Voting is now open for the Wehrly Bros Jewellers Sligo Rovers Player of the Month for May.

Six matches took place in May, including five wins and a 1-1 draw with St Patrick’s Athletic.

The Waterford fixture was a walkover.

Voting closes on Friday.

You can vote here

Sligo Rovers play their final game before the mid-season break on Friday evening against Finn Harps in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division season.

The Bit O’ Red went top of the table last Monday night after a 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers and Harps have played a host of close matches in recent seasons, exchanging victories at various points each year.

Last year Harps won the opening game of the season in Finn Harps, while Rovers won 3-1 in The Showgrounds.

Johnny Kenny’s goal was the difference between the teams earlier in the season, Rovers now go in search of a first victory in Finn Park since February 2019.

David Cawley, Darren Collins and Danny Kane will miss this game due to injury.

Liam Buckley said: “It was a big shift on Monday, a great result and a great three points overall. I’m delighted for the group to see us top of the table because it has been a while since it happened.

“The optics on us now are that after 13 games we’re competing really well so we just need to try to maintain the performance levels and fitness levels.

“We kept the ball better on Monday and were a bit more patient and composed with it which is what we want.  

“We’ve done well so far and overall I’m happy with the effort going in. That said, it was just three points and we are just one third into the season. That’s the reality so we just have to try to keep picking up results. We’ve spoken about what has gotten us to this position so far and it has been hard work, effort and trying to be better.

“It’s the same three points on offer in every game, the opportunity comes up each weekend and I know if you don’t turn up in any game you’ll be beaten. That is what we’ve seen in the league this season with every team.

“Finn Harps have done particularly well with some of the results picked up in recent weeks and I think both sides know this will be a difficult task.

“We don’t get ahead of ourselves despite the few wins we have had in recent weeks. There is a good confidence within the group but we know the performance has to be delivered in every game if we are to keep picking up points. We look forward to game and trying to give a good account of ourselves again.”

Romeo Parkes fired Sligo Rovers to the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table as Shamrock Rovers suffered their first home defeat since June 2019

The only goal of the game arrived on the 55th minute when Jordan Gibson unleashed Parkes goalwards with an incisive through pass.

There were sheepish shouts for offside as the 30-year-old Jamaican striker surged towards goal, however, the assistant kept his flag down as Parkes stuck the ball past Alan Mannus.

The defeat was the Hoops’ first home defeat since they lost 1-0 to Dundalk 696 days ago.

The victory was Sligo’s first win at Tallaght Stadium since October 2013 and maintained their unbeaten start away from home this season.

While the Hoops are used to dominating possession at home, Sligo were set up in a 4-3-3 eager to show that they were able to hold their own in the battle for the ball.

Both sides exploited the dry conditions and blemish-free pitch to work the ball around each other but produced little in the way of goal-scoring opportunities in the first half.

However, it was the visitors who looked the better of the sides. Walter Figueira and Greg Bolger took a series of shots from outside the box after spells of Sligo possession but neither were close to troubling Mannus.

The hosts had a penalty shout before the break, when Graham Burke went down from a Garry Buckley tackle in the box.

The roars originated from Bradley on the sideline more than they did from Burke, but after a long look Neil Doyle judged Buckley to have cleanly won possession.

If the first half was slow at times, the second half started in lightning fashion. A minute into the half, Doyle was again waving away urgent Shamrock Rovers pleadings for a penalty.

The Hoops players argued that the ball had struck a Sligo hand in the box before it went out for a corner but Doyle again held firm.

A moment later, Bolger dispossessed Burke, allowing him to surge into the host’s half with a five on two scenario in Sligo’s favour.

The Bit O’Red captain switched it to Gibson who fired a vicious shot that went just wide of the near post.

The Dubliners struck back with a chance of their own when Rory Gaffney played Aaron Greene through on goal but Ed McGinty came charging from his goal to smother the danger.

Sligo finally broke the deadlock five minutes later.

Liam Scales made the mistake attempting to leave Parkes in an offside position, but it was Gibson’s vision which capitalised on the mistake as he pushed the ball perfectly in his team-mate’s path towards goal.

Scales’ arm went up for the offside but the assistant’s didn’t, meanwhile, Parkes scored his third league goal of the season.

The league champions struggled to claw back possession for most of the second half as Liam Buckley’s side proved first to every ball.

Burke came closest to scoring on the 80th minute when he struck a curling shot from inside the box, which fizzed just wide of McGinty’s goal.

Ultimately it was Sligo Rovers’ night as they departed westwards with all three points and another important scalp.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Joey O’Brien (Max Murphy, 8 (Dean Williams, 78)), Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Sean Gannon, Gary O’Neill (Chris McCann, 70) Danny Mandroiu, Liam Scales; Rory Gaffney, Aaron Greene, Graham Burke.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, John Mahon, Robbie McCourt; Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne (Johnny Kenny, 68); Niall Morahan, Greg Bolger; Romeo Parkes (Ryan de Vries, 86), Jordan Gibson; Walter Figueira.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Sligo Rovers face Shamrock Rovers on Monday night in Tallaght Stadium in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The match is live on WATCHLOI and on Ocean FM sport across online and FM.

