Sligo Rovers take on Bohemians in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on Saturday night in The Showgrounds.

Rovers were beaten 3-0 last week against Derry City and are looking to respond, with the last home game 0-0 with Waterford.

Ronan Murray (calf) and Johnny Dunleavy (knee) are doubtful and will be checked pre-game.

Niall Morahan returns from international duty and needs to be assessed. Niall Watson has received clearance. 

Liam Buckley said:

“Derry played quite well last week. Our formation didn’t work and we didn’t perform over 90 minutes. We’d be disappointed, it is what it is, we get on with it. We have to make sure we apply ourselves in every game left, we go into this game with a new mindset and looking to find a winning performance. 

“We could go both ways in the table, up or down, so there’s an incentive of course. We didn’t perform well enough last week but we’ve shown previously we can get to a much better level. There’s a lot left for us in the season, we’ve got the Cup and our league position is up in the air so I expect that the group to be thinking about our future and their future. 

“We have to have a regular standard of performance and for much of the season consistency has been a problem. In saying that our injury profile has been terrible and we’ve been making a lot of changes because of it. 

“Every game we want to try to win and I want everyone thinking like that because if we don’t think like that we won’t achieve what we want here.

“We’ve gone to Bohs and won and they did it here and I don’t think there is much between any side outside of the top two. We want to go out and win the game with a much better performance.”

Sligo Rovers, in conjunction with Cosgroves Centra Maugheraboy, are delighted to launch the bring a food can campaign at the Bohemians match night this Saturday night in the Showgrounds.

All supporters are asked to bring a food can which will be distributed by St Vincent de Paul to those in need in Sligo and surrounding area in the form of food hampers.

Cans can be donated outside the stadium. Kick-off is 8pm.

Further details to follow.

Sligo Rovers have completed the signing of Accrington Stanley midfielder Niall Watson on loan until the end of the League of Ireland season, subject to international clearance.

The 19-year-old makes the temporary switch to the Bit O’ Red having featured against us in a friendly for his parent club in The Showgrounds.

He made his debut for Stanley against Exeter 18 months ago and signed his first professional deal last year.

Watson has been part of their pre-season preparations this year and has featured throughout their friendly games.

Liam Buckley said: “It’s important to firm up the squad from our end. Liam Kerrigan is moving on so we have to be mindful of that and replace him.

“Niall came on in the friendly game we had earlier in the month. He’s a young player looking to make an impact.

“He is more likely to get game time here than in Accrington at this point and it suits us to take him in for the next few months. I spoke with John Coleman and it’s a good move for all parties.

“He has been involved with Accrington’s first-team and at a couple of non-league clubs.

“He can play in an attacking role on the left or right, so we’ll give him a chance in training to impress and force a way into the side.

“In terms of other signings, the market is not favourable at this time of year in Ireland but we remain in the hunt.

“We’re exploring things but it has to be a player that is really going to improve us. I won’t sign someone if it isn’t right for us. There’s less than two weeks left we’ll see how things go.”

Niall Watson said: “When I was in Sligo for the friendly I could see what a good club it is so when the gaffer (John Coleman) mentioned their interest I was delighted.

“He told me more about them too so now I’m really excited. I had three loan spells last year and I’m ready to keep playing. There’s still a lot of games to be played in the season in Ireland.

“It’s a great experience for me to move over and become part of a club like Sligo Rovers, I’m really up for it. I can play anywhere across a front three, I probably prefer the left side.

“Whatever the gaffer says I’ll be up for it. I’m looking forward to getting involved straight away and meet everyone on Tuesday.”

Liam Kerrigan has joined UCD, the club can confirm.

The Rovers Under-17 graduate progressed through the ranks to become a member of the first-team squad.

He started with the Under-17s in 2015 and went on to make 24 appearance for the senior side.

The 19-year-old said: “Like Jack said this has been a very difficult decision to make. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t a Sligo Rovers fan and making my debut and signing my first professional contract last year was a dream come true.

“Thanks to Gerard Lyttle and Kevin Derry for giving me that opportunity. 

“I would like to thank all my coaches from Real Tubber FC and Raff Cretaro for introducing me to the club as mascot when I was five-years old, Sligo Leitrim youths, Sligo Rovers 17s, Niall Harrison, Colm Jinks and Danny O’Leary, the u19s, Dinky (Brian Dorrian) and the first team management, Liam Buckley, John Russell and Dave Campbell for all their encouragement and guidance throughout the years.

“I’d also like to thank everyone behind the scenes at Sligo Rovers and all the fans for supporting me over the last two seasons.

“Best of luck to everyone at the club for the rest of the season.”

Liam Buckley said: “Liam has decided to take up this offer. We wish him well. We don’t want to lose our young players and going forward the IT Sligo scholarship scheme will help with that.

“It’s disappointing but we wish Liam a great future and perhaps one day we will see him in a Sligo Rovers jersey again.”

Sligo Rovers travel to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night to take Derry City in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Bit O’ Red extended their unbeaten run at home to nine matches last time out against Waterford and go in search for a fourth win on the road this year.

Wins over Finn Harps, UCD and Bohemians have helped Rovers to sit in sixth place in the league, with this game a key one in trying to get closer to Derry and St Patrick’s Athletic.  

In team news, Dante Leverock (red card last time out) and David Cawley (yellow card accumulation) are suspended.

Niall Morahan is away on international duty.

Regan Donelon returns and is available to play.

Liam Buckley said: “We expected a bit more last Saturday. We’re proving very hard to beat but we could have done a good bit better in the game.  

“We would have liked to play better in the second half. We got the point so we’re still in there and with 11 games to go we’d like to see where a good run could take us.

