Match Report

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers are still looking for a first Women’s Premier Division (WPD) win of the season following Saturday’s reversal against Dublin side DLR Waves.

An early goal from a penalty gave DLR Waves the platform for victory and they added further goals each side of the interval an close to the end for a comfortable victory.

Five of the Sligo Rovers players, Alice Lillie, Cara King, Anna McDaniel, Jessica Casey and Rose Burke featured in last Tuesday night’s u-19 Academy Cup quarter-final away to Bohemian FC  

Rebecca Doddy came in for Rachel McGoldrick in the only change from the previous week’s outing against Galway Utd

DLR Waves took the lead from that eighth minute penalty converted by Amber Cosgrove.

The Dublin women added a second goal in the 20^th minute when Keelin Dodd found some space on the edge of the Sligo Rovers penalty area with her shot going in off the bottom of the crossbar.

DLR could have added a couple of more goals before the break as Abigail Brophy hit the post, Amber Hardy saved from Aisling Meehan and Leah Kelly cleared off the line with the half-time whistle a relief for the Bit O’Red.

Sligo Rovers made a positive start to the second-half and created a couple of chances, but all that was undone in the 52^nd minute when a quick DLR break gave Aisling Meehan an opening for her second goal.

Sligo Rovers pushed and probed for the remainder, but were unable to make any impact on the scoreboard as Shannon Hanlon Coady added a fourth goal and were denied a fifth when Amber Hardy saved an 89^th minute DLR penalty.

Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Leah Kelly, Keeva Flynn, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie,  Muireann Devaney, Paula McGrory, Keri Loughrey, Eimear Lafferty, Rebecca Doddy, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Kelsey Munroe for Kelly, Jessica Casey for Kiernan and Cara King for Doddy all half-time, Katie Melly for McGrory 57 mins, Roise Burke for Devaney 70m.

DLR Waves – Rugile Auskainyte; Jessica Gleeson, Isobel Finnegan, Rachel Doyle, Rebecca McMahon, Nadine Seward, Abigail Brophy, Taylor White, Amber Cosgrove, Leah Donnelly, Keelin Dodd. Subs – Shannon Hanlon-Coady for Meehan and Robyn Bolger for Doyle both 57 mins, Eve Conheady for Cosgrove 72m, Nadine Raymond for White and Chloe McCarthy for McMahon both 77m.

Referee – Declan Toland.

Assistant referees – Conor Harkin, Endrit Malaveci.

Fourth Official – Richard Storey

Ray Gallagher was appointed Sligo Rovers Club President, and Seamus Cummins as Vice President, at a ceremony in the Showgrounds on Saturday. Along with Ray and Seamus’ family and friends, the attendance included former players Tony Fagan, Chris Rutherford, Johnny Kenny, Martin McDonnell, and Nicky Broujos. Other guests included Frank Feighan TD, FAI match delegate Jim O’Connell, Ray’s former work colleague Carmel Feeney, members of the Management Committee, the Showgrounds Trustee Board, members of the Rovers Heritage Group, and Club volunteers.

Chair of the Showgrounds Trustee Board, Albert Higgins, recalled Ray’s first involvement with Rovers in the mid-60s when he invited him to the Showgrounds in his capacity as Agricultural Advisor to advise on the maintenance of the pitch. He outlined Ray’s pivotal role in securing the ground for Rovers in the late 60s and paid tribute to both Ray and Seamus for their outstanding contribution to the ground and the club over their lifetime of service.

Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins said, “Today Sligo Rovers take the opportunity to honour two exemplary servants of the Club, Ray Gallagher and Seamus Cummins. In paying tribute to Ray and Seamus, I also want to acknowledge the special place held in this club for our former President, the late Paddy Gilmartin. Ray and Seamus are in the same tradition of dedicated volunteers. Ray served in a number of capacities since he first became involved in the 1960s, including Club Chairman and Chairman of our Development Committee. Arguably, his greatest legacy is in securing the Showgrounds for this club and this community.”

BY CONALL COLLIER

Sligo Rovers will welcome DLR Waves to the Showgrounds on Saturday for a Women’s Premier Division basement battle between the bottom two teams, kick-off 2pm.

Two weeks ago the Bit O’Red travelled to the Belfield Bowl for a FAI Cup quarter-final tie and knocked the Dublin side out of the competition with a 3-1 victory.

Goals from Anna McDaniel, Kelsey Munroe and Paula McGrory sealed the victory as Sligo Rovers stood strong against a serious second-half test from DLR Waves.