After a 2-0 victory over Longford Town, the Bit O’ Red are just two points behind the Hoops going into this game.

Liam Buckley’s men are unbeaten away from home this season with four wins and a draw in five games.

Shamrock Rovers were unbeaten in 33 league games prior to last Friday. Tallaght Stadium has been a particularly difficult venue for Rovers, with 4-0 and 2-0 defeats in the league and cup last season.

It promises to be an intriguing game after a 1-1 draw earlier this season.

In team news, David Cawley’s groin injury rules him out. Danny Kane has now returned to training and is set to come into contention for the Finn Harps game with this one coming too soon. Darren Collins is ruled out with an ankle problem. Greg Bolger returns from suspension.

Liam Buckley said: “We are looking forward to it. We know it’s going to be a tough game and we go there looking to make it as difficult as we can for Shamrock Rovers. I feel this will be a very tight game. It was certainly like that in Sligo.

“Obviously Shamrock Rovers were beaten on Friday which ended the run they had. All good things must come to an end so it was going to happen at some stage. We’ve looked at that game and they had lots of chances over the 90 minutes. We know they’re a top side and the defeat doesn’t change anything.

“Of course you see the table where it’s first against second here but as I said to the boys, the game is about three points just as the Longford game was. I felt we deserved to win the game last Friday but I would like us to create more and get our general play better. This is a much different game to Friday with due respect to Longford.

“In this one it’s a different type of challenge and we will approach it looking to pick up another result. I do think we have improved over a period of time. 

“Greg Bolger returns which is a big plus and we only have two or three players unavailable so we’ll have a strong XI and a strong bench.”

Goals in either half from Walter Figueira and Jordan Gibson saw Sligo Rovers beat Longford Town 2-0 and stay in second spot in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table.

Figueira’s effort from distance along with Gibson’s second half penalty was enough for Rovers

Dundalk’s win over Shamrock Rovers also means Sligo move to within two points of the Hoops at the summit.

Rovers emerged victorious in the last meeting of these two sides earlier this year, Garry Buckley’s goal early in the second half sealing a narrow win for Sligo on the road.

Both sides produced efforts from distance early on in a scrappy opening half. Rob Manley blasted over the Sligo crossbar before stand-in midfielder Lewis Banks shot straight at Town goalkeeper Micheal Kelly five minutes later.

Daire Doyle’s charges went close to taking the lead on 12 minutes. Dylan Grimes’ effort from six yards looped over Ed McGinty’s crossbar after Grimes had met Aaron Robinson’s pull back from the end line.

On the look-out for win number seven of the season, Figueira led the way for Rovers when he struck for his second of the season on 17 minutes.

Longford net-minder Kelly got a palm to the former Derry attacker’s shot from 20 yards, but what seemed like a wicked spin had Kelly caught out as he could only push the ball into the corner of his own net.

Kelly did well to deny Sligo a two-goal lead at the break when he pulled of an impressive reaction save to keep out Ryan De Vries, after the New Zealander had dodged his way past two Longford challenges.

Liam Buckley’s side rode their luck again on ’35 as they allowed Aaron Dobbs to roam free at a Grimes corner. The accuracy of Dobbs’ header didn’t match the well-timed leap as his effort flashed past the target.

The visitors were somewhat unfortunate to concede a penalty just shy of the hour, when the ball bounced on to the hand of full-back Paddy Kirk following a Rovers corner.

Gibson tucking the ball past Kelly from the resulting spot kick for his fifth goal of the season.

Kelly was equal to Figueira’s effort from the angle on 67 minutes as Sligo looked to kill off any sign of a Longford revival.

McGinty easily held on to Town skipper Aodh Dervin’s set piece off the in-step 11 minutes from time. Sligo held on to go within two points of leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Colm Horgan (Shane Blaney 77), John Mahon, Garry Buckley, Robbie McCourt; Niall Morahan, Lewis Banks; Jordan Gibson, Ryan De Vries (Romeo Parkes 63), Walter Figueira; Johnny Kenny (Regan Donelon 80).

Longford Town: Michael Kelly; Shane Elworthy (Karl Chambers 57), Joe Manley, Aaron O’Driscoll, Paddy Kirk; Callum Thompson (Conor Davis 74), Aodh Dervin, Rob Manley (Sam Verdon 74), Aaron Robinson (Aaron Bolger 65), Dylan Grimes; Aaron Dobbs.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

Sligo Rovers have been awarded a UEFA licence through the independent licensing system run by the FAI, confirming our Europa League Conference place.

Thanks to volunteers Martin McDonald, Stephen Gilroy, David Rowe and our staff Shane and Sandra for their work in securing a licence this year as yet again it has a huge amount of administrative work to ensure our application was successful.

