we look forward to seeing all our sponsors here at The Showgrounds.

In March 2021, Sligo Rovers announced that we would be giving free club jerseys to each new born baby at Sligo University Hospital that year.

This community initiative has been extremely well received by all the families who had a newborn enter the world with their first ever football shirt being a Bit O’ Red one.

2021 saw over 1200 shirts handed out by the maternity staff of SUH. Shirts are given out as part of a leaving pack before making the much anticipated first journey home.

For any families wishing to send in a photo of their newborn in their brand new shirt, you can email media@sligorovers.com and we may use some on social media over the year.

We’d like to thanks Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust for helping us with this project as well as all the staff at the Maternity Ward of Sligo University Hospital.

Our official online store also has infant kits available from 6 months upwards. This consists of our Home jersey and club shorts. You can get yours via the link below:

https://srfcdirect.com/jerseys/kids/

Our Academy teams started competitive action this weekend with all teams in action across Saturday and Sunday.

It was a busy day at The Showgrounds on Saturday with both our Under 17 teams kicking off one after the other. At 1pm, Darragh O’ Reilly’s first competitive game in charge of the team ended in victory with goals from Michael Clifford, Reid Kelly and Kyle McDonagh sealing a 3-2 win over Cavan/Monaghan.

At 3:30pm, Aaron O’ Connor and his Women’s Under 17 side took on Shelbourne at The Sean Fallon Centre. The game ended 3-0 to the visitors but the Bit O’ Red created some chances and will welcome back a number of players for next weekend’s fixture following injury and illness ruling them out this week.

Alan Farry and his Under 14 side hosted Drogheda United at IT Sligo at 2pm and defeated The Drogs 5-2 in an entertaining encounter with goals from Cathair Tighe (2), Liam McLaughlin, Daire McCabe and an OG. It was an impressive performance from the team with some good football played by the opposition as well.

Sunday saw both Under 19 teams in action as our Under 19 men’s team defeated Longford Town 3-2 at The Sean Fallon Centre. Bridel Bosakani scored twice and Kailin Barlow added a third to give Rovers a healthy lead. De Town rallied and scored two late goals to cut the deficit but Declan Boyle’s men held on for the victory.

Darragh Healy’s Women’s Under 19’s travelled to Greystones in Wicklow to take on Bray Wanderers/Greystones at Woodlands. Pixie O’ Hara put in a Player of The Match performance and grabbed an impressive hat-trick to help her side to a 3-1 win to make it a perfect start to the season for the team.

Our Under 15 side defeated Cavan/Monaghan in Cootehill yesterday afternoon with goals from Callum Lynch and Conor Langan to give Paul Masterson’s side an impressive opening day win away from home. Both sides played out an entertaining game with Rovers winning out in the end.

Next weekend’s fixtures:

Under 14 Vs Derry City (A), Saturday

Under 15 Vs Longford Town (H), Sunday

Under 17 Women Vs Peamount United (A), Saturday

Under 17 Men Vs Galway United (A), Saturday

Under 19 Women Vs DLR Waves (A), Sunday

Under 19 Men Vs Drogheda United (A), Sunday

Admission to all Academy games is free of charge with exact kick off times and venues confirmed via social media later in the week. Follow @sligoroversacad to find out more.

Sligo Rovers created a little piece of history on Saturday evening in west Dublin when the club fielded a senior team for the first time in the Women’s National League.

The outcome was somewhat predictable, a 6-0 victory for hosts and seasoned campaigners Peamount Utd, but after the initial disappointment of conceding six goals, the players and management of the Bit O’Red can take plenty of positives from the encounter.

There was, as there usually is on occasions like this, a Sligo Rovers connection with Peamount.

The Dublin club’s manager is James O’Callaghan who graced the Showgrounds during the final part of Dermot Keeley era back in the 1992 /’93 season.

“I went on loan to Sligo Rovers from Shelbourne, I just missed the team that went on to win the FAI Cup the following season under Willie McStay,

maybe that’s why they won it,” he quipped when questioned on Saturday about his links with the club.

From O’Callaghan’s perspective, it was a good way to start the season.

Four first-half goals was just about what Peamount deserved against a hard-working and tenacious Sligo Rovers side that was playing a first competitive senior women’s game in the almost 100-year history of the club.

And it almost started with a sensational first minute goal for Sligo Rovers when a cross from the left wing by Amy Hyndman was spilled by

Peamount ‘keeper Niamh Reid-Burke, but she recovered quickly and the danger was averted.

At the other end, Kristen Sample displayed her goalkeeping ability with some fine saves, but despite some determined defending against wave after wave of Peamount pressure, the opening goal arrived with a fine Dora Gorman drive after 21 minutes.

