This year Wehrly Bros Jewellers will again sponsor the Sligo Rovers Player of the Month
Wehrlys are brilliant sponsors of Sligo Rovers and provide a prize for the player each month.
This selection is based on the matches with Dundalk, St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City
Voting closes on Friday.
Vote below
Sligo Rovers host UCD this Saturday in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division in The Showgrounds, kick-off 7:45pm.
Rovers go into the game on the back of a win over Finn Harps. With over 5,200 home fans attending our first two matches, we’d love to see another big crowd.
Tickets are available below. Click on the link, purchase and scan or print on the night.
Sligo Rovers and Clayton Hotel Sligo have today announced the renewal of their sponsorship agreement for 2019.
As part of the sponsorship, Sligo Rovers will have use of the award-winning Clayton Hotel facilities including use of the Club Vitae gym and 20m pool for the Rovers first team squad as part of day-to-day training and preparation, as well as use of conference and meeting rooms and other facilities available at Clayton Hotel Sligo.
The club hopes to hold events at the Clayton Hotel later in the year. Our AGM was held at the Clayton Hotel in January.
Sligo Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty said: “The Clayton Hotel have proven one of the most loyal sponsors of our club, with our partnership going back well over a decade.
“When Liam Buckley joined us, one of the standout features he spoke about was the facilities available to the team, and the Clayton Hotel is a huge part of that.
“On behalf of Sligo Rovers I thank everybody associated with Dalata Hotel Group, Clayton Hotel and their staff for the continued support.”
Rovers boss Liam Buckley said: “Club Vitae Leisure Centre is very important to us. It gives us that extra outlet for training and fitness, especially during this busy time in the season.
“It is of an extremely high standard and allows us to prepare for each challenge in the best possible fashion.
“I’m delighted we will be able to avail of the brilliant gym and swimming pool here once again and I’d encourage our fans to become part of the service here because it is top class.”
Fergal Ryan, general manager of Clayton Hotel Sligo, said: “Clayton Hotel Sligo are delighted to maintain our partnership with Sligo Rovers for 2019, the amenities that we have here at Clayton Sligo are well matched to the needs of the players.
“From all of the team at Clayton Hotel Sligo, best wishes to Liam and team for the season!”
Sligo Rovers take on Finn Harps on Friday night as the Bit O’ Red travel to Finn Park for an eagerly-awaited encounter.
Rovers have one point from the first three matches but have shown positives signs throughout.
Injuries have been a hinderance early in the season and there is mixed news ahead of this game.
Regan Donelon is out with a hamstring problem while Johnny Dunleavy (groin) and Ronan Coughlan (hamstring) will have late fitness tests.
David Cawley returned as a substitute on Monday night having taken little part in pre-season because of a knee problem.
There is also good news that Ronan Murray returned to training on Thursday and he could join the squad for the first time. A decision will be taken on Friday.
Liam Buckley said: “We’ve lifted ourselves from Monday and had a good couple of days of training, working on some areas we’re looking to improve upon.
“I think you can expect a hard game anywhere you go in this league. It’s a real scrap in every match.
“Finn Harps will not be easier than Pat’s or Cork, and I think that has already been shown.
“What I want from us is to be better in creating opportunities and remember just how much you need to dig in.
“We didn’t get a reward over the two games last week but that reward will come if we keep working.
“There is a lot more to come from these players and we want to get the reward on Friday. It’ll only come by earning it.”
Cork City picked up their first league win of season with a 2-1 win over a gallant Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
A Sean McLoughlin header and a wonderful Gearoid Morrisey strike from distance saw City lead comfortably.
Kyle Callan-McFadden pulled one back for Sligo on 63 minutes, but the Bit O’Red were unable to pull an equaliser out of the hat.
Without victory in their opening two games, it was John Caulfield’s men who dictated large portions of this first half and City’s early pressure told just short of the quarter hour.
Dante Leverock could only deflect Shane Griffin’s as far as McLoughlin, who volleyed home from 12 yards.
Rovers, unsettled by an early injury to full back Regan Donelon, failed to test City net minder Mark McNulty in the opening 45.
The closest the hosts came to an equaliser before the break, was when Daryl Fordyce’s opportunistic effort from out wide sailed harmlessly over the Cork goal.
The second half was just four minutes old when the Rebels had their second.
Thirty yards out from the target, and with nothing else on in front of him, Morrisey unleashed a stunning left-footed effort which flew past Rovers stopper Ed McGinty and into the top corner.
Both sides went close at opposing ends before Sligo cut Cork’s lead in half on 65 minutes. Callan-McFadden nodding Jack Keaney’s corner to the net with a determined diving header.
The hosts tried to force an equaliser but Cork held on for their first points of the season.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Kyle Callan-McFadden, Dante Leverock, John Mahon; Lewis Banks, Regan Donelon (Niall Morahan 7); Jack Keaney, Daryl Fordyce (David Cawley 66); Kris Twardek, Liam Kerrigan (Sam Warde 66) ; Romeo Parkes.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Conor McCarthy, Dan Casey, Sean McLoughlin, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack, Gearoid Morrisey; Garry Buckley, Daire O’Connor (James Tiley 69), Karl Sheppard; Liam Nash (Dan Smith 69).
Referee: Ben Connolly
Sligo Rovers host Cork City on Monday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.
Rovers were beaten 1-0 on Friday by St Patrick’s Athletic as an injury-time goal from Mikey Drennan won it for the Saints.
The Bit O’ Red looked to be on course for a deserved point but now move on looking to bounce back against the Rebels.
