Sligo Rovers secured their top flight status for next season as they overcame UCD at the Bowl.

A calamitous Conor Kearns own goal along with Romeo Parkes’ eleventh league goal of the season also means the Students will be effectively relegated, should they lose to Finn Harps in two weeks time.

Rovers played 70 minutes of this game with ten men, after Ronan Murray was sent off for a foul on Harry McEvoy.

That single point from safety, Sligo shaded the initial exchanges.

Kearns had to sweep the ball from Danny Kane’s feet after Lewis Banks nodded Regan Donelon’s corner towards the full back.

This was the only real opening early on.

Maciej Tarnogrodzki’s side rallied on the quarter hour. Richie O’Farrell and Mark Dignam combining before the latter fired narrowly past Ed McGinty’s post.

The Rovers goalkeeper was called into play again on 18 minutes.

McGinty’s two handed save denying Yoyo Mahdy’s low drive towards the far corner after Paul Doyle picked out the striker with a crafty through ball.

Liam Buckley’s team were reduced to ten two minutes later.

Murray left a late foot on McEvoy at the edge of the UCD box. And although there was a hint of an accident about the challenge, there was little protest from Murray when referee Neil Doyle issued him his second red of the season.

The numerical disadvantage played no part in the direction of this game, for the remainder of the half at least. Although there was more than a hint of fortune when Rovers had their opener on 33.

Kearns totally mis-judged the flight of David Cawley’s corner when the ball bounced off the outside of closed fist and into his own net.

Sligo had their second on the stroke of half time.

Fordyce led the break from the edge of his own area before laying play into the path of Parkes.

There was little panic or fuss from the Jamaican, who strolled his way past the last UCD defender before finishing deftly past Kearns.

McGinty was called into play eight minutes into the second period as the home side sought to fight their way back into contention.

Jason McClelland testing the Scot with a laced effort from 15 yards, before Kearns had to be alert at the opposite end to keep out substitute Niall Watson from the angle.

Dara Keane and Kris Twardek had chances at either end as Rovers held out for their fifth win over the Dubliners this term.

Kearns then pulled off a super double save from both Parkes and Cawley with six to go.

The first from Parkes was low down at his post, before the UCD number one leapt to push Cawley’s rocket from 20 yards over his crossbar.

UCD: Conor Kearns; Dan Tobin, Liam Scales, Harry McEvoy, Evan Farell; Paul Doyle, Dara Keane; Jason McClelland, Mark Dignam (Sam Byrne 57); Richie O’Farrell; Yoyo Mahdy.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Kyle McFadden, John Mahon, Danny Kane (Niall Watson HT); Kris Twardek, David Cawley, Daryl Fordyce, Regan Donelon (Niall Morahan 69); Ronan Murray, Romeo Parkes. 

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Sligo Rovers are now just one point away from safety after they recorded victory over Finn Harps at the Showgrounds.

First half goals from Niall Watson, Ronan Murray and Sam Warde did the damage for the Bit O’Red.

Harry Ascroft caused concern with a late Harps consolation for the Ballybofey men, who remain seven points off Cork City in eighth.

In need of the points much more than their rivals, it was the visitors who actually started this one the brighter.

Nathan Boyle wasn’t miles off with an early header from a Mark Timlin cross.

Despite their early raids forward, Harps’ world fell apart in an eight minute spell in which they conceded three.

Daryl Fordyce had an effort taken off the line eleven minutes in, but the Donegal side were powerless to resist as Sligo hit the lead 21 minutes in.

Watson added too much power to his header as he nodded past Mark McGinley having been picked out by a Murray cross. This was Watson’s second strike in as many outings.

Rovers had their second three minutes later. Murray cut inside from the left before lashing an unstoppable drive across the front of McGinley and into the opposite corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Two became three on 29.

Warde’s corner creeping all the way past a forest of legs before sneaking in at the back post.

Timlin’s resulting shot from a well worked Mark Coyle set piece was blocked away by Danny Kane early in the second period.

While Boyle’s strength saw him see off two Sligo defenders, but the 25-year-old could only blast over from 15 yards. Harps the livelier from the dressing rooms once more.

Harps boss Ollie Horgan was then sent to the stand just before the hour when his frustrations got the better of him.