That type of performance will be required again on Saturday and Pauls McGrory will be eager to add to her goal tally as manager Tommy Hewitt returns to the sideline after serving a three-match suspension.

“i had to watch the last three games from the stand and I could see things that I wouldn’t normally see from the sideline, as a team, as a unit, we have improved, but the bottom line is we have to win this game to back up that claim,” stated the manager.

“There isn’t too much between the teams, but we need to get a win on Saturday, I can’t put it in any more simple terms.

“It’s not that the points are of any significance to either team, but the result will be significant on a number of fronts.

“As I said, we need to get a win and our supporters will be expecting us to win on the evidence from the victory a fortnight ago.

“It’s going to be a tough game for us and DLR Waves will want to make amends, but we have made tremendous strides since the start of the season and hopefully we can demonstrate that on Saturday,” he added.

Saturday’s encounter will be the first of three games in seven days and that will test the strength and depth of the squad with title-chasing Shelbourne due to visit the Showgrounds on Wednesday followed by a visit to Tallaght on Saturday, 14^th September.

“It will be a hectic week, we will have Shelbourne next Wednesday and then we have to go to Tallaght Stadium on the Saturday, all that before the Cup semi-final against Athlone Town the following weekend,” stated the manager.

“When you look at that schedule, they are all big games and we have to try to win them all, but my focus, and the focus of the players will be solely on DLR Waves this weekend.

“We have a relatively small squad and we will be without Jodie Loughrey for Saturday due to injury, she missed the Galway game last weekend and she will be a big loss,

“We were excellent against Galway in the first half last Saturday, but we dropped off a bit in the second half, that’s something we need to address and the next opportunity will be against DLR Waves.

“The players are learning and gaining experience in every game and we will be ready for a battle against DLR Waves, if we can produce a consistent performance over the 90 minutes that will be crucial.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday, not just because I’ll be back on the sideline, but we will be going into the game knowing that we have a realistic chance of getting that first win.

“All I can say is that it was very frustrating for the last three games, having to watch from a distance and no involvement with the team beforehand, hopefully we’ll get the win to make it a good weekend,” he concluded.

The game will be live on LOITV and kick-off at the Showgrounds is 2pm.

By Conall Collier

Former Sligo Rovers striker Emma Doherty scored a 53^rd minute Women’s Premier Division winner for Galway Utd against the Bit O’Red in a tight encounter at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday evening.

Two and a half seasons at the Showgrounds ended surprisingly with a move to Galway during the transfer window.

The Buncrana woman’s second-half strike was all that separated the sides after 90 minutes as Amanda Smith’s lead goal for Galway was cancelled by Paula McGrory’s penalty close to the interval

Sligo Rovers made two changes from the team that defeated DLR Waves a week earlier with Rachael McGoldrick and Sarah Kiernan coming in for Kelsey Munroe and Jodie Loughrey.

Galway also made two changes from the team that negotiated Peamount Utd last time out with Amanda Smith and Therese Kinnevey replacing Aoibheann Costello and Kate Thompson

Galway dictated most of the first-half exchanges, but found the going tough against a resilient and uncompromising Sligo Rovers side that had a Rachael McGoldrick shot on target in the 11^th minute and then there was an audacious lob from Paula McGrory a minute later that was narrowly wide.

At the other end it was all about the contribution of Julie Ann Russell who was a constant threat and she forced the error from the Bit O’Red rearguard in the 17^th minute that created the opportunity for Amanda Smith to rifle to the net.

Despite conceding the goal, Sligo Rovers continued to push forward and were rewarded for pressure in the 34^th minute when Keri Loughrey was impeded in the Galway penalty area and McGrory confidently converted the resultant spot kick to leave it 1-1 at the interval.

The Galway girls were quick out of the traps for the second-half and had two early chances before Doherty’s goal gave them the lead again.

It was generally a Galway dominated second-half and Amber Hardy produced her usual number of top class saves that denied both Doherty on 66 minutes and Russell soon after.

The Bit O’Red carved out an opening near the end, but Galway ‘keeper Jessica Berlin tipped the effort away for a corner.

Manager Tommy Hewitt had to watch again from the stand, but has now served a three-game suspension and will be back on sideline duty for next Saturday’s home game against DLR Waves, kick-off 2pm.