To celebrate the launch of our IT Sligo scholarship agreement, all IT Sligo students will gain entry for €5 on the night with this year’s IT Sligo student card.
In injury news, Johnny Dunleavy (groin), David Cawley (knee) and Ronan Murray (ankle) are all doubtful.
Buckley said on the trio: “Johnny had a slight groin strain and we’re not sure on him. It’ll be a late call. David Cawley could potentially make the bench. He is back in training and has the all clear. Ronan Murray rolled his ankle a couple of weeks ago and we’ll do a late call on him too. He is not too far away. Certainly if they don’t make it tomorrow they will make next Friday. We’ll see how we are.”
The Rovers boss reflected on Friday night and two games so far.
“The goal in the last minute killed us. I thought we put in a reasonable shift from a work point of view. There wasn’t a lot between the two teams, I don’t think either deserved to win baring in mind the way the game went.
“We were disappointed we didn’t pick up a point keeping in mind the likes of St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk would see themselves as top four teams and we have held our own in both matches so far.
“Looking at the game, Pat’s had a bit of possession and we had a bit of possession. We just need to be better on the ball. I’ll be honest; we haven’t seen the best of this group as of yet because technically they are very good and we just need to stamp our style on the play.
“We’ve emphasised that again on Sunday in relation to playing on Monday. We need to get our personality in the game and if we do get the best out of the lads from a collective point of view I think we’ll have a good season.
“The pre-season we did was great and it’ll be injury-preventitive as well bar knocks. Organisation has been good as well – we’ve discussed that with them – and John Russell has done a bit of work on that. It’s just our creativity, how we are we to win games, where will we get goals from, who is getting them, where the chances are going to be coming from and how we play as an XI that will come.
“We just don’t want it to be by chance. We want to get it all by design. You wouldn’t have seen it at all in the first two games, hopefully on Monday we’ll get a bit more in general play in relation to getting results. We want to get better and play that bit better.”
Over 3,300 fans were in attendance on Friday night and gave great backing to the players.
Buckley said it was appreciated and it’ll help the team as they try to get more points on the board.
“They were fantastic. We are well supported. I was just gutted for them in relation to that goal because two draws against those teams would have been a good start for us but it wasn’t to be. There was a kick of the ball between the two teams, so from our end we have to take the positives and we have to move on and get a result out of Cork.
“We need to improve and we will get that. Hopefully on Monday it’ll be that bit better and each week to come and trust in each other in relation to how we are trying to play.
“There is pressure on every team to win games. It’ll be a dog rough league this year. It’s very competitive. You see Finn Harps also getting a draw from Dundalk.
“From where we are at, I’m not overly concerned about the opposition. I just want to get our team playing better. We need to improve our patterns of play and how we’re trying to win games and put our stamp on the game.”
An injury-time goal by Mikey Drennan denied Sligo Rovers a point against St Patrick’s Athletic.
Following a low key first half, it was Pat’s who created more in difficult conditions in the second period.
Liam Buckley’s men looked like they would hold out for a valuable point, but Drennan did just enough to tuck his header past Ed McGinty in the 92nd minute.
Daryl Fordyce’s effort from range was easily dealt with by Pat’s net minder Brendan Clarke early on, while both Chris Forrester and ex-Sligo man Rhys McCabe blasted over from similar distances at the opposite end.
The Inchicore side did have a penalty appeal waved away late in the opening half.
Pat’s were eventually have the last laugh here as Drennan netted his second goal in as many games at the death.
Sam Warde has joined Sligo Rovers on loan from Colchester United until the end of June, subject to international clearance.
The Limerick-man will turn 21 next month and moves to the Bit O’Red ahead of tonight’s home game with St Patrick’s Athletic.
A midfielder, Warde joined Colchester from Huddersfield in 2017 where he featured regularly for the Under-23 side.
He had a brief one-month spell with Leiston in September but switches to The Showgrounds now with a view to making a big impact.
He said: “I’m itching for an opportunity to play first-team football now.
“I’ve played at underage levels but I need to be playing, and regularly playing at that, in a senior side.
“I’d know Ronan Coughlan, we went over to England at the same time, but apart from that there isn’t too much I’m familiar with here.
“I’ve been following the league in the last couple of seasons and it’s a good standard and it looks really competitive.
“I know there is 20+ games during the spell here so I want to get myself into the team and help Sligo Rovers do well.”
Liam Buckley added: “Sam is a defensive midfielder and is a good passer of the ball. At his age, he should be coming in here ready to get into team and have a right go at it.
“He’ll have to get to grips with the league and what not, but he has an opportunity here to stake a claim and showcase the talent which brought him to England.
“I’d love to see us get the best out of him and we’ll be encouraging him every step of the way for the time he is with us.”
Sligo Rovers host St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night as football returns to The Showgrounds for the 2019 SSE Premier Division season.
Both teams are unbeaten going into the game, with Rovers recording a 1-1 draw with Dundalk in an encouraging start for the Bit O’ Red.
Tickets are available at turnstiles and also here.
In team news, Ronan Murray (ankle) and David Cawley (knee) are doubtful and will undergo late fitness tests.
Liam Buckley said: “The start to our season shows just how there is no easy games in this league. It’ll be a tough one, St Pat’s have signed well in the winter as we know.
“We’re looking to build on the result last week and we’re looking for a performance to compliment it.
“We showed a real determination and a terrific attitude in Dundalk last week. I think if we get a good performance then the result will go with it.
“I’m looking forward to taking charge here for the first time and funnily enough it has turned out to be against St Pat’s.
“It’s going to be a great occasion I’m sure but the priority for us is put in a performance and come away with a positive outcome.”