The form wouldn’t have improved much from Horgan’s vantage in the Treacy Avenue stand. Substitute Ascroft’s volley sailed past Ed McGinty’s posts after a series of ricochets saw the ball sit up for the Australian.

While Raff Cretaro had a late penalty call turned down when his smashed volley seemed to come off the chest of a Sligo defender inside McGinty’s area.

Harps did cause significant uncertainty in the Rovers camp late on. Ascroft turned Tony McNamee’s long throw past McGinty. While Cretaro saw a powerful effort bounce off the frame of the goal at the re-start.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Niall Morahan, Danny Kane, John Mahon, Regan Donelon (James McGrath 82); Kris Twardek, Sam Warde, Daryl Fordyce (Scott Lynch 77), Niall Watson; Ronan Coughlan (Brian Morley 64), Ronan Murray.

Finn Harps: Mark McGinley; Keith Cowan, Sam Todd, Dan O’Reilly (Mark Coyle HT); Jacob Borg, Mark Russell; Ruairi Harkin (Tony McNamee 72), Gareth Harkin (Harry Ascroft HT); Raff Cretaro, Mark Timlin; Nathan Boyle.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

Attendance: 1,685.

Sligo Rovers will play in an FAI Cup semi-final later this month after they got past UCD without too much trouble at the Showgrounds.

Ronan Coughlan’s opening strike was followed up before the break by an own goal from Students goalkeeper Conor Kearns. Regan Donelon put this contest beyond doubt with a well dispatched penalty early in the second period.

While Rovers completed their first ever cup win over the Dubliners at the death when Niall Watson forced an effort past Kearns in injury time.  

Sligo welcomed back striker Coughlan for this last eight tie and he showed his worth just eight minutes in as Rovers hit the lead.

The Limerick native taking full advantage of a mix-up between Kearns and Aaron McGrath to fire past the UCD net minder for his tenth of the year.

The home side dictated the majority of this game.

The Students left to rely on Dan Tobin to rob the ball from the toe of Donelon as he looked favourite to turn Kris Twardek’s cross past Kearns at the front post on 18 minutes.

Sligo had a goal chalked off six minutes later.

John Mahon nodded Donelon’s corner to the net, but the referee’s assistant ruled it out as Coughlan was placed in an offside position while stationed on the goal line.

The visitors did enjoy a small first half spell where they looked like they might come back into this tie.

Ed McGinty had to go full stretch to deny Richie O’Farrell from the angle. While the same man went close again from a corner 60 seconds later.

Sligo however gradually settled again and doubled their advantage on 33.

Cawley’s close range effort came back off the underside of the crossbar before bouncing off the unfortunate Kearns and to the net.

Rovers looked set for a first semi-final appearance in six years ten minutes into the second period when they hit their third.

Harry McEvoy tangled with Romeo Parkes inside the UCD area before Donelon comfortably dispatched the subsequent spot-kick.    

The Premier Division’s basement side tired as the half wore on. McGinty had to move quickly to dive on Yoyo Mahdy’s drive at the target ten minutes from time. But this was to be their only glimpse of goal of the half.   

While there was some late worry for Liam Buckley when he was forced to withdraw top scorer Parkes after he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring strain.

Watson had his maiden goal for the club on his second appearance in added time. The beleaguered Kearns unable to keep out the Accrington loanee’s strike from the angle.  

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Niall Morahan, John Mahon, Kyle McFadden, Lewis Banks; Kris Twardek, David Cawley, Daryl Fordyce, Regan Donelon (Niall Watson 71); Romeo Parkes (Brian Morley 81), Ronan Coughlan (Ronan Murray 65).

UCD: Conor Kearns; Dan Tobin (Isaac Akinsete 63), Harry McEvoy, Luke Boore, Evan Farrell; Aaron McGrath (Ciaran Behan HT), Dara Keane; Richie O’Farrell; Yoyo Mahdy (James Daly 81), Sam Byrne, Jason McClelleand.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 1,927.

Dundalk continued their push for a fifth league title in six seasons as they saw off Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds. 

Dane Massey and Andy Boyle struck for the Lilywhites, who stretched their lead over second placed Shamrock Rovers to seven with one game extra to play.

Returning to the scene of their last defeat on Irish soil back in April, it was Dundalk who hit the opener on the quarter hour after an opening which offered little in terms of chances.