Erin McLaughlin added a second goal soon after and the talented Stephanie Roche eased the hosts into the comfort zone with a two-goal salvo close to the interval.

The Rovers were more competitive after the resumption and while a revival was never on the cards, they made Peamount work extremely hard for two more goals which arrived from Aine O’Gorman on the hour and with 10 minutes remaining.

Sligo Rovers manager Steve Feeney expressed satisfaction with the way his team showed marked improvement in the second-half.

“Some of the goals we conceded were down to mistakes, but Peamount scored a couple of very good goals also, we will benefit from the game we can now look forward to our first home game of the season next weekend,” commented Feeney.

Peamount Utd – Niamh Reid Burke; Lauryn O’Callaghan, Chloe Moloney, Tiegan Ruddy, Erin McLaughlin, Karen Duggan, Sadhbh Doyle, Dora Gorman,

Alannah McEvoy, Stephanie Roche, Aine O’Gorman. Subs – Tara O’Hanlom for McEvoy, Jetta Berrill for McLaughlin and Lauren Kelly for Doyle all 65 mins, Sarah Duke Power for Moloney 73m, Michelle Doonan for Roche 81m

Sligo Rovers – Kristen Sample; Amy Hyndman, Ruth Monaghan, Orna O’Dowd, Helen Monaghan, Lauren Boles, Amy Roddy, Katie Melly, Gemma McGuinness, Aoife Brennan, Fiona Doherty. Subs – Erin Coyle for H Monaghan and Paula McGrory for Brennan both 65 mins, Lauren McLellan for Doherty 76m,  Ciara Henry for Hyndham 83m.

Referee – Daryl Carolan; assistant-referees Wayne McDonnell, Chris Campbell, fourth official – Sarah Dyas.

DAY ONE RESULTS

Peamount 6, Sligo Rovers 0; Shelbourne 1, Bohemain FC 0; DLR Waves 5, Treaty Utd 0; Cork City 0, Galway 3; Athlone Town 1, Wexford 2.

NEXT UP

Saturday 12^th March – Sligo Rovers v DLR Waves; Bohemian FC v Athlone Town; Treaty v Cork City; Galway v Peamount; Wexford v Shelbourne.

Report: Conall Collier

Our dedicated programme team have been busy getting ready for the new season and they have once again produced a fabulous match programme for our game against Dundalk this evening (7.45pm).

Our match sponsors are Sligo HGV Training and our match ball sponsor is Derek Duffy Painting. We wish to thank both businesses for their kind sponsorship. They will be our guests this evening and we look forward to greeting them.

Our after match reception is, as always, at Foleys Bar on Castle Street.

Our programme will include a message from Bit O’ Red manager Liam Buckley and Chairman Tommy Higgins as we reflect on our opening two games and look ahead to our 2022 season.

We have local youth club St Johns FC as our special guests this evening and they will provide ball kids and take part in half time mini games on the pitch. The programme will have a feature on the club as well as their Under 11 team photo.

Conall Collier is back once again this season with his article ‘Capitalizing on New-Found Enthusiasm Is The Challenge’.

Skipper David Cawley recently reached a landmark 250 games for Rovers after Monday night’s game with Derry City and Keith O’ Dwyer caught up with the Ballina man for a feature in this evening edition.

Stephen McLaughlin writes about Sligo Rovers and The SSE Airtricity League and we also have some fun features such as ‘Where Are They Now’ with Joe Molloy and a rack your brains quiz.

James Fallon captured the action shots from our opening two fixtures this past week and we get to know our new Bit O’ Red squad with our player profiles as well as learning about our opposition Dundalk FC who have a much changed squad this season but have made a positive start to their campaign under new manager Stephen O’ Donnell.

The programme costs €4 and is available inside the turnstiles.

There is a free 2022 mini fixture list card handed out with each programme. which is a handy must have for all supporters.

Sligo Rovers face Dublin side Peamount United tomorrow evening at 5pm at PLR Park in Greenogue.

The game will be streamed live on LOITV and broadcast on Ocean FM Sport.

The Bit O’ Red have enjoyed a busy pre-season with five fixtures over the course of January and February. Manager Steve Feeney has been just as busy in the background getting his squad together. 25 players are now registered for the squad, with some of those coming through from our Under 19 squad to add some strength in depth.

Feeney knows the threat Peamount will post but has belief in his squad:

”

We are looking forward to getting the league games started after all the work put in during pre-season. We know it will be a very tough test on Saturday but we are looking forward to the challenges this league will provide us on a weekly basis and are excited to face each one head on. Peamount have proven over a number of seasons how strong they are and have some full Internationals

 in their squad so our players are looking forward to testing themselves against a top team with top players.”

