Author: David Conway

Team News: Away v Galway United

John Russell will take his Sligo Rovers side to Eamon Deacy Park to face his home town club for the first time, as the Bit O’Red travel south to take on Galway United, kick-off 7.45pm.

This Premier Division clash will be Rovers’ first top flight tussle in Galway since 2017, following the Tribesmen’s promotion from the First Division last year. 

Rovers will again be without John Mahon and Nando Pijanker who continue their rehab on respective achilles and rib injuries. While wide men Will Fitzgerald (foot) and Simon Power (groin) are also set to miss this latest Connacht derby.

There is good news for Russell who welcomes JR Wilson back from suspension after he missed Rovers’ superb May Bank Holiday Monday win over St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds. 

Speaking ahead of Rovers’ first visit to Galway in all competitions since a narrow one goal win down there in the EA Sports Cup in 2018, Russell says his side are in buoyant humour following that defeat of the Saints.

“The players have rested well and it’s another quick turnaround to Galway. We know how big of a game this is for both clubs and sets of supporters and I’d imagine we’ll have a good crowd heading down there. It’s a massive game”, he said. 

“Galway have surprised a few since they were promoted. They’re on a great run of form at the moment so we need to maximise our performance levels to get a result down there.

“This league is so competitive and anyone can beat anyone on their day. We’ve seen that so many times since the start of the season with teams at the bottom picking up results against those towards the top.

“The win over Pat’s was important of course. But it is vital now that we go to Galway and continue to build momentum.” 

Chapman strike earns Rovers the points

Sligo Rovers 1 – 0 St Patrick’s Athletic

Ellis Chapman’s 23rd minute strike gave Sligo Rovers a much needed shot in the arm as they saw off St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds.

Chapman’s strike from range, handed the Bt O’Red their first win in seven and moved the Connacht men to within a single point of their opponents in the league table.

Without a host of first team players courtesy of injuries and suspension, Sligo boss John Russell handed 18-year-old Conor Reynolds a first senior start in place of the suspended JR Wilson, while Fabrice Hartmann returned to the first eleven for the first time in three games.

The starting Saints, looking for a fourth win on the spin over their opponents, included Kieran Freeman, Jamie Lennon and Jake Mulraney each of whom missed Friday’s win over Drogheda.
Rovers led this game at the interval and although they impressed at times, it was the Dubliners who fashioned the majority of the play in front of goal.

John Daly’s charges should have been ahead on nine minutes when Chris Forrester and Brandon Kavanagh combined to find former Sligo youth Ruairi Keating. The striker, unmarked, fluffed his lines from a goal-scoring position as he somehow blazed over from ten yards out.

Conor Keeley’s header from a Kavanagh free landed on the roof of the Rovers net on the quarter hour as Pat’s issued another warning shot, Mulraney in particular causing concern down their left flank.

Chapman then fired the home side in front on 23 minutes when the midfielder struck for his fourth goal of the year. The former Cheltenham man steadying himself before lashing past Danny Rogers from 25 yards, somewhat against the flow of proceedings.

Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty had to bat away an effort from the angle from Keating early in the second period, as Russell’s side looked to map a way to their first win over Pat’s since last year’s May Bank Holiday.

McGinty was in the thick of things again on 61 minutes when he executed a magnificent reaction save to deny Forrester’s stab at goal from a swerving Kavanagh set piece.

The home support thought they had a penalty on 71 when substitute Rein Smit went to ground following a challenge by Pat’s net minder Rogers. Referee David Dunne translated the situation differently however, awarding a free out and booking the Dutch striker for simulation.  

Connor Malley’s drive from 30 yards whistled over the Dubliners’ crossbar with twelve to go as Rovers, now the better side, sought to kill the game.
There was a late push from the visitors, who looked unconvincing going forward although Rovers did have to rely on a heroic late block from skipper Niall Morahan on Pat’s sub Mason Melia.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Conor Reynolds (Kailin Barlow 68), Charlie Wiggett, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Ellis Chapman, Connor Malley; Fabrice Hartmann (Owen Elding 57), Stefan Radosavljevic (Wilson Waweru 84); Max Mata (Rein Smit 68).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Danny Rogers; Kieran Freeman, Conor Keeley, Luke Turner, Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon; Chris Forrester, Brandon Kavanagh (Romal Palmer 68); Jake Mulraney (Kian Leavy 73), Alex Nolan (Mason Melia 68), Ruairi Keating.  

