It’s the clash of the Rovers on Saturday night as Sligo take on Shamrock in The Showgrounds, kick-off 8pm. 

The sides have had contrasting starts to the seasons with the Bit O’ Red yet to register a point, while the Hoops have won all four games.

Rovers’ game against Waterford was postponed last week due to Storm Jorge. 

In team news, Liam Buckley is still without a host of defenders. 

John Mahon (broken leg), Lewis Banks (groin) and Danny Kane (ankle) remain out.

Regan Donelon has returned to light training following a shoulder problem. Johnny Dunleavy has a knee problem. Both will face late injury tests. 

New striker Ryan De Vries also joins the squad. 

Buckley said: “We had trained all week ahead of Waterford, so we were ready to go until we got the call on Friday afternoon. We were looking to get the season up and running given the results so far, but it was the correct call to postpone it with Storm Jorge and the dangers with the wind. So we just had to get on with it. 

“We haven’t got too many players returning this week, we have to look at a couple on Saturday evening. Regan is back with us although it is early so we’ll have to check if he’s ready to come in to start. We’re not sure. 

“Danny Kane is getting closer certainly but he isn’t back with us yet. We’ll check on Johnny Dunleavy too and if he can feature. Lewis won’t be ready for this game. It’s frustrating talking about five key defenders and injuries, it’s a factor of course in how we’ve started. I do think when we get the lads back we’ll be a strong-looking group. 

“That said, we will have all the players that featured against Bohemians where we played well in good parts of the game and the team that goes out there will be well-versed and can get the job done for us. We showed against Bohs that we’re good enough. 

“It’s going to be very difficult against a strong opposition on Saturday. We’ve worked on bits and pieces during the week to help us get something from the game. I’m sure Shamrock Rovers are coming here a confident team and a cohesive side and all of that. 

“We’ve got some good players as well and we will show that ability. Ryan De Vries has trained with us for a couple of days, he’s going to add to what we have here. We’ll see what role he will play in this game. There are some factors to consider there. 

“I think the fans here appreciate we have been hindered by missing some players but we all know that points on the board are crucial and the sooner you can get them the better.

“It’s not going to be easy and it’s one of the most difficult games in a hard league but we’re going to be ready for it.”

Places in the 2020 Easter Camps at The Showgrounds in April are still available.

Week one of the Easter Camp will kick off on Monday April 6th and run until Friday April 10th.

Week two of the Easter Camp will kick off on Monday April 13th (Easter Monday) and run until Friday April 17th.

The cost of the camp remains capped at €60 for one child, €100 for two children from the one family and €135 for three children from the one family.

Each child who participates in the Easter Camp will receive a Sligo Rovers training top, a participation certificate, a photograph with senior players and a free pass to a home league game.

The camp runs from 10.30am until 3pm daily.

The optional Breakfast Club will run from 8.30am each morning of the camp, where the children get to enjoy a healthy breakfast in The Showgrounds with members of the first team. There are also fully supervised indoor and outdoor activities for the children on the Breakfast Club which includes a presentation on the importance of nutrition.

Pre booking of the Breakfast Club is essential, with places limited to 25 children per week. The cost of the Breakfast Club is an additional €25 for the week per child.

For more information on the Easter Camp, you can contact Shane via email at shane@sligorovers.com or you can Tel 071-9171212.

To book a place on the 2020 Easter Camp for a week of your choice you can click here.

Our Last Man Standing competition enters week two this weekend with 10 fixtures due to take place between Saturday and Monday.

A mass exodus took place last weekend as the competition started, with Liverpool, Leicester and Chelsea failing to win, with the majority of those eliminated choosing those three clubs.

This weekend sees Liverpool at home to Bournemouth on Saturday morning, with those remaining sure to use the Merseyside men this week, even though they are currently on a poor run of form, having lost three of their last four games in all competitions.

Other popular picks may be Arsenal at home to West Ham United, Sheffield United at home to Norwich or can Wolves continue their good form with a win over Brighton.

It will prove to be an interesting few days with all players already feeling they may be in with a chance to pick up the €1,000 prize.

Best of luck to everyone.

Marcus Mulligan from Kinlough was the lucky winner recently in Rovers weekly lotto draw, winning the jackpot of €10,700.

