Tickets are now on sale for Bohemians v Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division on Friday night.

Bit O’ Red fans can buy here for the Mono Stand.

Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers wish to offer our condolences to the family of Jim Lynch following his passing on Friday.

Jim travelled the length and breadth of the country to follow his beloved Bit O’ Red.

No journey was too long or game too small, Jim was always present home and away and enjoyed countless conversations with other Bit o’ Red fans.

His dedication to support Rovers was immense throughout the decades of his life and we will sorely miss him at each game and indeed every Rovers occasion.

We offer our condolences to his wife Mary and his sons and daughters Ian, Karina and Jacqueline and all of the Lynch family at this sad time.

Substitute Stefan Radosavljevic netted for the Bit O’Red’s to pick up a vital three points for Sligo Rovers against Derry City on Friday night.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ charges finished with 10 men after Ronan Boyce was sent off late on having picked up a second yellow card.

On their way to back-to-back wins for the first time in over a year and the points that would further pull his side away from relegation worries, Rovers boss John Russell made one change from their first win in seven last week over UCD, Johan Brannefalk coming in for Fabrice Hartmann.

City, hoping to keep pace with leaders Shamrock Rovers, were forced into one change. Shane McEleney, dismissed during their recent draw with the Hoops, was replaced by Ciaran Coll in the heart of defence.

In an opening half which lacked creativity and cutting edge from either camp, it took almost 20 minutes for either goalkeeper to be called into action, although Brian Maher will have faced tougher tests as he easily gathered Rovers skipper David Cawley’s effort from distance in the 19th minute.

Derry’s recent record by the Garavogue has been patchy at best, with their last win in Sligo coming back in August 2021. The Foylesiders were back at the venue their 2022 title challenge ended with defeat to Sligo.

Their first attempt at goal arrived just short of the half-hour when veteran goalkeeper Richard Brush produced a two-handed save to keep out Danny Mullen’s pot-shot on the turn.

The same player could only fire wide from close range moments later, although the very presence of Rovers’ Niall Morahan may have done enough to put the Scottish striker off.

Visiting netminder Maher remained an onlooker for the remainder of the first period as the Showgrounds looked for a moment of class to provide the spark to a drab affair.

Sligo’s Greg Bolger’s ambitious first-time volley was the closest the hosts came to an opener when he skewed a volley wide of Maher’s posts on 38 minutes. This, after trojan work in the corner from captain Cawley, who provided the cross for the opportunity.

Rovers’ Portuguese striker Pedro Martelo fashioned an early shot on goal in the early moments of the second half, with Maher comfortably keeping hold of the former Benfica man’s scuffed effort.

Brush again denied Mullen in the 52nd minute at the far end when the Derry striker released a teasing shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area, with the 38-year-old Brush pulling off an impressive save to keep the ball in play as this tie showed signs of really opening up.

Martelo was inches away from his first League of Ireland goal on the next attack after he connected well with Reece Hutchinson’s pull back, with the striker left perplexed when his low drive crept past Maher’s post.

Bolger again speculated on the volley from outside the box on the hour as Rovers took to the front foot, but once more Maher was not for beating.

The visiting bench were left incensed in the 72nd minute when Brush crashed into Cian Kavanagh eight yards from his goal-line as the Derry substitute chased down a ball forward from the City defence. Referee Rob Harvey ignored claims of any wrongdoing on Brush’s part.

Derry’s game-plan was thrown into chaos 10 minutes from time when Boyce, on his 100th appearance under Higgins, was shown a second yellow after he attempted to stop a quick Sligo throw-in.

But things got even worse for the FAI Cup holders on 84 minutes.

City’s rearguard switched off for a moment, allowing the unmarked Radosavljevic – possibly with the aid of his hand – to bundle Hutchinson’s cross past Maher from six yards out, with referee Robert Harvey waving away Derry City’s subsequent protests.

Rovers’ Faroese striker could have settled this game three minutes from time but Radosavljevic skied Kailin Barlow’s cross over Maher’s crossbar from point-blank range.

But one goal was enough

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Niall Morahan (Stefan Radosavljevic 79), John Mahon (Nando Pijnaker HT), Garry Buckley, Reece Hutchinson; Greg Bolger (Lukas Browning 79), David Cawley; Johan Brannefalk (Frank Liivak 55), Robbie Burton (Kailin Barlow 63), Karl O’Sullivan; Pedro Martelo.

Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Ciaran Coll, Cameron McJannett, Ben Doherty (Brandon Kavanagh 87); Sadou Diallo (Cameron Dummigan 69), Will Patching; Paul McMullan (Jordan McEneff 83), Adam O’Reilly, Michael Duffy; Danny Mullen (Cian Kavanagh 69).

Referee: Rob Harvey.

Attendance: 2.491.

Sligo Rovers take on Derry City on Friday night in The Showgrounds as the Bit O’ Red look to make it back to back victories.

