Author: David Conway

Match Report: v Waterford

Waterford 0 – 1 Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers occupy second spot in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division after Ellis Chapman’s wonderful strike from range settled the game at the RSC on Friday, as the in-form Bit O’Red beat Waterford.

Rovers extended their unbeaten run to four in the process and kept their third clean sheet in their last four games despite playing the last twenty minutes of this game with ten men, after Simon Power was somewhat harshly sent off.

John Russell’s side were to bring to an end, the Blues’ unbeaten record this season but there were chances for both camps in the opening period.

Malaeace Asamoah’s header landed on the roof of Ed McGinty’s goal early on, while the reliable Sligo goalkeeper palmed away a Ryan Burke effort from the angle shortly after.

For Rovers, Fabrice Hartmann and Nando Pijnaker both worked Sam Sargeant in the Waterford nets. 
Chapman struck for his third league goal of the season five minutes into the second half. The former Cheltenham man firing home from distance to the delight of the 150 or so travelling supporters.

 There were chances for Rovers to double their lead. Max Mata denied by Sargeant after a loose pass in the host’s rearguard while Pijnaker found a way to goal but his effort was ruled out for offside. 

Rovers were then reduced to ten with thirteen minutes of normal time to play when referee Marc Lynch decided to show the winger red after a challenge on a Waterford player. Much to the bemusement of both the visiting bench and support.

Rovers smothered any hope of a Waterford revival, limiting Keith Long’s charges to half chances. Former Rovers striker Padraig Amond mustered a late opportunity but McGinty held the effort as he claimed his fourth clean sheet of the season. Rovers doing enough to hold on for a first victory in Waterford since 2021. 

Waterford FC: Sam Sargeant; Darragh Power, Ryan Burke, Niall O’Keeffe (Ben McCormack 70), Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald, Padraig Amond, Conor Parsons, Maleace Asamoah (Dean McMenamy 70), Darragh Leahy (Connor Evans 85), Kacper Radkowski (Christie Pattison 70).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Reece Hutchinson, Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 65), Charlie Wiggett, Niall Morahan, Fabrice Hartmann (William Fitzgerald 65), Oliver Denham, Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 65), Simon Power, Conor Malley, Nando Pijnaker.

Referee: Marc Lynch.

Team News: Waterford Away

Sligo Rovers make a return to league action following last weekend’s international break this Friday, with a trip to the RSC to face Waterford, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Bit O’Red will again be without John Mahon. While full back JR Wilson will be assessed on the day having picked up a hamstring strain, but is doubtful to recover in time.

Rovers face into a busy Easter weekend, with the almost 600km round trip to Waterford coming first. While we are back on the road three days later to face St Patrick’s Athletic in Dublin on Monday evening. 

Friday’s game against Keith Long’s charges will be Rovers’ first against the Blues since their promotion last season and a first journey to the RSC for Rovers in three years. 

With two wins in our last three, Rovers are in good form heading into what manager John Russell expects will be a stern encounter.  

“Waterford have had a good start to the season”, the Rovers boss says. “They have some really good players so we know it will be a tough test on Friday night. 

“We come into the game looking to build on our performances so far. We have a new group so it’s important we continue to improve our connections on the pitch while still picking up points.”

Showgrounds Redevelopment Fundraiser Announced

The club have today unveiled a major fundraiser towards the Showgrounds redevelopment.

Donations are now open for the fundraiser – Benny’s Bull Run – which will culminate in the 24 hours prior to our next men’s home game v Galway United on Saturday 6th April.

Over Friday 5th and Saturday 6th of April, Benny will be making the 1,928 metre journey from Queen Maeve’s Square to the Showgrounds. Every euro donated will help Benny move along on his journey from Queen Maeve’s Square to the gates of the Showgrounds. For every €20 donated, Benny will move one metre closer home.