Sligo did have an early penalty appeal turned down. Massey seemed to control an awkward Lewis Banks cross with his chest amid claims for a spot-kick.

This, before Vinny Perth’s team had the lead.

Michael Duffy’s cross, meant for Daniel Kelly was cut out by a Sligo defender. The ball landing only as far as Massey who showed wonderful technique to execute a superb volley past Ed McGinty from 15 yards.

Rovers were defending an eleven game unbeaten run on their home patch and had chances for both Pat Hoban and Dan Kelly to contend with.

Hoban lashed an effort from the edge of the Sligo area across the face of goal. While McGinty held Kelly’s header on the half hour.

Jamie McGrath wasn’t too far away six minutes from the break when he attempted to twist a placed effort into the far corner as the visitors remained on top.

Rovers’ Romeo Parkes pounced on a weak back-pass from Sean Gannon late in the half. But goalkeeper Gary Rogers read the situation in time to close down the Jamaican before he could get his shot away.

The second half was eight minutes old when the champions had their second.

Boyle’s dominant jump allowing him soar above two Rovers defenders to thump Duffy’s corner beyond McGinty.

Two almost became three on 57 when McEleney struck the crossbar from range as Dundalk looked well in control.

McGinty pulled off fine reaction save from a Massey shot which deflected off a Rovers defender on 65.

The visitors struck the woodwork again two minutes later when Duffy had McGinty beaten all ends up. The Derry man’s effort from the instep coming back off the Sligo crossbar as Dundalk continued their drive for that elusive third.

Hoban was next to strike the frame of the goal when his glancing header from a Duffy corner bounced off the top of the crossbar with ten to go.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Kyle McFadden, John Mahon, Regan Donelon (Niall Morahan 79); David Cawley, Sam Warde, Daryl Fordyce (Niall Watson 75); Romeo Parkes, Ronan Murray (John Russell 55), Kris Twardek.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Sean Hoare, Dane Massey; Chris Shields; Jamie McGrath (Cameron Dummigan 79), Patrick McEleney; Michael Duffy (Lido Lotefa 86), Daniel Kelly (Robbie Benson 72); Patrick Hoban.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 1,655.

Individual braces from Ronan Coughlan and Romeo Parkes saw Sligo Rovers take all three points from Turner’s Cross

Parkes gave Rovers the lead just past the half hour mark, but City struck back through a Dan Casey strike from a corner.

The Bit O’Red led at the break when Coughlan executed a smart finish in front of the Cork shed, while Parkes made it 3-1 on the hour.

A stunning Shane Griffin effort gave City hope, but Rovers held out and Coughlan was on hand once more to secure the win five minutes from time.

The striker making the most of a Mark McNulty mishap.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Colm Horgan (Josh Honohan 76), Alan Bennett, Dan Casey, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack, Garry Buckley; Daire O’Connor (Mark O’Sullivan 53), Karl Sheppard, Joel Coustrain; Eoghan Stokes (Alec Byrne 80).

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; Lewis Banks, John Mahon, Kyle McFadden, Regan Donelon (Niall Morahan 73); David Cawley, John Russell, Kris Twarderk; Daryl Fordyce, Romeo Parkes, Ronan Coughlan.

Sligo Rovers came from two down to beat eight man Limerick following an incredible game at the Showgrounds.

The game saw four players dismissed as the Bit O’Red overturned a two goal deficit to progress to the quarter final for the first time since 2015.

A whirlwind opening saw the hosts behind by two.

The Blues hit the lead just seven minutes in when Karl O’Sullivan took the ball past the last Sligo man before executing a superb finish across the front of goalkeeper Ed McGinty.

With just one win in their last five, Tommy Barrett’s charges further stunned the Showgrounds faithful 90 seconds later.

O’Sullivan taking the ball inside his own half before dodging a series of tackles. The striker then allowed McGinty make the decision before placing the ball past the Scot.

Sligo went close through both John Mahon and Daryl Fordyce, but did find a way back into this tie on 24 minutes. David Cawley’s ball over the top of the Limerick defence picking out Romeo Parkes who slotted the ball beyond Jack Brady for his ninth of the season.

The home side then levelled the game courtesy of Ronan Coughlan. The Limerick native watched as Fordyce’s initial flick came off Brady before pouncing to tie the game.