The Bit O’ Red have played out close games with the Candystripes this season, taking three points in the last home game through Will Fitzgerald, a point in a 1-1 away draw and a narrow 2-1 defeat thanks to a Will Patching injury-time penalty.

Rovers notched a 2-0 victory over UCD last week, now currently sitting in eighth in the table.

There are just three home matches left in the season for Rovers with no home game after Friday for a month.

The next home game is Friday 20 October against Dundalk so we encourage supporters to attend on Friday if possible on a big night for the club.

In team news, Mark Byrne, Gary Boylan and Will Fitzgerald remain out with long-term injuries.

Manager John Russell said: “It’s brilliant to have another home game. It was a positive night last week getting the three points.

““I thought we were fully deserving of the win last week, it was great to get two goals, it could have had a couple more and we kept a clean sheet. We want to build on that. It was a different type of performance from us and I was happy with it overall.

“The games against Derry have been very close. They’re a really good side of course and we’ve done well against them this year, albeit we could have got more out of the games.

“We’ll bring a game plan into Friday and we come into it with the confidence from last week.

“There was a spring in the step of the players this week on the back of getting a win. It was a good time for the club overall so to be back in The Showgrounds is great.

“The support we have had was fantastic, we’ve got three more nights here and we want to make them count.

“We know they’ll be behind us and we want to give them something to shout about early on.”

Tickets are available at turnstiles using cash or via card.

Friday also marks the final day for our outgoing CEO Colin Feehily, the club look forward to marking his many years of outstanding service with the Bit O’ Red.

Home supporters wishing to attend this Friday night’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture between Sligo Rovers and Derry can buy their tickets online now on the club’s online store.

Tickets are available here: https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

The game takes place at 7.45pm at The Showgrounds and gates will open from 6.30pm.

Supporters can also pay on the gate on the night by cash or card.

Striker Paula McGrory and goalkeeper Amy Mahon have joined Sligo Rovers.

McGrory, a native of Donegal signs having spent 2021 playing with Derry City.

The 25-year-old began her career with Aileach FC before she moved Illies FC where she played for 14 years.

McGrory played in the Inishowen League and Donegal Super League where she played alongside her current team-mate Emma Doherty. She then moved to Derry City for the 2021 season. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without Illies FC. I moved to Derry FC last year for the season and enjoyed my time there it was great standard in that league. I loved playing every minute in the Ryan McBride Brandywell,  it was just an unreal place to play football,” McGrory said. 

Having received contact in recent weeks from Bit O’Red manager Steve Feeney, McGrory felt it was too good an opportunity to turn down. “I was contacted by Steve only two weeks ago and thought it would be a good opportunity to play in the Women’s National League”.

Having previously played GAA, McGrory says she wants to prioritise her football now as she joins the Bit O’Red.

“I’m excited about the season ahead and playing alongside Gemma McGuiness as we always battled against each other in between Illies FC vans Greencastle. 

“We have a big challenge ahead but we are going in as an unknown team so hope we can have a few surprising results.”

Paula made her debut yesterday against Peamount.

Goalkeeper Mahon joins having previously been with the Rovers Under-17 team in 2020 before the season was halted due to Covid-19. 

The 17-year-old is familiar with Rovers having first joined training sessions when she was 14. 

The Mayo native first played for her local side Charlestown Athletic before she signed for Castlebar Celtic. 

Mahon, a goalkeeper, spent last season with Galway WFC’s under 17s. She was part of the Connacht team that won the interpros in 2017 and received her first Irish cap in 2019 when  she represented the Ireland U15’s at the Bob Docherty Cup in Spain. 

Mahon is also an established GAA player for Mayo. 

The 17-year-old had long wanted to sign for Rovers, and finally got that chance in 2020 when she joined the U17 side. Covid stopped the season, meaning that Mahon didn’t get the opportunity she had hoped for. 

She said: “I’ve now come back and joined the senior team and I’m really excited for the season ahead as it’s my first time competing at senior level in the Women’s National League. 

“The squad is full of young talent and experienced players which makes training really enjoyable and there is always a great atmosphere. 

“Steve, the coaches and all the girls have all been really welcoming since joining and I’m excited to see how the season goes for us.”

The Minister for Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys, was briefed on Sligo Rovers Development Plan when she visited The Showgrounds on Friday evening.

She met some of the girls’ teams playing on the all-weather pitch at the Sean Fallon Centre.

She said she was impressed by the positive role the club is playing in community life.

The Sligo Rovers chairman, Tommy Higgins, briefed the minister on the proposals to upgrade the facilities in time for the Sligo Rovers centenary in 2028.  The club will submit a detailed planning application, outlining its plans to Sligo County Council, during the summer. 

Minister for Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys and Frank Feighan TD, and Sligo Rovers representatives during a visit to the Showgrounds on Friday as well as youth teams on the pitch.