Sligo Rovers host St Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday night in The Showgrounds in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Rovers have been beaten on two occasions this year by the Saints – 1-0 and 2-1.

In team news, Dante Leverock is away on international duty.

Regan Donelon and Johnny Dunleavy are recovering from muscle injuries and making quicker progress than anticipated. Both will have pre-match fitness tests with a view to featuring.

There are no other concerns

Liam Buckley said: “We felt the scoreline was harsh last week. That said, we have to respond now because it’s another game and we’re back at home. There’s six points between ourselves and Pat’s so it’s an important match.

“We’re missing Dante but Regan and Johnny are coming along so they may come into play. We have been utilising the entire squad recently and that’s going to continue. We have quality players within our ranks.

“It’s good to be back in The Showgrounds but it’s a hard game so have to be at. I don’t think there has been much between the sides this year so we’ll give it our all and see where it takes us. We want to show the progress we feel we are making.”

Sligo Rovers will play League 1 side Accrington Stanley in a mid-season friendly on Monday 8 July in The Showgrounds

John Coleman, Jimmy Bell and Seamus Connelly bring Stanley to Sligo for the game with more details to be confirmed shortly.

We look forward to the game.

Luke McNicholas has signed a new two and a half year contract to keep him at Sligo Rovers until the end of the 2021 season.

McNicholas has progressed from the Under-17 squad and is now number two goalkeeper at The Showgrounds.

He has been capped at Under-18 level for the Republic of Ireland. 

McNicholas made his senior debut in the EA Sports Cup game with Finn Harps this year.
He joined Rovers from Manulla and has been a full-time professional for the last 12 months.

Liam Buckley: “I had known about Luke from when he playing underage football and I knew he was good but having worked with him now and with our goalkeeping coach Leo, he is a real talent. He has a top career ahead of him.

“Ed McGinty and Luke are vying for that starting position now. They are both very good goalkeepers and from the first day of the year it has been a toss-up for that position.

“Luke signed a new contract last year and the target was to really break into the first-team set-up. He has done that and now it will be to start playing league games and no doubt that will come in this contract period.

“We’ve got five or six young players in the squad and looking to make a breakthrough. They are all making progress, I’m delighted with them and you’ll see them continue to grow as we go on.”

Sam Warde has agreed terms with Sligo Rovers to sign for the club until the end of the 2019 season following the conclusion of his loan from Colchester United.

The 21-year-old midfielder has made 11 appearances since joining on loan from the U’s and has begun to become a more regular feature in Liam Buckley’s side.

He said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time here, it’s a very good club. There is a great group of players who make you feel very welcome and there’s a great spirit among us.

“I’ve played 11 games I think and I don’t think I’ve really shown what I can do. I think there is a lot more to come and I really want to show that now.

“We have our ambition in the league and I want to play a part in that because we are capable of finishing the year very well.”

Liam Buckley said: “Sam has been patient bearing in mind Jack Keaney has been in the team in that defensive role.

“I’m delighted he has signed until the end of the season. The agreement I had with him when he came in from Colchester was we would review it in the summer. I’m delighted he is on board.

“I have found through experience that development league in England is exactly what it says on the box. It’s a development league. When you come here it’s a man’s league. It’s tough. There’s no two ways about it. 

“When you have ambitions to be at the top half of the table, there are very few matches that are easy.

“I think it’s been a breath of fresh air for him in relation to where he was because he was a big stagnant over there.

“He has come in, done well, trained well. He’s got some talents, we’re trying to get them into our game here. He can make a big impact now in these next few months.”

Sligo Rovers can confirm that Mitchell Beeney has today left the club by mutual consent.

We wish Mitchell well and thank him for his contribution in the two seasons.

This year’s Sligo Rovers Summer Camps will run for eight weeks in total, starting on July 1^st and finishing on August 23^rd.

With Sligo Rovers renowned for providing one of the most affordable children’s camps in the region, the cost remains unchanged yet again at €60 per child.

Each child who participates will also receive an official Sligo Rovers training top (white), a free ticket to a Sligo Rovers home league game, a participation certificate and a picture with the Sligo Rovers first team.

Family discounts will apply yet again, with the cost of two children from the one family €100 per week (€20 saving) and €135 for three children from the one family per week (€45 saving).

The camp runs from 10.30am until 3pm daily. The optional Breakfast Club which sold out at the Easter Camps returns again, which opens from 8.30am each morning.

The cost of the Breakfast Club is an additional €25 per child. Each child that attends is provided with a choice of cereals, toast and juice each morning which is then followed by fully supervised outdoor activities.

Each participant is then walked down to the camp each morning by a coach. The Breakfast Club is limited to 25 children per week with pre booking strongly advised.

