Nine elite level players have been awarded sports scholarships for the 2023/24 academic year through Sligo Rovers’ partnership with Atlantic Technological University.

This year’s recipients are Conor Campbell, Emma Doherty, Ciara Henry, Sarah Kiernan, Peter Maguire, Sean McAteer, Gareth McElroy, Kate Nugent and Keela Scanlon.

Each year, ATU offers a limited number of Sligo Rovers players a fee-waiver scholarship which is matched by Rovers.

Players are supported throughout their studies at ATU which ensures they achieve both their academic and sporting goals.

Sligo Rovers Chairman, Tommy Higgins, added: ‘’We are delighted with how our partnership with ATU is progressing. Having a way for our players to balance their academics with their sporting lives is vital in their development and ATU help provide that for us.

“We look forward to continuing to see these players progress over the coming months and beyond and wish them the best of luck in their university studies.’’

Dr Chris O’Malley, Vice President, Research, Innovation and Engagement at ATU Sligo commented: “The ATU partnership with Sligo Rovers has helped to attract students dedicated to playing at elite level, while gaining a university degree.

“At ATU we continue to invest and develop scholarship programmes that meet the needs of our student population, their families and our wider university community.

“We value our partnership with Sligo Rovers in providing these opportunities for our students. We wish the players every success in their studies and on the pitch.”

Football facilitator and Head of ATU Sligo Soccer, Colm Jinks, is thrilled with the level of player the partnership is attracting: “These sports scholarships work for everyone. It is fantastic to support talented young people seeking to fulfil their academic and sporting ambitions.

“We are thrilled to have so many players of elite ability here with us in ATU Sligo who are continuing their development at Sligo Rovers. We have very strong squads across our men’s and women’s teams and are excited for the season ahead with ATU Sligo Soccer.”

Conor Walsh has made great strides in his career this year, making appearances in the first-team and being with the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side on international duty last month.

Having firmly established himself as a member of the Rovers senior squad, international honours continue to come.

He has represented his country moving up through the age groups at under-15, under-16, under-17, under-18 and now at under-19 grade.

Conor attended Rice College in Westport and completed his Leaving Certificate this summer, but he also had a term at Summerhill College last year before the tragic passing of his oldest brother Stephen in March 2022.

While at Rice College he was coached by Gearoid Duffy and Brendan Clarke as well as Joe Kelly, Kieran O’Hora, Michael Gibbons and Padraic Burns at Westport.

Conor, who turned 18 in March this year, takes up the story dealing with the shock, sadness and grief that surrounded the sudden passing of his brother.

“I lost my older brother Stephen last year, he was only 22 and he passed away suddenly on 24th March,” explained Conor.

“That was a very sad time for all of us, my parents, Martin and Margaret, and my other brother Ray.

“It’s still quite raw for us all, but we have to try to get through it as best we can, but it was a very difficult time for all of us and we got great support from the local community,” he added.

A death in a family suddenly puts things in perspective, what is important and what isn’t, and that’s something that has helped Conor focus on different aspects of his life and what he wants to achieve.

“My parents are proud of what I have achieved so far in terms of my football career and signing for Sligo Rovers was a huge occasion for all the family, including my late brother Stephen,” explained Conor.

“I intend to focus on my football for the moment, I got my Leaving Cert results there in August, so I have the education bit completed, but I suppose going to third level is an option also.

“I signed my first professional contract when I was 16 and I’ve been with the first team panel for the last few seasons.

“I started with my local club, Westport Utd, when I was seven years old, I also played Gaelic football with Westport and won a couple of juvenile titles, but we had a strong team.

“I started as an outfield player, but one day, there was no goalkeeper and I said I’d give it a go, I think I was about 11 at that stage and I found that I really enjoyed it.

“I played in the Kennedy Cup for Mayo and Conor O’Grady saw me there and that was where the connection with Sligo Rovers was established

“I played for the Republic of Ireland when I was with Westport Utd.“I also played in the under-age League of Ireland with Mayo Schoolboys’ League, Brendan Kenny was the manager at under-15 before I went to the Sligo Rovers Academy.

“Secondary school was in Westport, Rice College, but I also did fifth year in Summerhill College here in Sligo as I had signed for Sligo Rovers.