Galway Utd – Jessica Berlin; Lucy Jane Grant, Isabella Beletic, Jamie Erickson, Jenna Slattery, Lynsey McKey, Julie Ann Russell, Therese Kinnevey, Amy Madden, Amanda Smith, Emma Doherty. Subs – Aisling Meaney for McKey half-time, Rolake Olasula for Doherty 90 mins.

Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Leah Kelly, Alice Lillie, Sarah Kiernan, Keeva Flynn, Muireann Devaney, Paula McGrory, Keri Loughrey, Eimear Lafferty, Rachael McGoldrick, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Jessica Casey for McGoldrick 76 mins, Cara King for McDaniel and Rebecca Doddy for McGrory both 83m.

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers will travel to tackle hosts Galway Utd in a crucial Women’s Premier Division (WPD) game on Saturday, 5pm.

The two-time Avenir Sports All-Island Cup champions will go into this game on a high following last Saturday’s impressive victory against defending WPD champions Peamount Utd where a brace of Julie Ann Russell goals and one from former Sligo Rovers striker Emma Doherty sealed the win.

“No one gave us a chance last week in the FAI Cup away to DLR Waves, but we had nothing to lose and we are certainly not a bad team. We just haven’t got results in some games where we were worth a draw or even a win,” stated Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt.

“It will be the same against Galway, no one will give us a chance and they won’t be holding anything in reserve, but I’m in a good position now with players coming back into contention for selection and we have that FAI Cup semi-final on the horizon as well.

“However, I’m not under any illusions, that’s a good Galway team and it will be vital that we produce a performance and then see where that will take us over the 90 minutes.

“I’m still suspended, I will have to watch from the stand in Galway, but the team will be well prepared, both Conor (O’Grady) and Jay (McCartney) are doing a good job and I will be on the sideline for the next home game, the following week against DLR Waves,” he added.

Galway defeated Sligo Rovers twice this season, last March, first in the Avenir Sports Cup by 2-0 and then a week later in the WPD at the Showgrounds where an 88^th minute penalty gave them a hard-earned 3-2 victory.

Twice Galway were in front in that game, a 19^th minute Jenna Slattrey goal was cancelled by Emma Doherty early in the second-half. Jamie Erickson restored Galway’s lead with 20 minutes remaining and Jodie Loughrey levelled in the 82^nd minute.

A draw looked likely until referee Glen Geraghty pointed to the spot on the stroke of full-time and Slattery converted.

Unusually, both teams featured seven players from that encounter in last weekend’s starting line-ups and both go into Saturday’s showdown buoyed by 3-1 victories, Galway defeated Peamount at home while Sligo Rovers travelled to Dublin and negotiated DLR Waves.

The formbook suggests a home victory, but an improving Sligo Rovers side will be eager to sustain some momentum in an effort to pick up points and get off the bottom of the table with only seven games remaining.

The action will be on LOITV and kick-off is at 5pm

The 500 Club members draw for July and August was made recently by the 500 Club Committee.

These monthly draws see ten members drawn each month for cash prizes, with the top prize being €500.

The 500 Club continues to be one of the club’s most important Fundraisers and we wish to thank all members, and the 500 Club committee for their continued hard work.

July 2024

• €500 Donal Egan – Carney, Co. Sligo 
• €100 Ian McLoughlin – Calry, Co. Sligo
• €100 Enda Molloy – Ballinteer, Co. Dublin
• €100 Brendan Crowne – Oakfield, Co. Sligo
• €100 David McGoldrick – Slane, Co. Meath
• €100 Justin Greene – Ely, England
• €100 Eddie Sheahan – Rathcormac, Co. Sligo
• €100 Brian Bourke – Belfast, UK
• €100 Ronald Dunne – Heather View, Co. Sligo
• €100 Jim Gallagher – Kintogher, Co. Sligo

August 2024

• €500 Pat Togher – Shannon Eighter, Sligo
• €100 Clive Hynes – Oakfield Park, Sligo
• €100 Kevin/Rosaleen O’Grady – Kevinsfort, Sligo
• €100 Fergal Burke – Ballincar, Sligo
• €100 Phillip Lynott – Cleveragh Rd, Sligo
• €100 Kieran McDermott – Knocknahur, Sligo
• €100 Edel Hackett – Calry, Co. Sligo
• €100 Elizabeth Feeney – Rathbraughan Park, Sligo
• €100 J.P. McDonagh – Chapel St, Sligo
• €100 Shane Martin – Rosehill, Sligo

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt had to settle for a spectating role at the Belfield Bowl on Saturday as his players delivered a Women’s FAI Cup quarter-final knock-out blow to hosts DLR Waves.

