Sligo Rovers were unable to follow up their impressive win over Dundalk as they played out a scoreless draw with Waterford at a wind-swept Showgrounds.

Both sides struggled to produce much in terms of entertaining football throughout, with the inclement weather playing its part.

John Mahon did enough to divert Shane Duggan’s shot at goal past Mitchell Beeney’s post early on, while Beeney watched Ismahil Akinade’s drive from all of 30 yards as it swirled in the breeze

The majority of the goalmouth action continued at the Rovers end as the Munster men showed flashes of creativity down either flank.

Both Kyle McFadden and Jack Keaney were unable to clear Zack Elbouzedi’s cross before possession finally landed to Scott Twine. Beeney not overly-troubled as he gathered the Swindon loanee’s shot on the spin.

Twine was involved again just moments later.

Underage internationals Elbouzebi and JJ Lunney combined down the Rovers right side before the former’s cross found Twine at the edge of the area.

The attacker’s acrobatic effort again easy for Beeney to control as the sides remained level at the break.

The second period had only just started when David Cawley pulled off a super one-handed save to deny Matthew Connor, while both Twine and Rory Feely went close from consecutive corners at the opposite end.

Blues skipper Damien Delaney squandered a wonderful chance to break the deadlock on 62 minutes. The former Cork defender couldn’t direct Kevin Lynch’s corner inside the post when unmarked in front of goal. 

Rovers boss Liam Buckley introduced both Liam Kerrigan and Romeo Parkes mid-way through the half, a move that almost paid off straight away.

Cawley and Parkes linked up before the Jamaican’s first-time pass sent Kerrigan through, but the Tubbercurry man could only fire straight at Connor who scrambled the ball to safety.

Elbouzedi forced a fine save from Beeney following a swift Waterford counter as the game entered its final quarter.

Parkes was involved again five minutes from the end.

Lewis Banks’ hard work won him the ball in midfield before he linked with Coughlan.

The ex-Bray man then found Parkes who could only watch on as his dinked effort drifted past the far post from a tight angle. 

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Johnny Dunleavy, Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Kyle McFadden; Jack Keaney (Romeo Parkes 68), David Cawley; Daryl Fordyce; Kris Twardek (Liam Kerrigan 68), Ronan Coughlan.

Waterford: Matthew Connor; Aaron Simpson, Damien Delaney, Rory Feely, Kevin Lynch; Scott Twine (Aaron Drinnan 72), Bastien Hery, Shane Duggan, Jonathan Lunney (Georgie Poynton 88), Zack Elbouzedi; Ismahil Akinade.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Sligo Rovers Dublin Supporters Club have announced they will hold a race night in the capital on Thursday 2^nd May in Toners Bar in Baggot Street Dublin

The event will begin at 8pm with the first race scheduled for 8:45pm.

The DSC are encouraging all Dublin-based fans to attend the event. 

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the #bitored in what is seen for an important fundraiser for Rovers fans in the capital.

Supporters can also purchases horses with prices from €20 to €40 here plus small fee.

They can also arrange purchasing by contacting sligoroversdsc@gmail.com or tweet @SRFC_DSC.

You can also phone 071-9171212.

Pure Telecom two year sponsorship of Sligo Rovers U-13

Sligo Rovers is delighted to announce that Pure Telecom, Ireland’s leading home broadband and telephone company has committed to sponsoring Rovers’ new Under-13s team.

This follows the exciting announcement last week that Pure Telecom has a target to raise €25,000 for the club by making a direct contribution to the club of €100 for every person who signs up to anexclusive low-cost offer of broadband and phone services. 

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom said, “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Rovers with this opportunity to invest in the underage structures at the club. The future of the club and our international team are dependent on investment in the high-performance development of our elite young talent. We wish Alan, Anthony and the players all the best for the season.”

Alan Farry, Manager of Sligo Rovers U13s, said, “We are delighted to welcome a national brand like Pure Telecom as a sponsor of our Under 13s.

“There is some great underage talent coming through and we should all be very excited for the future of the club.

“yes We have already seen the benefits of our underage structures which have fed some quality players into the first team and our underage international sides.”

Supporters who would like to sign up to Pure telecom’s offer to donate €100 for every fan who signs up can check availability and the great deal at https://www.puretelecom.ie/sligo-rovers. The offer will allow fans who are not currently Pure Telecom customers to save €120 over an 18 month contract.

This Monday’s match programme for the fixture with Waterford FC will be accompanied by a free poster of Sligo Rovers legend Tony Stenson

It also features an exclusive interview with Seamus Coleman.