Full details of the important fundraiser can be found on the dedicated website below, where donations can now be made:

https://bennysbullrun.com

Article: The Leitrim Leader

Rovers captain for 2024, Niall Morahan, chatted to Leo Gray at the start of the season, about his rise through the Showgrounds academy, his pride at leading out the Bit O’Red and his hopes for the 2024 campaign.

Niall Morahan carries the responsibility of leadership lightly.

Being one of the youngest captains in the attritional arena of the League of Ireland is a daunting challenge but the Leitrim man embraces the task enthusiastically, inspired rather than inhibited by the role.

At 23 years, he’s one of the youngest players to skipper Sligo Rovers. If that sets him apart in the pantheon of great warriors who have worn the prestigious armband, there’s something else that distinguishes him. He’s the first man from his county to captain the Bit O’Red.

“It’s a huge privilege to captain this great club,” he insists. “As a proud Leitrim man, it’s an honour for my county too. I’m aware Rovers have always had a solid base of supporters in the Carrick-on-Shannon area and throughout North Leitrim and if my involvement with the club, especially in the role of captain, gets a few more people from my native county following Rovers that would be a nice bonus.”

Articulate, engaging and displaying maturity beyond his years, Morahan’s progress through the club’s under-age ranks to first-team regular and on to the coveted role as skipper reflects the impressive development of Rovers as a modern, self-sustaining club devoted to nurturing home-grown talent and utilising regional resources.

When he joined the Showgrounds academy as a raw teenager, the whole concept of under-age football within the League of Ireland was in its infancy and nobody was quite sure if the fledgling project would stand the test of time.

But Morahan, talented and ambitious, was delighted to be among the early recruits to the revolution, signing on with Rovers under 17s.

“Lads like Ed McGinty, Jack Keaney and John Mahon were a year ahead of me in the academy and there were plenty of really good players in my own age group,” he recalls. “Liam Kerrigan and Mark Byrne were there too. Niall Harrison, Colm Jinks and Danny O’Leary were our coaches, really top class guys were who were a major influence.

“The first priority was to go in every day, learn and improve as much as possible. But of course the ultimate objective was to make it all the way to the first team. Once Ed, Jack and John got the breakthrough, it was a great boost for everybody in the academy. It showed there was a genuine pathway, a real chance to become a professional footballer which was the dream we all shared at that stage of our development.”

A native of Leitrim village, Niall and his sisters, Dara and Niamh, were actively encouraged by their parents, Michael and Orla, both teachers, to engage in sporting pursuits from a very young age.

Niall played soccer with the under-age teams at Carrick Town in Carrick on Shannon and Gaelic football with Allen Gaels in Drumshanbo. His Dad, a coach with the youth set-up at Carrick Town, offered inspiration and guidance, not to mention invaluable schooling in the art of football know-how, and soon the tigerish young midfielder caught the attention of the Sligo/Leitrim squad.

He played with the League’s under 14s in the prestigious Kennedy Cup before linking up with Strand Celtic, another club dedicated to nurturing talented young footballers. Trials with Rovers under 17s followed, eventually leading to a place in the Showgrounds academy.

“It was all a big change from what I was used to, “ he explains. “There were lads from Mayo and Donegal and Sligo and it was a huge step up in terms of the standard of football. I would have been playing as a full-back or in midfield at the time and, thankfully, I settled in very quickly.”

Rapidly establishing himself as a young player with immense potential, Morahan was offered  his first professional contract in the summer of 2018, just after finishing his Leaving Cert at  Carrick on Shannon Community School.

Thanks to the highly successful partnership between Sligo ATU and Sligo Rovers, he was able to combine academic and sporting paths, studying business at College while continuing his football development at the Showgrounds.

Within weeks of signing his first professional deal, Morahan made his first team debut, coming on as a late substitute against Limerick at the Market’s Field in August 2018.

He recalls: “I was only on for a couple of minutes but it was a great thrill. It was what I had aimed for from the moment I joined the club so to make my senior debut was a very special occasion, not just for myself but for my family too. And once I got a taste of it, I wanted more. I remember I was quite nervous coming on but the senior lads were great. David Cawley and Raff Cretaro looked after me and helped me settle into the game. I think that experience, brief though it was, made me even more determined to work harder and try to become a regular. I was determined to grasp whatever opportunity came my way and make the most of it.”