Sligo Rovers went into the game as the underdog with only a victory over non-league side Terenure Rangers in the last round while DLR Waves could point to a 3-2 win over defending Women’s Premier Division champions Peamount Utd in their last game.

From a Sligo Rovers perspective, this had all the ingredients for shock result and that’s exactly what transpired with the Bit O’Red recoding a 3-1 victory.

“We were quietly confident that we could get a result, that was our view all week as we prepared for the game,” commented Tommy Hewitt on Sunday.

“Last week the training was good, the vibe was good, we felt that we could do better than when we had played DLR Waves earlier in the season, on that occasion they deserved to win.

“That aspect of the last game was part of our focus in the build up to Saturday’s tie, we felt that if we could put in a better performance that we could win the game and apart from the opening 10 minutes or so, we were the better team,” he added.

When questioned about having to watch the action from the stand, something he will have to do against this weekend away to Galway, the Bit O’Red boss highlighted the difference in perspective compared to standing on the sideline.

“I could see quite clearly from the body language of the DLR players, especially in the second-half, that they just weren’t dealing so well with how the game was unfolding,” he commented.

“When we got the third goal it really set them back, in fairness DLR tried to push forward after that, but we were comfortable and solid and I think it was one of the quietest outings of the season so far for Amber (Hardy).

“We also didn’t commit too many players forward, we just had to make sure we saw the game out.

“For us to score three goals against a team that is ahead of us in the Women’s Premier Division, that was a new experience, especially against a team that had beaten Peamount Utd by 3-2.

“What was really pleasing for me was the performance, we have been performing consistently this season, but not getting results, that all changed on Saturday and it will be a great confidence booster for the remainder of the season.

“We had nothing to lose against DLR, all the pressure was on them, but our players have belief in their own ability and no matter who we get in the semi-final it’s another knock-out game and you never know what way it will go.

“The other three teams will all want to draw Sligo Rovers for obvious reason and that won’t bother us, we know we can play and we know we can push the best of them,” he concluded.

Match Report: DLR Waves 1-3 Sligo Rovers

BY CONALL COLLIER

Sligo Rovers advanced to the last four of the Women’s FAI Cup on Saturday for the second successive season with a sensational victory against Dublin side DLR Waves at the Belfield Bowl.

Goals from Anna McDaniel, Kelsey Munroe and Paula McGrory sealed the victory against the tenacious hosts who found the net through Robyn Bolger.

The victory was thoroughly merited for the Bit O’Red who, this season, have reserved their best form for the knock-out competition and took a 2-1 interval advantage before sealing the win with a crucial third goal in the 63^rd minute.

With manager Tommy Hewitt still sidelined through suspension and forced to watch the action from a distance, Conor O’Grady took the sideline reins for a second week.

The Bit O’Red made four changes from the previous week’s outing against Treaty Utd with Leah Kelly, Kelsey Munroe, Eimear Lafferty and Anna McDaniel replacing Sarah Kiernan, Kate Nugent, Rachael McGoldrick and Mairead McIntyre.

After a tentative opening, Sligo Rovers settled into the contest and had a chance as early as the 10^th minute when DLR ‘keeper Rugile Auskalnyte fumbled a high ball, but the danger was averted.

However, the reprieve was brief and Anna McDaniel finished to the net in the 19^th minute for a lead that rocked the hosts who almost conceded a second soon after when Paula McGrory’s shot brought a good save from Auskalnyte.

Ten minutes before the interval Kelsey Munroe increased the lead when she scored directly from a corner as the DLR rearguard spectated, but the Dublin side found a swift response through Robyn Bolger’s goal a minute later.

Undaunted, the Bit O’Red players remained calm and focused until the interval with McGrory narrowly wide from a speculative overhead kick and big performances from Leah Kelly, Keeva Flynn, Kelsey Munroe, Alice Lillie and Muireann Devaney.

The Rovers stood strong during the early stages of the second-half as DLR pushed and probed.

The efforts of Eimear Lafferty and Keri and Jodie Loughrey helped to sustain the 2-1 advantage until the 63^rd minute when Munroe sent over another corner and McGrory finished in a crowded goalmouth to make it 3-1.

The only chance of note DLR had for the remainder was a Shanagh Cody effort on 75 minutes that Amber Hardy saved comfortably.