Referee: David Dunne

Attendance: 2,548.

Team News: v St Patrick’s Athletic

Sligo Rovers are in action for the second time in four days this Bank Holiday Monday as St Patrick’s Athletic visit the Showgrounds. 

Supporters are asked to note the earlier kick off time of 5pm. 

Rovers will again be without the services of Simon Power and Will Fitzgerald. While Nando Pijnaker and John Mahon remain unavailable. 

JR Wilson will serve a suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards. 

While Wilson Waweru will be assessed before the game. 

Rovers are looking to recover from Friday’s defeat to Waterford as they face Pat’s for the second time this year. 

Manager John Russell wants his players to bounce back on Monday afternoon. 

“Friday was hugely frustrating for us and our supporters. We do not like losing games and the players were all hurting in the dressing room afterwards as they knew we had enough chances to win the game”, he noted. 

“Monday gives us an opportunity in front of our home fans to get a result and build some momentum again. We need everyone in the ground to get right behind us.” 

Pattisson goal decides Waterford encounter

Sligo Rovers 0 – 1 Waterford

Sligo Rovers were undone by Christie Pattison’s 46th minute strike as the Bit O’Red were beaten by Waterford at the Showgrounds. 

Following a 15 minute delay to kick-off due to an issue with the pitch, a competitive opening period ensued between two sides eager to take the spoils. 

Max Mata nodded a Reece Hutchinson cross wide after five minutes, while both Ben McCormack and Connor Parsons skied respective efforts at the opposite end.

The game’s first real chance arrived on 20 minutes when Pattisson found the roaming Parsons in space. The wide man pulled a superb save out of Ed McGinty at the goalkeeper’s near post.

A number of injuries to the Sligo squad meant Rovers were only able to name one experienced first-team player on their bench. 

It was the hosts who ended the opening 45 the stronger. Stefan Radosavljevic and Connor Malley going close to an opener. While Grant Horton managed to sweep Mata’s effort off the visitor’s goal-line after both Malley and Ellis Chapman had both threatened in the build up.

The second half was just seconds old when Waterford took the lead. Pattison crashing a thundering right-footed half-volley beyond McGinty after Rowan McDonald’s cross found the wide-man in space. 

Rovers pressed for the equaliser late on and went close again courtsey of Mata and Charlie Wiggett. While McGinty pulled off a wonderful late stop to deny former Rovers man Padraig Amond late on.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Charlie Wiggett, Ollie Denham, Ellis Chapman (Owen Elding 71); JR Wilson, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Rein Smit, Max Mata, Stefan Radosavljevic (Fabrice Hartmann 71). 

Waterford: Sam Sargeant; Darragh Power, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Leahy; Dean McMenamy (Niall O’Keefe 75), Ben McCormack (Connor Evans 84), Rowan McDonald; Christie Pattison (Maleace Asamoah 72), Connor Parsons; Padraig Amond. 

Referee: Gavin Colfer. 

Attendance: 2,087.

Team News: v Waterford United

Sligo Rovers have a number of injury concerns ahead of what is a busy May Bank Holiday weekend for the Bit O’Red. 

Rovers take on Waterford at the Showgrounds this Friday, kick off 7.45pm before St Pat’s visit Sligo three days later, on Monday. 

Simon Power will miss the meeting with the Blues, having picked up a knock against Galway recently. 

While Will Fitzgerald, Fabrice Hartmann, Max Mata and Wilson Waweru will be assesed ahead of kick-off. 

Long term absentees Nando Pijnaker and John Mahon continue their recovery from long term knocks. 