“I stayed with Mairead and Damien Grimes here in Sligo, very nice people and very helpful and I really appreciated that.

“When my brother passed away, I went back to Rice College and did my exams there this year.

“Now, I commute to Sligo from Westport every day, it’s a little over a 100 miles round trip, but I drive and it’s not a major issue with the by-pass around Castlebar,” he added.

Looking at the present season, Conor is very direct and focused on the requirements for the remaining series of games.

“We have to keep putting points on the board between now and the end of the season, the next game is always the most important game,” stated Conor.

“I had to step up to the mark when Luke (McNicholas) made the move to Wrexham and I started in the game away to Dundalk in early August.

“The senior players here at the club have been brilliant in the way they have helped me make the adjustment from the bench.

“It’s something that I’m enjoying and it was great to get a chance, I was recovering from an ankle injury in the early part of the season and both Luke and Richard Brush were great with the way they helped me.

“I had played some games for the under-19s and I also got a run in that friendly a while back against Celtic.

“That helped in the building process as I recovered from the injury that I picked up (ankle ligaments), it was something that happened during training in February, but I didn’t realise it for a few weeks.

“I had to go for a scan and the last thing you need as a footballer is an injury, but it’s all part of the game.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries at the club, a very unlucky season in that respect, it’s very frustrating but you have to keep your headspace clear and stay focused,” he suggested.

In conclusion, he reflected on the current season:

“It has been a tough season, but we are all working hard and hopefully we will pick up our form and finish well.

“Separately, I was on duty with the Republic of Ireland under-19s in Bosnia & Herzegovina for two friendlies in September.

“It was good to be away with the team, it was a great honour, a great experience and hopefully I will be able to maintain progress at both the club and at international level,” he concluded.

Conor Walsh was speaking in the Sligo Rovers match programme for the game against Derry City

Sligo Rovers are looking to make it three wins in succession when facing Bohemians in Dalymount Park on Friday night.

The Bit O’ Red recorded SSE Airtricity League Premier Division victories over UCD and Derry City so far this month.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS FOR VISITING ROVERS FANS

The games so far this season have yielded two wins for Bohs and one for Rovers.

Kailin Barlow, Max Mata and Stefan Radosavljevic scored the goals for Rovers in The Showgrounds win – one of the best of the season for John Russell’ side.

In team news Fabrice Hartmann and John Mahon have overcome injury. Hartmann missed out last week while Mahon was forced off at half-time. Both are available for selection.

Will Fitzgerald has also made significant progress in his recovery and could be involved in the next matchday squad in three weeks’ time.

Mark Byrne and Gary Boylan are the only two absentees, meaning Russell has the most options available in any game this season.

The Rovers boss said: “It is brilliant that nearly all of our players are available. We made five substitutions in the win over Derry, something we haven’t been able to do a lot of the time this season.

“Everyone made an impact and I thought was evident on the night. We had firepower to bring off the bench and it made a real difference. Stefan got the goal of course and I feel every player made a big contribution all over the pitch.

“I thought the players were excellent. They fed off the crowd who were superb as well and it was a great win over a strong Derry side.

“Bohs have a very good home record so this will be another difficult game. They’re going for Europe and have had a good season.  We’re going there with confidence after back-to-back wins which is something we wanted.

“There is still hurting there though. It’s not just a case of picking up a win or two and being happy with it.

“There is five games to go and we’re in control of what we do from now to the end of the season to get as many points as we can and as many big performances as we can.

“They’re tough games and you see in this league how hard it is to win every week. It has to be our target to keep it going.

“We have to win as many as we can and keep improving in terms of the levels we reach.

“The players have trained well again and we go there looking for three points.“

Tickets are now on sale for Bohemians v Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division on Friday night.

Bit O’ Red fans can buy here for the Mono Stand.

Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers wish to offer our condolences to the family of Jim Lynch following his passing on Friday.

Jim travelled the length and breadth of the country to follow his beloved Bit O’ Red.

No journey was too long or game too small, Jim was always present home and away and enjoyed countless conversations with other Bit o’ Red fans.

His dedication to support Rovers was immense throughout the decades of his life and we will sorely miss him at each game and indeed every Rovers occasion.