As is the case with a lot of up and coming youngsters, Morahan was in and out of the team for a couple of seasons before nailing down a permanent place in 2020.

“The season was disrupted by Covid so it was all a bit strange,” he remembers. “We had a poor start to the year but we came back after the enforced break and everything seemed to click. We ended up qualifying for Europe and I won the player-of-the-year award. Liam Buckley really put his trust in me that season. He believed in me and gave me the opportunity to prove that I could play at this level of football. I will always be grateful to him for that.”

Rovers unforgettable adventure in European football in 2022 further enhanced Morahan’s reputation as one of the most accomplished midfielders in the League and nobody could have predicted the sudden decline which dragged the team into a relegation battle last season.

While the Leitrim man readily concedes 2023 was hugely disappointing, he insists the experience will make the squad more determined than ever to put the record straight this year.

He says: “The frustrating thing is that we know we’re better than we showed last year. That’s why I feel there will be added motivation this time around among the lads who were here in 2023. That whole experience will make us stronger.”

He’s excited by the new-look squad assembled by manager, John Russell, and very impressed by the quality and application of the new players.

“The manager worked us really hard in pre-season. Already, there’s a great bond within the group. The lads who’ve come in have settled very quickly and there’s a real desire about the place. We’ve got a young and hungry squad and I feel quite confident that we’ll have a good season. The fact that so many people had written us off before the campaign even started is an added motivation. We’ll take that on board and use it to fuel our efforts to prove people wrong.

“On a personal level, it’s a massive honour for me to captain the side this season. I’ve been at the club since I was 12 years old so to come up through the various under-age grades and get to a stage where I lead out the team is something I’m very proud of.”

Match Report v Drogheda United

Sligo Rovers 3 – 1 Drogheda United

A Max Mata double, followed up by a sensational finish late on from substitute Wilson Waweru saw Sligo Rovers leap into third spot in the Premier Division table with a win over Drogheda United at the Showgrounds.

Mata hit a quick-fire double within the space of five minutes as the Bit O’Red led by two at half-time. Andrew Quinn pulled one back for Drogs just shy of the hour, but Rovers never surrendered their lead and hit an insurance goal on 86 minutes courtesy of a wonderful improvised finish from Waweru four minutes from time.

Under the cosh early on, Ed McGinty again proved why he is the league’s top goalkeeper as the former Irish underage international reacted to keep out both Quinn and Frantz Pierrot in the opening exchanges.

Sligo had a shout for a penalty on the quarter hour when Andrew Wogan clumsily chopped down Mata inside his area. Referee Eoghan O’Shea deliberating before deciding against awarding the spot-kick.

Mata had the Bit O’Red in the lead on 21 minutes when he slid in at the front post to meet Ellis Chapman’s cross for his third goal of the year. While the New Zealander netted in similar fashion five minutes later, converting JR Wilson’s ball cross after impressive work in the build-up between Simon Power and Conor Malley. 

Kevin Doherty’s side pushed for a goal for the remainder of the half but their luck was out. McGinty reacting in time to deny former Rovers man Jack Keaney, while Warren Davis struck the foot of the post two minutes from the break. 
Rovers were just inches from a third early in the second half when their other Kiwi, Nando Pijnaker, nodded Fabrice Hartmann’s cross across Wogan’s goal.

United did half the deficit shortly before the hour. Steve Bawa’s initial header came back off the Sligo crossbar before Quinn followed up to bundle the ball across the line.

The wonderful McGinty again kept his side in the lead when he somehow clawed away Pierrot’s close range header from an Aaron McNally cross fifteen minutes from the end.