Rovers beat Keith Long’s side by a single goal to nil at the RSC back in March. Ellis Chapman’s strike from range decided the contest on the night after what was an extremely closely fought encounter. 

Rovers boss John Russell is expecting similar again on Friday. 

“Our last game with Waterford was a very tight affair and I expect no different this time around”, he said. 

“The players are fully focused on getting a positive result in front of our home supporters. We need them right behind us in what is a big weekend with two home fixtures.”

Match Report: v Drogheda United

Drogheda United 3 -1 Sligo Rovers

Will Fitzgerald’s early opener wasn’t enough as an injury ravaged Sligo Rovers subsequently conceded three without reply to Drogheda United, who beat the Bit O’Red at Weavers Park.

The winger had Rovers in the ascendancy just seven minutes in when he picked out the opposite corner of the net after Wilson Waweru had laid Connor Malley’s forward ball into the path of the Limerick native.

Rovers, who were without a number of key players due to knocks, were on top for spells in the remainder of the tie, but goals from Darragh Markey, Frantz Pierrot and Aaron McNally turned the tide in United’s favour.

Markey sent an unstoppable placed effort from far out into Ed McGinty’s top corner on 24 minutes.

The sides were level until the 70th minute when Luke Heeney went to ground in front of McGinty. Pierrot dispatching the spot-kick.

The result was secured four minutes from time when McNally found a way around the Rovers rearguard.

Up next for Sligo is a home meeting with Waterford on Friday night, while St Pat’s round off a busy May bank holiday weekend with their visit on Monday 6th May, kick-off 5pm.

Drogheda United: Jethren Barr; Luke Heeney, Jack Keaney, Hayden Cann, Conor Kane; Gary Deegan, Oisin Gallagher; Adam Foley (Aaron McNally, 65), Darragh Markey (Dave Webster, 90+1), Warren Davis; Frantz Pierrot (Ryan Brennan, 84).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; John Ross Wilson, Charlie Wiggett, Oliver Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan Rein Smit, 78), Connor Malley, Ellis Chapman; Stefan Radosavljevic (Owen Elding, 78), Will Fitzgerald (Kailin Barlow, 46); Wilson Waweru.

Referee: Mark Houlihan

Team News: Away v Drogheda United

Sligo Rovers will hope for a first win in five this Friday as they travel to the north east to take on Drogheda United at Weavers Park. 

The Bit O’Red will be without defensive duo John Mahon and Nando Pijnaker who remain sidelined for a number of weeks, while winger Simon Power will miss out having sustained a knock in last Monday’s stalemate with Galway United.

Rovers have already recorded victory over Drogheda this season when they beat Kevin Doherty’s charges by three goals to one back in mid-March. A quick-fire Max Mata double was followed by a sensational back-heel finish from Wilson Waweru late on, after Andrew Quinn had halved the deficit. 

Speaking ahead of the game, manager John Russell says he is satisfied with the way his team are gelling as the weeks go by. 

“I was pleased with how we played even though we only managed two draws last weekend”, he said.  

“You can see the players are starting to make good connections on the pitch which was evident in the build up to Fabrice Hartmann’s wonder strike against Dundalk. 

“I felt we deserved a penalty in each of the games which was frustrating. I’m hoping these decisions balance themselves out over the course of the season. 

“The players have recovered over the last few days and are ready to go again. As always, we must focus on ourselves and play to our strengths.”

Kick-off at Weavers Park is 7.45pm. 

Match Report: v Galway United

Sligo Rovers 0 – 0 Galway United

Sligo Rovers kept their fifth clean sheet of the season as they were held to a scoreless draw by Galway United at the Showgrounds.

Both sides created chances throughout but both defences and goalkeepers were on top in this one as the spoils were shared. 

Without a win in Sligo since Spring 1996, it was the away side who carved out the better of the openings early on although United may have been lucky not to have conceded an early penalty when Al-Amin Kazeem connected with Ellis Chapman inside the Galway area. 

McGinty had to parry away a curling effort from the inside of Ed McCarthy’s right foot while there was a great chance for Killian Brouder who nodded over from all of five yards.