For more information or to make a booking, you can email shane@sligorovers.com or contact 071-9171212.

Alternatively, you can book your place online here: https://www.sligorovers.com/product-category/kids-camps/

Sligo Rovers visit Dundalk on Friday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division in Oriel Park.

The Bit O’ Red won 2-1 against Bohemians last week and are unbeaten against Dundalk with a 1-1 draw and 2-1 win so far. 

In team news, Dante Leverock (concussion) is out and travel to meet up with Bermuda ahead of the Gold Cup in the coming days.

Regan Donelon and Johnny Dunleavy are doubtful with muscle strains. Niall Morahan returns. 

Liam Buckley said: “Dundalk is a very hard game for every side in the league, especially away from home. Fight and desire has been the backbone of what we’ve done so far and in fairness to the lads they’ve worked extremely hard. 

“Whether we are under the radar is something I don’t consider but what is happening is we are fundamentally getting better and improving. We are halfway through the season but it remains a work in progress because we are trying to gel it together. By no means do we get carried away because you’re 90 minutes away from a defeat. We have to maintain all the attributes I’ve spoken about. 

“We got a draw earlier in the season. Dundalk have a good squad of players, their ambition would be to the win. From our end we go there looking give a good account of ourselves and to get a result.”

Sligo Rovers can today announce the upcoming release of The Showgrounds – a new beer produced in conjunction with The White Hag Brewery that will generate funds for the Bit O’ Red.

The project will see €1 donated to Sligo Rovers from every pint purchased thanks to a unique agreement between the club, White Hag and publicans in County Sligo.

The beer is a traditional helles lager, similar in style to a modern lager.

A total of 13 pubs will sell The Showgrounds – named after the home of Sligo Rovers.

The White Hag is an award-winning craft brewery from Sligo and they believe the Bit O’ Red are brewing something special under Liam Buckley.

Based in Ballymote, The White Hag have grown considerably since launch five years ago and now employ 10 people in a rapidly expanding local business, exporting to eight markets from their South Sligo base.

The agreement between White Hag and publicans will see Rovers profit €1 from each pint. The cost of a pint is €4.70.

The Showgrounds beer was brewed and packaged specially in recent days for release this Friday in the following bars:

• Caheny’s
• Mooney’s
• O’Neill’s
• Foley’s
• Earley’s
• Connolly’s
• The Swagman 
• Lillie’s 
• The Crozon Inn 
• The Snug 
• The Dunes, Strandhill
• Owenmore Inn, Collooney
• Salley Gardens, Ballisodare

Sligo Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty said: “The club hope our supporters buy into this unique fundraising venture and support a product which we think you will thoroughly enjoy. It is something aimed at older fans of the club during the summer. The money generated will be put towards ground works.

“The White Hag are a popular local business who are very keen to maintain their connection with Sligo. Their business is a great strength for the community of Ballymote and indeed County Sligo.

“We’d like to thank White Hag as we build our new partnership and hope this is a huge success.”

Bob Coggins of The White Hag said: “As a pillar of the Sligo sporting and cultural community, the Bit O’ Red are an icon for us and we’re thrilled to be able to create a product that we can turn into a fundraising campaign for The Showgrounds.

“This initiative allows the wider Sligo community to show their support the club by sampling our collaboration, and seeing some of their hard earned cash going straight to the Rovers development fund.

“The lager is a very accessible style that any beer drinker will appreciate. We’re producing the beer at a cost to allow for the maximum fundraising possible for a very worthwhile cause that’s brilliant for Sligo. We hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy it.”

Sligo Rovers will host a Family Fun event on Saturday 8 June in The Showgrounds before our game against St Patrick’s Athletic.

There is FREE Admission for all All Kids Under 12 if accompanied by a paying Adult.

Gates Open will open at the earlier time of 6pm.

All children will receive a free ice-cream if they arrive before 6.30pm

There is free face-painting for all children.

There is Live Music from 7 – 7.45pm

Benny the Bull is back so make sure to take your photo with Benny.

There is a free training session from 6-7pm for children on the astro pitch.

You must pre-register on 071 – 9171212 to book a place.

There will be some photo cut out boards in the ground where you can get your photo taken.

Free Admission passes can be got from your local schools or from the office from next Tuesday onwards.

LiveTiles, leaders in intelligent workspace solutions, will be the match sponsor for the home game against Saint Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday 8 June, which kicks off at 7.45pm in the Showgrounds.

“We opened our doors in Sligo just 12 months ago and are constantly thankful for the amazing support and goodwill we get ourselves from the people in Sligo and right across the northwest” says Elaine Murphy, General Manager of LiveTiles.

“As a global software company our European headquarters is now established in Sligo from where we are efficiently running a software development team plus sales, marketing and IT global support.” says Murphy.