Coughlan missed a 36^th minute spot-kick after Kris Twardek was fouled inside the box.

The crazy nature of this game continued when Dante Leverock was sent off. While the visitors had Shaun Kelly dismissed for a second yellow.

Regan Donelon had Liam Buckley’s charges in the lead for the first time before the break with a well hit set piece from 25 yards. While Parkes had his brace just moments into the second period as the relentless pace continued.

Brady got behind Mahon’s free header from a Donelon corner on 52, while the same man got down to deny Parkes his hat-trick shortly after as Rovers looked in control.

The home side made their domination pay on the hour when Cawley finished off Parkes’ dink over the top.

The Shannonsiders were then reduced to eight in quick succession when both Clyde O’Connell and former Sligo midfielder Jason Hughes were dismissed for straight reds.

O’Connell hacking Twardek to the floor, while Hughes seemed to tangle with a steward on the Jinks’ Avenue side of the grounds.

Rovers’ sixth then arrived on 77 when Twardek smashed the ball off the underside of Brady’s crossbar from close range.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Regan Donelon (Sam Warde 64); John Russell (Scott Lynch 71), Daryl Fordyce (Kyle Callan-McFadden 40), David Cawley; Kris Twardek, Romeo Parkes, Ronan Coughlan.

Limerick: Jack Brady; Shaun Kelly, Robbie Williams, Tomas O’Connor, Shane Tracy (Edmund O’Dwyer 79); Karl O’Sullivan, Darren Murphy (Aaron Fitzgerald 79), Jason Hughes, Cylde O’Connell, Lee Devitt; Kieran Hanlon (Adam Foley 60).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.

St Patrick’s Athletic’s second half performance earned them the three points as they overcame a half-time deficit to beat Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park.

Behind to Romeo Parkes’ opener on 22 minutes, the Saints turned the course of this game courtesy of a Glen McAuley strike on 51 followed by Dave Webster’s winner six minutes from time.

Having both taken six points from their last five games, the sides struggled to provide much in terms of free-flowing football in the opening exchanges.

Glen McAuley carved out two early chances but both efforts were easy for Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty to deal with.

The Saints won’t have been happy with what they produced early on, but were the most threatening in front of the target.

Gary Shaw’s turn taking him past John Mahon 20 minutes in, but McGinty was again comfortable.

Rovers, in search of a second win in a week, had their first sight at goal two minutes later.

David Cawley’s strength bought him time inside the Saints area before the Mayo man supplied Parkes. But the Jamaican’s effort lacked accuracy as he fired wide off the outside of his boot.

This heralded Sligo’s purple patch and they made the most of it 22 minutes in.

Kris Twardek was afforded too much room down the Pat’s left as he squared for Parkes who slotted home from close range for his eighth goal of the year.

Harry Kenny’s charges finished the half the stronger but were again found wanting when and where it mattered.

McGinty pulled off smart stop to deny Shaw from point blank, while the same man seemed to lose his bearings as he stooped in his attempt to turn Dean Clarke’s cross past the Scot at his front post.

The Dubliners began the second period much the brighter and were rewarded for their efforts six minutes in.

Having netted his first for the club in the FAI Cup last week, McAuley’s neat touch brought him past his marker before he fired past McGinty from the angle.

Twardek’s snapshot wasn’t far away just short of the hour, while Lewis Banks’ last-ditch tackle deflected Cian Coleman’s shot over McGinty’s goal. This after the midfielder barged his way past Dante Leverock.

Pat’s were well in control at this stage and looked clear favourites for the game’s third goal.

Shaw came close with a glancing header in the pouring rain on 77. While the Showgrounds side spurned a glorious chance to rob one against the run of play.

Daryl Fordyce cushioned substitute Ronan Murray’s cross into the path of the waiting Twardek who could only fire over from six yards.

Clarke and Lee Desmond both went close in quick succession, before Pat’s had their winner six minutes from time.

Webster rising highest to nod Jamie Lennon’s set piece to the net for what was the winner for the home side.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Lee Desmond, Kevin Toner, Dave Webster, Ian Bermingham; Darragh Markey, Cian Coleman, Jamie Lennon; Dean Clarke, Gary Shaw (Ronan Hale 77), Glen McAuley (Jake Walker 89).   

