Author: Rory Houston

Match programme vs UCD

Tonights match programme is 44 pages and includes a free poster of Sligo Rovers great Gavin Dykes

Gavin Dykes

Liam Buckley – his thoughts on tonight’s game

Conall Collier – Time to celebrate GAA success for Sligo and Leitrim

Lewis Banks signs for another year

Lucid outlook for an All-Island League

20 Questions with David Cawley

Colin Feehily – Sligo Rovers Chief Executive

Sligo Rovers International Players by Joe Molloy

Red Icon – Ray Gallagher

Stephen McLoughlin on tonight’s game

You Reds – some nice photos

Preview: Buckley seeks improvement vs UCD

Sligo Rovers meet UCD on Monday night in The Showgrounds in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division. 

In team news, Regan Donelon and Ronan Coughlan trained on Sunday and could feature. They will be assessed on matchday. 

Daryl Fordyce is doubtful with an Achilles injury and will also be tested pre-match.   

Sam Warde is ineligible as his permanent transfer can only go through on Monday and clearance will not arrive in time. 

Liam Buckley said: “It was very poor last Friday. We needed better drive, better dynamism, better work-rate. 

“If you don’t have those things in this league you will get turned over and we got turned over. Results elsewhere meant it was a defeat that hurt us in the table as well. 

“That’s our first task going into this game, that our previous levels of work-rate return. We have never had a lack of work-rate before with this team and on Monday there is the chance at least to show it was a bad night. I’m looking for a big improvement. 

“I’m expecting a hard game from UCD. I don’t know exactly what team we can put out, that’ll be looked at before the game but whichever team goes out there, they know that to win the game we need to be much better so we go into it looking to be.”

Preview: Rovers set to face Harps

Sligo Rovers take on Finn Harps on Friday night in Finn Park in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Rovers go into the game in sixth position as the season resumes, with six wins so far in the league.

One of those wins came in Finn Park through a 2-1 success, while in the second match the Bit O’ Red needed a late Ronan Coughlan penalty to secure a point.

In injury news Dante Leverock returns from international duty with Bermuda in the Gold Cup, Johnny Dunleavy and Niall Morahan are fit after injury and John Mahon returns from suspension.

Regan Donelon (hamstring) is out and Daryl Fordyce (Achilles) is doubt and will undergo a late test prior to the game.

Liam Buckley said: “We gave the players a programme for the short time off, we are happy with how that went. The lads had a week off but on three of the days they had to do individual training which was monitored. It was a good balance to give that bit of rest but maintain what we have build up.

“They were back in on Monday then so we’ve had a good week together.

“I think the break was welcome, even just from a mental point of view as there has been a lot of training and a lot of games and sometimes you just need a refresh.

“We also were down a lot of players. You could see that as the Cork game ended that we were low on numbers and thankfully Dante has come back okay, Johnny Dunleavy has been training all week and Niall Morahan was with the Republic of Ireland Under-19s this week so he’s fine too.

“Regan still isn’t quite right and Daryl has a niggle which we’ll look at up there.

“The win we had in Ballybofey was very hard fought and in The Showgrounds it was almost the last kick of the game not to lose so we know what we’re facing.

“It’s going to be a real battle, and in Finn Park, every team, especially outside the top two, has it tough. From our point of view we have had a good preparation and we want to hit the ground running for the rest of the season.

“I think there is improvement in the group, they’ve worked extremely hard for the first part of the season and I have no doubt they will do that again. We want to kick on and see where it can take us.”

Annual Draw at €50,000

€50,000 has been generated so far in the Sligo Rovers Annual Draw.

Liam Buckley said: “It’s a fantastic achievement so far. Every fan that gets on board with us, gets behind us, it makes a difference, so keep on going.”

There is €5,000 to be won among a host of prizes. 6,400 tickets were sold last year in the most successful staging of the draw since it began.

Tickets are priced €10 and are available online here , home games and from members of our committee.

The prizes:

1st prize: €5,000

2nd prize: One Night B&B for two people at the 5 Star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin

3rd prize: Two tickets for Rod Stewart for his 4th December Concert plus One Night B&B and Evening Meal in The Croke Park Hotel.