Substitute Waweru settled the tie four minutes from the end when he pulled off a clever, improvised finish. The former Galway striker cheekily back-heeling his shot beyond Wogan for his first goal for the club following build up play from both Power and debutant Rein Smit.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson (Charlie Wiggett 76), Nando Pijnaker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan; Connor Malley (Rein Smit 78), Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 65); Simon Power, Fabrice Hartmann (Will Fitzgerald 64); Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 76).

Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan; Andrew Quinn, Jack Keaney, Evan Weir, Conor Kane; Oisin Gallagher (Ryan Brennan 62), Gary Deegan; Warren Davis (Aaron McNally 74), Steve Bawa (Kailin Cailloce 63); Darragh Markey; Frantz Pierrot.

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

Attendance: 2.243.

Team News: v Drogheda United

John Russell says his side are in a positive frame of mind going into Sligo Rovers’ Premier Division clash with Drogheda United this Saturday at the Showgrounds, kick off 7.45pm. 

Unbeaten in two and following clean sheets against both Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers, the Bit O’Red boss is keen to maintain that good form this weekend, heading into what will be another huge night under the Showgrounds floodlights. 

With the exception of John Mahon, Russell has a fully fit squad to choose from as we face the Drogs for the first time this year. 
The County Louth side proved a tough nut to crack last season, and the Rovers manager is well aware of the threat Kevin Doherty’s side will pose this term. 

“Drogheda played well last week against Galway United”, he said.  

“They have brought in new players this season but have kept the core group that did well last year so we know we’re in for a tough test.”

Rovers come into this game in steady form following that win in Oriel Park, followed by a really impressive showing against Shamrock Rovers last weekend. Russell now wants to see his squad produce more of the same. 

“We come into the game on the back of some good performances. It’s vital that we take confidence from those games but still keep our focus on improving and raising our levels as the weeks go by. 

“This league is so tough and you need to make sure you arrive at each matchday with the right focus and the right mindset to win the game.”

“It’s another home game for us and one where our supporters can play a huge part in helping us over the line. The atmosphere has been electric so far so we’re hoping for another big night at the Showgrounds.”

Rein Smit signs for Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of Dutch striker Rein Smit, subject to international clearance.

The 23-year-old joins Rovers having trained with the club over a recent number of weeks and has featured in several pre-season friendlies, impressing manager John Russell. 

A product of the Heerenveen academy, where he signed at 13, Smit was a regular in their underage sides before appearing for the first team in the Eredivise. He then made the move to Dutch second tier side Telstar in 2021 where he was an important member of the first team for two seasons. 

The Castricum native has signed a deal until the end of the season and is keen to make his mark as soon as possible. 

“I was in contact with John (Russell) early last year and I wanted to come to Rovers then”, Smit explains. 

“But Telstar didn’t want to let me go then. Then in the summer, I came to visit and see how it was but I had a small injury and couldn’t sign. So in the winter I came out and started to train with Rovers and get fit and happily, I was offered a contract.

“I am always hungry for goals and I want to be involved in both creating and scoring them. It’s going to be a huge challenge to get into the team and stay there but that’s what I’m here to do. I know I need to work hard and show John and the staff what I’m capable of.” 

Settling in Sligo over the past few weeks, Smit is quickly getting familiar with the area, his team-mates and the opposition.   

“Sligo is a really nice place!”, he continued. 

“It’s quieter than the area I am from but the weather is similar! 

“I didn’t know much about Rovers or the League of Ireland before I came but from what I’ve seen, it’s physical but my playing style is physical so I like it.

“I think there’s a really good squad here. We deserved to win last week against Shamrock Rovers and if you deserve to win against the league winners, then you’re doing a good job. The likes of JR Wilson, I love his aggressiveness, Conor Malley’s creativity and Fabrice Hartmann’s skill.” 

Russell had hoped to be able to include the centre forward in his squad from the start of the season. However a slight knock picked up in pre-season, delayed the process.. 

Speaking about his latest signing, Russell said: “I’m delighted to sign Rein. He has been with us since pre-season but unfortunately picked up a slight strain which put his signing back a few weeks. 

“He has a really good pedigree having come up through the Heerenveen academy and then breaking into the first team before moving onto Telstar. 