Simon Power was withdrawn with a knee injury in the second half but did have time to knock an effort off Brendan Clarke’s far post. Chapman blasting over on the follow up.

Both Rovers’ Mata and Galway’s Stephen Walsh went close to opening the scoring late in the half. Mata heading Hartmann’s corner into the ground at the back post, while Walsh blasted his shot across the face of McGinty’s goal. Both players might have done more with their respective efforts. 

Rovers had lost the services of both Hartmann and Power by the time substitute Stefan Radosavljevic fired over from a Will Fitzgerald cross on 64 minutes during a second period in which the chances were at a premium. 

McGinty had to react to keep out a Maurice Nugent header from a Hurley set-piece five minutes later. While the on-loan stopper was called upon again to tip another Hurley header over his crossbar with four to go as the Tribesmen threatened late on. 

There were further opportunities in the eight added minutes. Kazeem blocking Wilson Waweru, while McGinty reached far into the bottom corner to get behind Hurley’s strike on the 98th minute. 

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Charlie Wiggett, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Simon Power (Stefan Radosavljevic 57), Ellis Chapman (Rein Smit 79), Fabrice Hartmann (Will Fitzgerald HT); Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 73).

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Rob Slevin, Killian Brouder, Maurice Nugent (Conor O’Keefe 76); Jeannot Esua, Al-Amin Kazeem; David Hurley; Ed McCarthy (Aodh Dervan 67), Karl O’Sullivan (Francely Lomoboto 83); Stephen Walsh, Wassim Aouachria (Vincent Borden HT). 

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

Attedance: 2,627.

Reminder of AGM tonight

As previously advised Sligo Rovers will hold their AGM tonight, Tuesday, April 23rd at 7.30pm at the Clayton Hotel, Sligo.

The AGM will see the election of the 2024 Management Committee, a presentation of 12 months of club finances from the club’s Treasurer and the Chairman and Secretary’s report.

Please note only full paid up members or those enjoying the privileges of membership in accordance with the society rules are eligible to attend the AGM

SLIGO FOOTBALL AND SPORT DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY LTD

(Sligo Rovers Football Club)

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Address

2. Minutes of Previous 2023 AGM

3. Matters Arising

4. Secretary’s Report

5. CEO Report

6. Treasure’s Report, Adoption of Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet.

7. Appointment of Auditors

8. Election of Committee of Management

9. Any Other Business

The Management Committee Nomination form is available for those interested in joining the committee by emailing administrator@sligorovers.com.

A zoom link will be available for members looking to attend the meeting virtually. Members who wish to avail of this option are asked to email shane@sligorovers.com at the earliest opportunity, and a link will be returned to access via Zoom.

Team News: v Galway United

Sligo Rovers will look for Connacht derby bragging rights this Monday evening as the Bit O’Red take on Galway United in Premier Division action for the first time since 2017. 

The Tribesmen will make the short journey north to take on Rovers for a first competitive contest between the sides since Sligo’s win over United in Eamon Deacy Park in the EA Sports Cup in 2018, Adam Morgan scoring the only goal that day in a narrow win for Rovers. 

Monday’s game was recently re-arranged after the initial meeting was postponed following the effects of Storm Kathleen back in early April. 

Rovers boss John Russell must plan without long-term injured duo John Mahon and Nando Pijnaker. While both Max Mata and Fabrice Hartmann will be assesed in the lead up, having both sustained knocks in the Dundalk game. 

There is some good news for Russell who will include winger Simon Power in his squad for the first time since he was sent off against Waterford at the RSC. 

Speaking ahead of the game, Russell said:

“Galway had a big result on Friday night defeating Shelbourne so we know we’re in for a tough game. 

“As always, we must focus on ourselves and play to our strengths which we showed in the first half on Friday night. They key tomorrow is doing it for 90 minutes. When you’re on top in a game you cannot come off it. You need to keep pushing on. 

“The players, staff and supporters are relishing the first Connacht derby in a number of years so hopefully it will be a big night at the Showgrounds.”

Kick-off at the Showgrounds is 7.45pm.