Buy tickets here

4th prize: One Night B&B and Evening Meal for two people at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast

5th prize: One Night B&B for two people in Hotel Westport, Co Mayo

6th prize: €200 voucher for 4 Star Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare

7th prize: €150 Gift Voucher for The Cat and The Moon

8th prize: Sligo Rovers season ticket for 2020

9th prize: 2 Premier Level Tickets for the Republic of Ireland versus Switzerland on 5th September in Aviva Stadium Euro 2020 qualifer

10th prize: Signed Sligo Rovers jersey

The draw takes place on Monday 1st July

Two matches switched to 8pm

Two Sligo Rovers matches have been selected for coverage by Eir Sport in July and as a result, kick-off has been moved to 8pm.

Rovers take on Waterford on Saturday 13 July and Bohemians on 27 July in The Showgrounds. Kick-off is 8pm with the dates unchanged.

Our next home game is this Monday against UCD at 7:45pm.

One week to go in Annual Draw

€42,000 has been generated so far in the Sligo Rovers Annual Draw.

There is €5,000 to be won among a host of prizes. 6,400 tickets were sold last year in the most successful staging of the draw since it began.

Tickets are priced €10 and are available online here , home games and from members of our committee.

The prizes:

1st prize: €5,000

2nd prize: One Night B&B for two people at the 5 Star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin

3rd prize: Two tickets for Rod Stewart for his 4th December Concert plus One Night B&B and Evening Meal in The Croke Park Hotel.

Buy tickets here

4th prize: One Night B&B and Evening Meal for two people at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast

5th prize: One Night B&B for two people in Hotel Westport, Co Mayo

6th prize: €200 voucher for 4 Star Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare

7th prize: €150 Gift Voucher for The Cat and The Moon

8th prize: Sligo Rovers season ticket for 2020

9th prize: 2 Premier Level Tickets for the Republic of Ireland versus Switzerland on 5th September in Aviva Stadium Euro 2020 qualifer

10th prize: Signed Sligo Rovers jersey

The draw takes place on Monday 1st July

13 days left: Annual Draw hits €35,000

€35,000 has been generated so far in the Sligo Rovers Annual Draw.

There is €5,000 to be won among a host of prizes. 6,400 tickets were sold last year in the most successful staging of the draw since it began.

Tickets are priced €10 and are available online here , home games and from members of our committee.

The prizes:

1st prize: €5,000

2nd prize: One Night B&B for two people at the 5 Star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin

3rd prize: Two tickets for Rod Stewart for his 4th December Concert plus One Night B&B and Evening Meal in The Croke Park Hotel.

Buy tickets here

4th prize: One Night B&B and Evening Meal for two people at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast

5th prize: One Night B&B for two people in Hotel Westport, Co Mayo

6th prize: €200 voucher for 4 Star Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare

7th prize: €150 Gift Voucher for The Cat and The Moon

8th prize: Sligo Rovers season ticket for 2020

9th prize: 2 Premier Level Tickets for the Republic of Ireland versus Switzerland on 5th September in Aviva Stadium Euro 2020 qualifer

10th prize: Signed Sligo Rovers jersey

The draw takes place on Monday 1st July

Family Day a great success

The Sligo Rovers Family Day was a huge success last week. Look back on some of the highlights.

We have two games coming up

Monday 1st July vs UCD

Monday 8th July v Accrington Stanley

Darragh Healy new kit manager

Darragh Healy has been appointed the new kit manager of Sligo Rovers.

Healy, current manager of the Under-17 Women’s team, has been working in the role in recent games with former kit manager Colin Feehily.

Darragh brings with him a wealth of experience, thanks to his involvement in football in the community, including a regional development officer for the area.

He has been part of the Rovers Under 19s management, and was involved in the Rovers primary school programme, which involves visiting schools, coaching and delivering workshops.

He has been part of the IT Sligo men’s A team. He has also coached four teams at the Ursuline College and manages Ballisodare United.

Liam Buckley said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Darragh to the backroom team. He has a knowledge of football and knows the requirements of the role and you see what commitment he has with his involvement in the game.

“It is an important job and Colin has done an excellent job and I have no doubt Darragh will do the same. He has already fitted in very well.”