“We feel he has the attributes to do well in our league and especially in how we play. We will need to be patient in building him up over the next few weeks but we’re all excited to have him join us and add more firepower to our team.”

Match Report: v Shamrock Rovers

Sligo Rovers 0 – 0 Shamrock Rovers

Sligo Rovers were unfortunate not to pick up their first home win of the season as they played out an entertaining scoreless draw with Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Both sides had chances to win the game with the best of them falling to Sligo’s Ellis Chapman in the second half. The former Cheltenham attacker unlucky to see his effort swept off the line. While the visitors were fortunate to end the game with the full compliment of players after goalkeeper Leon Pohls smashed into Simon Power outside his own area late with a quarter of an hour to go.

A string of fine saves in the second period from Ed McGinty brings the total number of clean sheets this year to three.

Winger Power returned to the Sligo starting eleven to face his old team, having missed the hosts’ five goal trouncing of Dundalk the Monday previous. While Stephen Bradley was able to name skipper Roberto Lopes in the Shamrock Rovers team for the first time since his escapades with Cape Verde at the African Cup of Nations, their only change from their late draw with Derry City. Gary O’Neill, due to start, was a late withdrawal due to an injury sustained in the warm-up.

Both sides created chances during a first half which was frenetic at times. Former Hoops winger Power’s early set-piece found its way to the back post. Both Max Mata and Ollie Denham close to the crucial touch that would have turned the ball home.

Another player going up against his former club, Aaron Greene had the Tallaght side’s first opportunity but McGinty got behind his low effort.

The lively Power struck the outside of Pohls’ near post 60 seconds later after a well worked one-two between the Greystones native and Mata. 
The end-to-end nature of the half continued although the crowd had to wait until the 33rd minute for the next chance. Graham Burke’s finish let him down at the far post, after Darragh Burns’ dipping cross evaded the Rovers defence.

John Russell’s charges did end the half the stronger.

Chapman stabbing Power’s free-kick toward goal where Pohls reacted in time to fumble the ball away for a corner. Fabrice Hartmann then dragged his shot from the resulting set piece narrowly wide.

McGinty easily dealt with Burke’s shot from the angle early in the second period, before Chapman’s opportunity on 51 minutes.

JR Wilson’s hard work saw him to the end line before the former Shels full-back squared for Chapman whose weak effort from seven yards was hacked off the line by birthday boy Dan Cleary with Pohls nowhere near the situation.

With plenty of possesion in front of the Sligo penalty area, the Dubliners looked to turn the screw although McGinty was suitably protected by the well-marshalled rearguard in front of him. Although the loanee goalkeeper was called into play in the 72nd minute when he traveled from his goal-line to fall at the feet of Sligo native Johnny Kenny after Burke had scopped the ball into the path of the second-half substitute.  Sligo were left exasperated two minutes later when Pohls crashed into the surging Power outside the Hoops area. Referee Rob Hennessy deciding a Shamrock Rovers defender was covering, opting to flash a yellow card at the German net-minder.

Rovers defender Ollie Denham then got in front of Kenny’s goal-bound effort as the points hung in the balance, while McGinty denied Kenny again with three minutes to go, spreading his body to cover the space between himself and his near post.

Rovers’ next game is Saturday March 16th as we host Drogheda United at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm. Tickets can be purchased below.

https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

Sligo Rovers:Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Nando Pijnaker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan (Kailin Barlow 89), Conor Malley; Simon Power, Ellis Chapman, Fabrice Hartmann (Will Fitzgerald 61); Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 77).

Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary; Darragh Burns, Josh Honohan; Dylan Watts (Darragh Nugent 88), Markus Poom; Graham Burke (Conan Noonan 88), Rory Gaffney (Johnny Kenny 63); Aaron Greene (Richie Towell 76).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.