The hosts narrowly missed out on a League Title in 2021 with a heartbreaking defeat on the final day of the season against Galway FC but with the re-signings of International players such as Stephanie Roche and Aine O’ Gorman, they’ll hope to go one better in 2022.

Feeney explains his squad will embrace the challenges that face them this season:

”While Saturday is only one game and our season won’t be defined by it, we will be looking to show what we hope we can bring to the league this season. We need to focus on ourselves and do all we can to give a good performance in each game.  It’s an exciting time for all involved with the club and the players have given so much over a number of weeks that it will be great to see them start their journey in the national league for Rovers this Saturday.”

In team news, Emma Hansberry, Emma Doherty (both Hamstring) will face late fitness tests along with Yasmin Connolly who is recovering from a quad strain., Leah Kelly (Shoulder) Jessica Casey (Ear) and Kerri O’Hara (Ill) are all out.

The game will be streamed live on LOITV.IE and you can listen in on Ocean FM who will be doing live match commentary with Jessica Farry and Alan Cawley.

We wish the squad and staff all the very best as we kickstart our first ever season an WNL Senior level.

Our Under 14 squad will travel to Liverpool this weekend as we continue to grow our partnership with the English Premier League club.

In January 2021, we announced a strategic partnership with The Toffees with the view that we would partner on initiatives and cross-promotional activities ranging from fan engagement, marketing, content collaborations and tailored membership packages to the development of joint football summer camps and the opportunity for pre-season training bases for Academy teams at both clubs.  

With COVID 19 impacting on travel throughout 2021, Bit O’ Red Chairman Tommy Higgins, Head of Academy Conor O’ Grady and First Team Men’s assistant manager John Russell took the opportunity to visit The Blues at the start of this month for a two day visit.

The lads met with former Bit O’ Red star Seamus Coleman as well as other Everton staff and watched the sides victory over Brentford in the FA Cup.

Our Under 14 squad, managed by Alan Farry will take on their Everton counterparts in a friendly at 4pm on Friday at the club’s state of the art Finch Farm training centre.

On Saturday the squad will take in Everton first team Premier League tie with Manchester City at Goodison Park as special guests of the club.

On Sunday at Fleetwood Town FC, the squad will take part in a six-team tournament. The lads are in a group of three against the hosts and Oldham Athletic.

Under 14 boss Alan Farry:

”It promises to be a weekend to remember for the lads. To play at Finch Farm tomorrow will be something special for them and then to see such a high quality game on Saturday will be a fantastic learning curve for them. We wrap up on Sunday with an exciting tournament at Fleetwood which they are all really looking forward to”.

We look forward to continuing to work with Everton over the coming months on other projects which are currently being worked on by both clubs.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to reveal our brand-new 2022 Third choice jersey as we take to the road for the first time this season with a trip to Inchicore this Friday night.

The kit, designed in association with our kit supplier JOMA Sport, is a fresh design which will incorporate our Bit O’ Red on its crest.

Designed with a V-neck and raglan sleeves for ease of movement, it incorporates a Micro-Mesh technology in underarms and sides to provide optimal breathability. The kit will be donned for the first time in Friday’s game along with a black short and black sock combination.

The club are also delighted to announce a new contract extension with our Kit and Sportswear supplier JOMA, who have now been our suppliers for the last 6 years. The new extension will see the brand be part of the Sligo Rovers team until at least the end of 2024.

JOMA Sport Brand Manager for Ireland Susanne McNamara:

‘’JOMA Sport is delighted to renew its sponsorship with Sligo Rovers FC for a third consecutive contract. Having developed a strong working relationship with the club on many levels, Joma will continue to provide all On-Field Playing Kits, Training, Travel and Leisurewear.

We look forward to continuing our support for a club that plays such an important part in Ireland’s soccer community, particularly with new developments such as the Ladies Teams and Academy. We wish them the very best of luck in the ongoing season.’’

Club Chairman Tommy Higgins expressed his satisfaction with the news:

‘’As a club, we are delighted with both the service and product on offer from JOMA Sport. Since 2016, we have had an excellent working relationship with the brand and look forward to working together for at least the next three seasons. The new jersey is a beautiful design and we hope that our supporters like it’’.

The jersey is out now and available online here https://srfcdirect.com/kits/third/ .

You can also visit The Showgrounds Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm to purchase yours or call into partners at Intersport Elverys in Johnston Court Shopping Centre open daily from 9.30am.