We offer our condolences to his wife Mary and his sons and daughters Ian, Karina and Jacqueline and all of the Lynch family at this sad time.

Substitute Stefan Radosavljevic netted for the Bit O’Red’s to pick up a vital three points for Sligo Rovers against Derry City on Friday night.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ charges finished with 10 men after Ronan Boyce was sent off late on having picked up a second yellow card.

On their way to back-to-back wins for the first time in over a year and the points that would further pull his side away from relegation worries, Rovers boss John Russell made one change from their first win in seven last week over UCD, Johan Brannefalk coming in for Fabrice Hartmann.

City, hoping to keep pace with leaders Shamrock Rovers, were forced into one change. Shane McEleney, dismissed during their recent draw with the Hoops, was replaced by Ciaran Coll in the heart of defence.

In an opening half which lacked creativity and cutting edge from either camp, it took almost 20 minutes for either goalkeeper to be called into action, although Brian Maher will have faced tougher tests as he easily gathered Rovers skipper David Cawley’s effort from distance in the 19th minute.

Derry’s recent record by the Garavogue has been patchy at best, with their last win in Sligo coming back in August 2021. The Foylesiders were back at the venue their 2022 title challenge ended with defeat to Sligo.

Their first attempt at goal arrived just short of the half-hour when veteran goalkeeper Richard Brush produced a two-handed save to keep out Danny Mullen’s pot-shot on the turn.

The same player could only fire wide from close range moments later, although the very presence of Rovers’ Niall Morahan may have done enough to put the Scottish striker off.

Visiting netminder Maher remained an onlooker for the remainder of the first period as the Showgrounds looked for a moment of class to provide the spark to a drab affair.

Sligo’s Greg Bolger’s ambitious first-time volley was the closest the hosts came to an opener when he skewed a volley wide of Maher’s posts on 38 minutes. This, after trojan work in the corner from captain Cawley, who provided the cross for the opportunity.

Rovers’ Portuguese striker Pedro Martelo fashioned an early shot on goal in the early moments of the second half, with Maher comfortably keeping hold of the former Benfica man’s scuffed effort.

Brush again denied Mullen in the 52nd minute at the far end when the Derry striker released a teasing shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area, with the 38-year-old Brush pulling off an impressive save to keep the ball in play as this tie showed signs of really opening up.

Martelo was inches away from his first League of Ireland goal on the next attack after he connected well with Reece Hutchinson’s pull back, with the striker left perplexed when his low drive crept past Maher’s post.

Bolger again speculated on the volley from outside the box on the hour as Rovers took to the front foot, but once more Maher was not for beating.

The visiting bench were left incensed in the 72nd minute when Brush crashed into Cian Kavanagh eight yards from his goal-line as the Derry substitute chased down a ball forward from the City defence. Referee Rob Harvey ignored claims of any wrongdoing on Brush’s part.

Derry’s game-plan was thrown into chaos 10 minutes from time when Boyce, on his 100th appearance under Higgins, was shown a second yellow after he attempted to stop a quick Sligo throw-in.

But things got even worse for the FAI Cup holders on 84 minutes.

City’s rearguard switched off for a moment, allowing the unmarked Radosavljevic – possibly with the aid of his hand – to bundle Hutchinson’s cross past Maher from six yards out, with referee Robert Harvey waving away Derry City’s subsequent protests.

Rovers’ Faroese striker could have settled this game three minutes from time but Radosavljevic skied Kailin Barlow’s cross over Maher’s crossbar from point-blank range.

But one goal was enough

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Niall Morahan (Stefan Radosavljevic 79), John Mahon (Nando Pijnaker HT), Garry Buckley, Reece Hutchinson; Greg Bolger (Lukas Browning 79), David Cawley; Johan Brannefalk (Frank Liivak 55), Robbie Burton (Kailin Barlow 63), Karl O’Sullivan; Pedro Martelo.

Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Ciaran Coll, Cameron McJannett, Ben Doherty (Brandon Kavanagh 87); Sadou Diallo (Cameron Dummigan 69), Will Patching; Paul McMullan (Jordan McEneff 83), Adam O’Reilly, Michael Duffy; Danny Mullen (Cian Kavanagh 69).

Referee: Rob Harvey.

Attendance: 2.491.