Attendance: 3,674

Team News: v Shamrock Rovers

John Russell has called on the Sligo public to again come out in their numbers in support of Sligo Rovers on Saturday night as we host Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Over seven thousand people packed the Church Hill Road venue for Rovers’ first two home games this season as – hoping for another bumper crowd this weekend – Russell’s men face into their biggest challenge of the season, against the Hoops.

John Mahon is Rovers’ only absentee as he continues to recover from a long-term injury. 

Speaking ahead of the game which gets underway at 7.45pm, Russell looked back on a fabulous five goal win in Dundalk on Monday, whilst acknowledging the dangers now posed by a Shamrock Rovers side chasing their fifth title on the spin. 

“It was vital to pick up the three points on Monday night in what is such a tight and competitive league”, he said. 

“We’ve shown a real hunger and desire in all our games so far but against Dundalk we managed to add that ruthlessness in the final third.

 “We know the quality Shamrock Rovers bring coming into the game this Saturday. They have players that can hurt you all over the pitch. They have set the benchmark for the past few seasons but it’s important that we focus on ourselves.

“I have such believe in this group of players and staff. If we continue to work hard and improve our connections we will get our rewards over the course of the year.

“I know our supporters look forward to this game every year so we’re expecting an electric atmosphere on Saturday. The players really feed off that energy in the stands so we will need them right behind us all night.”

Supporters are encouraged to purchase their ticket below, as it is expected to be another full house on Saturday night.

https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

Tommy Hewitt looking forward to challenge of new season

BY JIM GRAY

Tommy Hewitt’s working day begins at 5a.m. On the Tuesdays and Thursdays when he travels to Sligo for night-time training it can be 18 hours before he sees home again. Saturday match days will be even longer. Family time is limited but precious. Welcome to the world of Sligo Rovers’ new League of Ireland women’s manager.

A postman in his native Athlone, Tommy took over the senior women’s team in November, replacing Steve Feeney, who had guided the team in its first two seasons in senior football before stepping aside for family reasons. He’s wasted no time putting his distinctive stamp on a new chapter in the fledgling history of women’s football locally.

He comes with a massively impressive CV in the women’s game, and a burning ambition to enhance it even further during his time at the Showgrounds. A UEFA A licence coach, Tommy was named SSE Airtricity Manager of the Year in 2022 after guiding Athlone Town to the FAI Cup final and a runners-up League position. He has also served as Assistant Manager with the Athlone Town’s men’s team and was head coach with the Irish Defence Forces team at the Military World Games.

Having been forced to retire from playing due to injury when he was only 25 years old – he has vivid memories of playing tough games for Athlone against Willie McStay’s treble-winning Rovers team – Tommy immediately immersed himself in what he calls ‘the next best thing’ – the pursuit of hard-earned coaching badges.  Initially working with local youth teams throughout the midlands, including exemplary work with Kennedy Cup (boys) and Gaynor Cup (girls) teams, he was invited to head up the underage women’s academy in the Midlands Schoolgirls League, thus beginning a twenty year relationship with girls and women’s football.

He was, therefore, the obvious choice to take charge of the first Athlone Town women’s team to enter the League of Ireland in 2018. Building a team from scratch obviously presented unique challenges — his early recruits included Sligo/Leitrim players, Aoife Haran and Muireann Devanney – but steady progress culminated in the FAI Cup final loss to highly-fancied Shelbourne in 2022 and a tantalising second to the same opposition in that season’s league chase. Some level of compensation came in victory over Shels in the inaugural Women’s President’s Cup, as well as his selection as manager of the year. In addition, one of his players won Player of the Year and four were included in the team of the year.

“The President’s Cup was Athlone’s first senior women’s title. Allied to the recognition for myself and four of our players it meant we’d really made a significant breakthrough. For a club like ours, outside of the traditional big three of Wexford, Peamount and Shels, to get that sort of recognition was massive. And it illustrated what could be achieved at the so-called smaller clubs”, Tommy recalls.

Little wonder, then, that when he decided to leave his post at Athlone in June 2023, there was no shortage of eager suitors.