Sligo Rovers: Ed MicGinty; Johnny Dunleavy (John Russell 75), Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Kyle Callan-McFadden (Sam Warde 61); David Cawley, Daryl Fordyce; Kris Twardek, Regan Donelon (Ronan Murray 65); Romeo Parkes.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Attendance: 1,217.  

Sligo Rovers produced their biggest ever FAI Cup win as they put eight past Glebe North at Market Green.

Both David Cawley and Kris Twardek bagged a hat-trick, while Regan Donelon and Dante Leverock added to Rovers’ haul as the Showgrounds side registered the result of the night.

Looking for their first win in this competition since 2016, it was Rovers who were well in charge throughout.

Donelon had first sight at goal eight minutes in, while Noel Barrett’s volley was a simple take for Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty two minutes later.

This was Glebe’s only attempt at goal of the half before Sligo, heavy favourites to progress, hit the lead 12 minutes in.

Daryl Fordyce allowed Lewis Banks’ ball from deep all the way across to Cawley who neatly clipped the ball beyond Alan O’Connor and into the top corner.

The Premier Division side were dumped out of the cup at the first hurdle in both 2017 and 2018 and Liam Buckley would have been adamant that lightning not strike for a third time.

Glebe’s Keith Murray swept Kris Twardek’s shot off the line 23 minutes in, but Rovers would return a quarter hour later to double their lead.

Full back Donelon making the most of the space in front of him as he rocketed the ball past O’Connor from all of 25 yards.

Cawley had his brace five minutes into the second half. Well off his line, O’Connor came to meet Banks whose initial effort he pushed away.

But Cawley was on hand to fire over the stranded ‘keeper and into an empty goalmouth.

Leverock made it four three minutes later. 

While the Leinster Senior League outfit fell further behind on 65 minutes. Twardek rewarded for his endeavour down the Sligo wing when he fired home having linked up with Banks.

Cawley had his hat-trick and Rovers’ sixth on 76 when he chipped O’Connor from close range.

While Twardek had his brace when the Canadian rounded O’Connor four minutes later. All too simple for the Bit O’Red.

The Canadian rounded off a successful night for both himself and the north westerners when he tapped home a penalty on the stroke of full-time.

Sligo Rovers 3-2 Cabinteely

A Mark Byrne brace followed up Aaron Perry’s opener, as Sligo Rovers under 19s did enough to progress past Cabinteely in the quarter-final of the Enda McGuill Under 19 Cup at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

Perry had the Bit O’Red in the lead with seven minutes played.

Darren Collins’ through ball finding the impressive Jack O’Connor. O’Connor’s initial effort came back off the post, but Perry was alert to tap into an empty net.

Rovers were well on top early on and Collins went close again on eleven minutes. But a lapse in concentration cost the home side dearly when Andy Byrne pounced for the equaliser on 23 minutes.

Both O’Connor and Collins had opportunities to stretch Rovers’ lead further, while Byrne went close with a header four minutes from the break.

Byrne had his first on 53 minutes, finishing off Liam White’s cross at the second attempt.

While Brian Dorrian’s side looked comfortable when Byrne slotted home from the penalty spot after O’Connor was taken down in front of goal.

The Dubliners kept things interesting on the stroke of full time when Jack Savage’s set-piece found its way past Cormac Henry in the Sligo nets.

But Rovers held on to proceed to the last four.

Sligo Rovers: Henry, Lynch, White, Smith, O’Reilly, McGrath, McAllister, Perry, Collins, Byrne, O’Connor.

Subs used: Devanney, Stallard, O’Toole, Martin.

Cabinteely: Clarke, Kelly, O’Reilly, Egan, Whelan, Bermingham, Andy Byrne, Aaron Byrne, Idele, Savage, Quinlivan.

Subs used: Perry, Hyland, O’Neill, Curran.

A goal a piece from Sligo Rovers and Cliftonville saw the sides play out a draw at the Showgrounds.

Substitute Niall Watson gave the Bit O’Red the lead on his first appearance for the club.

The Belfast side equalised through Conor McMenanmin.

Rovers: McNicholas; Dunleavy, Leverock, Mahon, Banks; Twardek, Cawley, Warde, Donelon; Parkes, Coughlan.

Subs used: Fordyce, Watson, Morley.