The Sligo Rovers squad of 2020, aided by a supporter effort that will go down as one of the most incredible in the history of our club, will always be remembered for the rise from bottom place to a European spot that culminated in that special night in Dundalk last November.

During a difficult time in the winter of the pandemic, the team’s results brought great pride to the club and our community.

We look forward to the Europa League Conference draw next month and the games in July in what will be our first appearance in Europe since 2014.

Last Saturday’s scheduled game with Waterford FC will be resulted as a 3-0 Sligo Rovers victory following a meeting of the Football Association of Ireland’s Disciplinary Unit this afternoon.

Waterford FC were unable to use their first-team players due to Covid-19 cases and stood down their Under-19 side.

The Blues indicated they were unwilling to play the fixture without their first-team players, something which Sligo Rovers FC completely understand in the circumstances.

The match will conclude as Sligo Rovers 3-0 Waterford following the FAI DCU meeting.

Rovers are now second in the SSE Airtricity League table on 22 points.

Sligo Rovers face Longford Town on Friday night in The Showgrounds in the SSE Airtricity League.

After Waterford withdrew from last week’s game, Rovers are back on the pitch for the first time since a 1-0 success over Dundalk.

The match is live on WATCHLOI. Commentary will be provided by Adrian Eames and Joseph Ndo.

Jordan Gibson, the club’s Player of the Month for March/April, scored the only goal in Oriel Park.

The Bit O’ Red are expected to receive a 3-0 victory for the Waterford game, which would move us to second place in the table.

Longford Town have failed to win since the opening day of the season but that does not tell the story for the midlanders who have competed well in every game on their return to the top flight.

Rovers came away from Bishopsgate with a narrow 1-0 victory and had to withstand a spirited second half from the home side.

In team news, Greg Bolger serves a one-game ban. Garry Buckley’s red card in Oriel Park was served in the Waterford game.

Danny Kane will return to training in the coming days. Darren Collins also misses out this week due to a sprained ankle. David Cawley is doubtful with a groin problem and will be tested pre-game.

Manager Liam Buckley said: “We used last weekend to give some rest to players who needed it because we had a few knocks and niggles which required that.

“For the players who didn’t need rest and haven’t seen as much game time, we did more work with them and overall managed the schedule as we needed.

“We have a good squad here but it’s a difficult league and the schedule can be congested at times so you keep all of that mind.

“Most of all, since we knew the Waterford game wasn’t happening we’ve been focused on this game with Longford. It was a decent result and performance in Dundalk, we came away with the win we wanted and we have to be ready for another tough game here.

“Longford are going to be full of energy and I think they’ve done quite well since being promoted. The match in Longford was a close one and Garry Buckley popped up with the only goal. We have to be ready for what Longford will bring here because they will be right at it as they have been all season.

“But overall our focus is on our own performance. We’ve done well so far this season to be high up in the table and it’s where we want to be. We’ll be looking to win more games and we know how hard it is do that in this league.

“Greg is missing this week and he has done well for us. Danny Kane has been progressing well and I expect him to come into training in the next few days.

“We’ve a good group here and anyone we call upon to come in will be ready.”

Danny O’Leary has departed Sligo Rovers as he takes up a new role with the FAI as High Performance director for Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo. 

O’Leary, who had a lengthy League of Ireland career as a player, has also enjoyed a spell as Head of Youth Development with Rovers along with coaching the U-17 boys with Colm Jinks at that time.

He has been involved in coaching for years in the region, including Mayo senior side Manulla and the Mayo League Oscar Traynor team for a brief period before joining the Bit O’ Red.  

However Danny has been particularly important to Rovers in leading our women’s teams in the last year, both with the Under-17s and now the new Under-19s. 

His experience and ambition for the women’s game was a huge help to the club and as he departs today, the club thanks Danny for the groundwork and for being such a positive influence on the players. 

Sligo Rovers CEO Colin Feehily added: “Danny is a hugely-respected coach and was highly-regarded by everyone at the club. 

“It is no coincidence that Danny was leading the early days of both our men’s and women’s youth teams and now they are elevating in all aspects every year. 

“He has been at the forefront of developing some of the players now in the senior men’s team by heading up youth development and taking on two teams in the last year with the women’s side. 

“He has laid tremendous ground work and I know that the staff here and the management committee of the club are very grateful. We wish him success in his new position.” 

Sligo Rovers head of academy Conor O’Grady said: “Danny has been a huge influence in the club in the last number of years in various roles and has done so largely behind the scenes with a lot of dedication. 

“As he takes up the position with the FAI, I would like to thank him for being a popular figure at the club among our young players and with his fellow coaches and friends here. 

“I have no doubt we will work closely because of his new role in the region and I look forward to it because it’s a pleasure to do so.”

The new manager of the Women’s Under-19 side will be announced shortly.