The victory will give the players a major confidence boost for the next home game in the Women’s Premier Division against DLR Waves at the Showgrounds on Saturday 7^th September. Next Saturday it’s Galway Utd away.

DLR Waves – Rugile Auskalnyte; Amber Cosgrove, Chloe McCarthy, Jess Gleeson, Izzy Finnegan, Abby Brophy, Robyn Bolger, Keelan Dodd, Aisling Meehan, Subs – Taylor White for Bolger and Shanagh Cody for Doyle both 61 mins, Nadine Seward for Brophy and Rebecca McMahon for Dodd both 79m, Hannah Tobin-Jones for Gleeson 90m

Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy; Leah Kelly, Keeva Flynn, Kelsey Munroe, Alice Lillie, Muireann Devaney, Keri Loughrey, Eimear Lafferty, Jodie Loughrey, Paula McGrory, Anna McDaniel. Sub – Rachael McGoldrick for Lafferty 88 mins..

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers will travel to the Belfield Bowl on Saturday for a Women’s FAI Cup quarter-final showdown against hosts DLR Waves as the bottom two in the Women’s Premier Division (WPD) bid for a semi-final ticket.

This will be another day of watching from a distance for manager Tommy Hewitt as he continues to serve a suspension that was imposed following the WPD game against Athlone Town a fortnight ago.

The manager had to watch last Sunday’s WPD action at the Showgrounds from the stand as his side lost out by the odd goal in three to Treaty Utd.

There was the consolation of watching Keeva Flynn score the goal of the game in the second-half, but the Bit O’Red just couldn’t muster an equaliser despite creating a number of excellent chances.

However, the manager pointed to the fact that his side wasn’t awarded a penalty early in the game and that frustration was compounded by the fact that Mairead McIntyre was injured in the challenge by Treaty goalkeeper Katie Irwin and had to be replaced by Rebecca Doddy.

“I don’t enjoy complaining about decisions, but if we had got that penalty and scored it would have changed the complexion of the game,” stated the Bit O’Red boss.

“We went two goals down, but the girls responded well and I felt we were worth at least a draw, but we missed some easy chances near the end and you can’t afford that either.

“This is my first season with Sligo Rovers and so far in 2024 I can honestly say that any big decisions have consistently gone against us.

“Along with not getting the penalty, I’m now down another player after that tackle, I just couldn’t understand how it wasn’t a penalty.

“Looking ahead to the Cup game, DLR have really improved as demonstrated with that 3-2 win against Peamount Utd.

“It’s a one-off game on Saturday, we have to adopt a positive approach and if we can do that there is no reason that we can’t win the game and make it to the last four again,” he concluded.

In the DLR Waves game against Peamount, goals from Isobel Finnegan, Keelin Dodd and Jess Gleeson sealed the victory. DLR didn’t play last weekend, but in the first round of the Cup they defeated Whitehall Rangers by 4-0.

Sligo Rovers got the better of Terenure Rangers by 5-0 and using that as a gauge suggests that there won’t be much between the teams on Saturday.

Sligo Rovers primary aim has to be avoiding the concession of soft goals and if they can achieve that then they have every reason to tackle this assignment with confidence.

The sides met already this season at the Bowl where DLR recorded a 2-0 victory. Jess Gleeson’s 36^th minute free from the edge of the penalty area deflected off the underside off the crossbar for the lead goal.

DLR substitute Rebecca McMahon added a second goal with about 20 minutes remaining when she capitalised on some slack defending as her side recorded a first win of the season, win number two was against Peamount two weeks ago.

Kick-off on Saturday is a 3pm and the game will be live on LOITV.

Patricia Hailstones was the latest winner in Sligo Rovers weekly lotto when she scooped the jackpot of €5200

It brings the total prize money paid out to lucky punters (including match 3 vouchers) in the last year alone to almost €28,000.

Patricia is a committed supporter of the weekly lotto and has used the same numbers for years. Her ‘secret formula’ to land the jackpot were the numbers – 6, 18, 12, 28, – drawn from family birthdays and special events.

She buys her ticket every week from Joe Scanlon, a work colleague in St John’s Hospital. ‘If there is a week when I don’t see Joe, he always ensures my numbers are in the draw which is very re-assuring.’

While Rovers on-line lottery has become very popular in recent years. Patricia prefers to buy the ticket in person every week. She was thrilled to hear the hews of her big win and wished the lotto team every success on their ongoing work on behalf of the Club.

You can support Rovers lotto by contacting a lotto agent or on line by visiting
www.sligorovers.com/lotto