“The league table doesn’t lie in that Derry are a couple of wins ahead of us but we feel we can compete against any side. We’ve beaten the top three in the league yet had some disappointing results and Derry couldn’t get that goal last week so it proves how hard this league is.

“We’d like to go up there and show a bit more of what we can do and get the result.” 

Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm the renewal of their partnership for 2019 as Top Oil are again confirmed as official fuel supplier to the Bit O’ Red.

The announcement was made today with representatives of Rovers are Top Oil at The Showgrounds.

Details were also announced of how fans can help the club once again as part of the new agreement.

€10 will go to Sligo Rovers if customers quote ‘TopSR’ when ordering fuel from Top Oil.

The partnership has been very successful so far, so we encourage all fans to use Top Oil. To order, phone 071-9162238 for a quote and receive the excellent customer service that Top Oil provides.

Sligo Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty commented: “Top Oil has been very loyal to the club and we are very happy to have them on board again.

‘’It shows that our sponsors see the benefit of long-term association with the club as the agreement has been extended for a third time.

‘’We ask all our fans to support our sponsors and don’t forget to mention ‘TopSR’ when ordering.

Andrew Meagher, Head of Sales for Top Oil’s Direct business, said:

‘’We are very pleased to be extending our long-term partnership with Sligo Rovers. Top Oil is very much part of the local community in Sligo where we employ are serve local people and businesses.

“Sligo Rovers is a community based club so we are pleased to be associated with such a great club as we renew our sponsorship again for another year. We want to take the opportunity to wish the club the very best, both on and off the field.’’

Top Oil has a growing network of depots and forecourts that champion quality service and reliability.

As an addition to the partnership, Top Oil has committed to making a €10 donation to Sligo Rovers FC for every order placed in the region using the promo code ‘TopSR’.

Orders can be made online at their website top.ie or by calling your local Top Oil depot in Sligo locally on 0719162238.

Sligo Rovers host Waterford FC on Saturday night in The Showgrounds. Kick off is the later time of 8pm.

The Bit O’ Red drew 0-0 with Shamrock Rovers last week and played a mid-season friendly on Monday, beating Accrington Stanley.

New signing Danny Kane is awaiting international clearance. 

Lewis Banks serves a one-game ban.

Regan Donelon (hamstring) and Romeo Parkes (ankle) will undergo late fitness tests. 

Niall Morahan has been called up to the Ireland Under-19 squad for the European Championships so will miss out.

Liam Buckley said: “We were superb without the ball in Tallaght in terms of organisation, tenacity and overall defensively. We battled and scrapped and wouldn’t give in. With the ball, we could have been a lot better. It was a very good point from where we are at. Not many teams are getting a result there currently.

“Monday’s game was useful in that we got minutes for lads who needed them and it was actually a very good game. It was competitive and we played quite well. It was good for the likes of Danny Kane to play a part and a couple of others coming back from knocks. 

“We’ve got 12 games left. I think the players have worked extremely hard, and a late run could make it an exciting end of the season for us. We’re still in a position to kick on and going into this game that’s what we’re looking at.

“We will be without a couple of lads at least, the rest we’ll look at before the game. 

“It’s great for Niall to get the call-up, it’ll be a fantastic experience for him and he is progressing. 

“We’d like to put on a big performance in front of our supporters, we’d love a big crowd behind us and we’ll try to get the win because it could really get us closer to the top half teams.”

Sligo Rovers can today announce the signing of defender Danny Kane until the end of the season subject to international clearance.

The former Cork City and AFC Fylde man has been recovering from serious injury and has been part of the Rovers group for the majority of the season in that process. 

Kane, 22, has been recuperating from a serious ankle problem but is now back to fitness and played in the 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley on Monday.

Danny Kane said: “I’m delighted to officially be a Sligo Rovers player. It has been a long recovery but I’m happy to have been here for it. The lads are a fantastic group and it’s a great environment to be in. 

“I met Liam Buckley for the first time in January in Dublin and he ticked every box for me. I ended up going to Sligo the next day.

“He said I could do my recovery with a view to joining and the club would be totally open to me, help me and be part of things which was great. It has been frustrating watching on and mentally hard but being around the lads and the staff has been vital for me. They helped me settle in straight away.

“Playing on Monday was a great feeling. I think I did okay and I just need to get sharper. Now that I’m signed I want to show what I can do and get back flying. We have a few defenders in the squad. My preferred position is centre-half but I can play anywhere across the back four. I don’t mind, I just want to get back to my best.”

Liam Buckley said: “We lined Danny up earlier in the year. Both sides have had to be patient – it was a bad injury and he’s done the work to get back. We wanted to help him get back because we have a very good player on our hands at his best.

“He’s a baller. He can really play and also defend very well. He has that versatility and while we have good players in defence so he’ll have lots of competition, we have been low on bodies through the year. Not too long before the injury he was playing for the Ireland Under-21s and doing well and we think we can get him back to that form. 

“He played in the friendly with Accrington and came through that well. I think he can make a big contribution and I see the hunger in him. His grandmother is from the area so to have family around is great for him as well. 

“We are still looking. This window is difficult to pick up players. We don’t just want to go for someone for the sake of it. There’s still a couple of weeks to go so we are certainly not ruling anything out.”

Danny is awaiting clearance to be ready to be involved in competitive action. 

Sligo Rovers will play Glebe North away in the first round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup in August.

The draw was made at the Aviva Stadium. Club officials were present for the draw.

Rovers face the Leinster Senior League outfit from Balbriggan on weekend ending 11 August. More details will be confirmed shortly