“I had a few calls from National League teams, but once the call came from Sligo things progressed fairly rapidly. I met with Academy Director, Conor O’Grady and two club officials and we teased out what the future might look like. What impressed me was that they had a clear plan, an identified pathway for the future. This was not merely a box-ticking exercise for them. They were very serious about where they wanted the team to go, and I had similar ambitions, so the glove fitted perfectly,” he says.

Admitting that he is excited about the prospect of guiding the team in the new season which kicks off against old adversaries Shelbourne on March 9th, Tommy is refreshingly realistic about the challenges ahead.

“The first thing to make abundantly clear is that this is a long-term project, a four-year development plan. I don’t have a magic wand, nor do the players.

“It’s new and exciting, and it will be challenging. The biggest thing is not to let results affect the long-term goal. I’ve discovered over the years that girls take defeats more to heart than men’s teams do. That’s a fact, so part of my job, win or lose, is to keep the mood steady and level-headed. There will be downs as well as ups, but we don’t get too down and we don’t get too up. We stay focussed and we make progress where we can,” he explains.

His immediate target is simply to win more games in a season than has been the case heretofore.

“It’s easier said than done,” he concedes. “Steve Feeney did a great job here, guiding the team in its inaugural seasons. That was a hugely important period and I’m sure it was never easy, but he built a foundation.

“My job is to build on that. I have a different mentality and perhaps a different approach on how I like my teams to play, but it will take time.”

His squad has been bolstered by a host of impressive signings, including Kelly Compton and Zoe McGlynn from Sion Swifts; Kelsey Munroe from Mayo; Muireann Devaney from Athlone and local centre-back, Yvonne Heddigan. Many of last season’s top players have also re-signed, including top scorer, Emma Doherty and experienced skipper, Emma Hansberry. In addition to the 24-strong senior squad, Tommy points out that emerging players from the under-19s and even under-17s will be given an opportunity as the need arises.

“It’s all about buy-in from the players, and while we won’t get an accurate assessment until the season proper gets underway, the early signs are really encouraging,” he reports.

“The girls are dedicating their lives to this. Apart from match day and training,  there’s gym work, recovery time, analysis. It’s frightening what they’re doing in terms of total commitment. It’s full on for them. I couldn’t ask for any more.”

He’s also fulsome in his praise for his back-room team of coaches James Fallon, Brendan Fitzsimmons, Ultan McKenna; physio Ciara Mulrooney and strength and conditioning coach, Sean Og Campbell.

“It’s a four-year development plan, and we know the level we need to get to. Ultimately, the aim is to be competing at the top end of the table. That’s the next logical step,” Tommy adds.

Overall, he has observed a massive improvement in the women’s game since he first became involved at senior level four years ago.

“The players are now real athletes in every sense of the word. The standard at every club has improved enormously. The teams are all well coached, well structured, and there’s terrific talent coming through.

“Obviously, the success of the national women’s team has improved the profile, but that needs to trickle down to the domestic league. We have to be asking how do we produce the next Katie McCabe or Denise O’Sullivan. There’s a lot of work to be done. I’d like to see our league eventually becoming fully professional, but that will need a meaningful support structure both from the government and the FAI. But the women’s game is definitely going in the right direction,” he maintains.

Hoping for increased support for the women’s team, Tommy assures supporters they will not be disappointed.

“I would say to anyone, if you’re able to get to a women’s game then go and see for yourself what’s on offer. The standard is really high, the games are always entertaining, and there are seriously talented players on show.

“It would be a great boost for us if we get good crowds at the home games. We’ll be playing our games at 7p.m. on Saturdays, and the players would get a massive lift from a big crowd, they would feed off the energy from supporters. Sligo has always been a real football town, so there’s loads of potential for us to tap into. I can guarantee supporters that our women’s team will always give of its very best, so come on down, you might be pleasantly surprised,” he enthuses.

*Rovers kick off their season with an away game against Shelbourne on March 9th. Their first home league game will be on Saturday, March 30th against Galway United, 7pm kick-off.