Marcus is a regular at the Showgrounds, Having first started supporting the club when his son Emlyn joined the Reserve team as a 16-year old – the versatile Emlyn would go on to star for the Leitrim County team.

Marcus bought his lucky ticket in Tesco Arcade.

He wandered over to chat to Mark Feeney who was on duty at the stand, pencilled in his four numbers 3, 16, 24 and 30 and thought no more of it until he got a phone from Lottery Administrator Frank Beirne to say he was the lucky winner.

Marcus says he feels fortunate that he was supporting the team during their ‘golden era’ under Ian Barraclough and Paul Cook.

“I recall admired Paul’s passion on the sideline, he lived every minute, Another coach I greatly admire is Mickey Feeney, he has an excellent way of getting his message across.

“Rovers have been served very well by some outstanding players over the years, two who stand out for me are Raffaele Cretaro and Gavin Peers.”

According to Marcus, one of the most enjoyable elements of match night at the Showgrounds is “the banter among supporters.

“There is always a great atmosphere, ad there is still something very special about a game under the lights on a Saturday night.”

Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins congratulated Marcus on his success. “This latest jackpot win shows that our lottery is the most enduring and successful of the local lotteries.

“With the ongoing support of our regular players, it can continue to be a hugely valuable fundraiser for the club. Last year alone it brought in €100,000.”

Striker Ryan De Vries took part in his first training session this morning in a sunny Showgrounds.

Regan Donelon also trained as he steps up his recovery from a shoulder problem.

The Bit O’ Red take on Shamrock Rovers this Saturday night in Sligo. Ryan has received international clearance and will be in the squad on Saturday.

Kick-off is 8pm. Get your tickets here.

View a selection of images from the CrossFit session today ahead of the Shamrock Rovers game this Saturday. Photos by James Fallon.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to partner with Headrite Sports, a company focused on player welfare and improving heading techniques.

Children in primary school have recently been banned from heading footballs in training in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The new guidelines mean that children will no longer be taught to head footballs in training sessions, but will be in matches.

The English FA say that the infrequency of headers in these games means that they are unlikely to cause lasting damage.

Sligo Rovers want to educate and influence our players from Under-13 to senior level.

Headrite Sports is a new sports company focused on player welfare and skill improvement when heading footballs.

Coming into the market as the sole provider of safer heading practice, they also aim to bring the fun back to the under fire skill of heading the ball.

The design has evolved to ensure that it is structurally safe to use. The Headrite frame stands safely independent.

The training aid is mobile, allowing it to be used on a variety of training surfaces such as grass and astro.

The Headrite Frame can easily be erected in one minute without the need for tools.

The club are conscious of the possible long-term effects heading a football can have on our players, and those in the community.

We will be using the frame for training with our academy teams and on our summer camps and birthday parties, introducing safe heading to all involved.

The frame has kindly been sponsored by Smile Dental Clinic in Sligo, and will be displayed before the game on Saturday night against Shamrock Rovers.

The postponed fixture of Sligo Rovers v Waterford will now take place on Monday 16 March in The Showgrounds, kick-off 7:45pm.

The game was postponed last Saturday due to dangerous conditions.

It means Rovers have a home game this Saturday against Shamrock Rovers and are then back in action nine days later in The Showgrounds, with an away fixture against Derry sandwiched in between.

New Sligo Rovers signing Ryan De Vries has arrived in Sligo as the newest members of the squad.

De Vries received his work permit last Friday and arrived in Sligo on Tuesday morning.

He will train with his new team-mates for the rest of the week.

Liam Buckley is awaiting international clearance in order for De Vries to feature against Shamrock Rovers in our next league game on Saturday night in The Showgrounds.

The club are hopeful of receiving the clearance.

Tickets are available here.

Kick-off is 8pm.

Niall Morahan has won the first Player of the Month award for the 2020 season, sponsored by Wehrly Bros Jewellers.

Niall impressed in midfield and at right-back in the opening games of the season and can look forward to his prize from Wehrly’s who are generous sponsors of the club.

He and his Bit O’ Red team-mates are back in action this Saturday against Shamrock Rovers in The Showgrounds.

Kick-off is 8pm.