All for €4. Check it out

44 pages

Interview with Seamus Coleman

Liam Buckley – his thoughts on the game

Rovers defender Dante Leverock shares his thoughts

Conal Collier on Hope Springs Eternal

Sligo Super Cup

Sligo Rovers U17’s in action

Seamas Keogh on how it is going so far at Southampton

20 Questions with Ronan Murray

Where are they now by Joe Molloy

You Reds – some nice photos

Red Icon – Brendan Byrne

Sligo Rovers wish to reaffirm that all children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult when entering the ground and during the game.

Children are not to enter the ground without an adult.

We ask parents and guardians to be aware of this ground regulation.

Sligo Rovers welcome Waterford FC to The Showgrounds on Monday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

There is a special offer for this game. Children under-12 will go free if accompanied by an adult. They must be accompanied by an adult or cannot be admited.

Rovers come into the game after their best performance of the season, beating Dundalk 2-1 thanks to goals from Romeo Parkes and Dante Leverock.

In team news Romeo Parkes is doubtful with a hamstring problem while Regan Donelon (illness) missed Friday’s game but is recuperating so he too could feature. A decision on both will be made on Monday.

Ronan Murray serves the second of a four game ban.

Liam Buckley said: “The lads played really well on Friday. There was great commitment from them all. I thought we deserved it over the 90 minutes.

“I was delighted for them all as well because they have all been putting in a serious shift in training as well and we had been under-achieving in results.  

“We just have to push on now and see if we can get something on Monday.

“From our point of view we want to build on our last performance. We saw really good tic-tac play to create the chance for Romeo which was pleasing and overall the number of chances we created was encouraging. That is something that we want to increase over time. We have players capable of scoring goals in a variety of ways and Dante’s winner was a good example.

“The fixture run of so many games is unnecessary but there is nothing that can be done about that now.  Saturday was recovery and we did a small bit of work on Sunday to be ready for this fixture, which we will be.

“We have to get on with it. Waterford are playing their third away game on the bounce and they’ll be keen to get the points. Like every side in this division, they have plenty of strengths. It never gets any easier in this league.

“The manner in which the supporters got behind us when Dundalk were pressing us in those final 15 minutes was tremendous. It made a big difference in helping us get the win.

We’ll need them again on Monday night and I’m sure they will be. We move on from that game and go about trying to get another three points if we can.”

Sligo Rovers are back in action this Monday against Waterford FC in The Showgrounds.

As this is our third home game in nine days, we are allowing children under-12 to enter for free with an adult.

Buy your tickets below with kick-off 7:45pm

Sligo Rovers handed Dundalk their second defeat on the spin as the Bit O’Red bounced back from recent indifferent form of their own to beat the champions at the Showgrounds.

Romeo Parkes sent Rovers on the way to their first league victory in four before Pat Hoban levelled the tie from the spot.

Sligo’s Bermudan centre half Dante Leverock settled this game before half-time when he popped up at the back post to help Liam Buckley’s charges toward their third league win of the season. 

The less fancied Sligo hit the lead with just 27 seconds played.

Ronan Coughlan combined with full -back Lewis Banks on the left and his cross was perfect for Parkes as he coolly slotted past Gary Rogers.

Rovers should have doubled their advantage on 11 minutes.

Coughlan got in the way of an attempted clearance from the Dundalk rearguard as the ball rolled into the path of Daryl Fordyce. But the attacker lacked the composure required and could only cushion his effort wide of the post.

Parkes almost had his brace on 20 minutes but his low drive struck the bottom of the post with the Lilywhites stretched at the back.

Sligo’s busy start was brought to a sudden halt when Kyle McFadden handled the ball inside the area. Hoban clipping his subsequent penalty down the middle.

Rovers took the lead again before the break. Parkes flicking David Cawley’s corner towards the back post where Leverock was on hand to head past Rogers for his second goal of the year.

A disjointed Dundalk struggled to find a way past a solid Rovers, in a second half bereft of much in terms of goalmouth action.

Fordyce was denied by a superb save from Rogers, when the Meath native pushed the Rovers attacker’s looping header over the Dundalk crossbar mid-way through the second period.

John Mountney’s first time volley was simple for Beeney to hold on to as the champions pressed late on, but it was Rovers who held on for the three points.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Johnny Dunleavy, Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Kyle Callan-McFadden; David Cawley, Jack Keaney (Niall Morahan 89); Daryl Fordyce; Ronan Coughlan; Romeo Parkes (Kris Twardek 73).

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland (John Mountney HT), Daniel Cleary, Dane Massey; Daniel Kelly (George Kelly 62), Sean Murray (Joe McKee 68), Sean Hoare, Jamie McGrath, Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Vote for Wehrly Bros Jewellers Sligo Rovers Player of the Month for March

In the month Rovers secured wins over Finn Harps and UCD, while suffering defeats to Shamrock Rovers and Derry City

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