The 2024 Annual Draw which took place last night at our home game against Dundalk, was hailed a major success for the club reaching a new record total of €130,300 raised.

The club would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported the draw this year.

The club also wishes to acknowledge and thank all the volunteers who worked tirelessly and with great dedication since the Annual Draw was launched a number of months ago. The 2024 total breaks last year’s record of €108,300 by some distance.

Congratulations to all prizewinners, including Patrick Downes of Ransboro, Sligo who won first prize of €5,000. Full list of prizewinners are detailed below:

1st prize Patrick Downes, Ransboro – €5,000
2nd Aaron Deering, Roscommon – €1,000 Pet Stop Discount Warehouse Voucher
3rd Keith McMcMorrow – One night Bed and Breakfast for two and dinner in the Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley
4th V McCullagh,Teesan – 2 Corporate Tickets for a Liverpool home match
5th Gerry O’Reilly – 2025 Sligo Rovers Season Ticket
6th Simon McVann, Cloonacool – €200 Kate’s Kitchen Voucher
7th Coleman’s Electronics – €200 Elverys Voucher
8th Neil Connolly – €200 Ticketmaster Voucher
9th Donal Egan, Oxfield – 2 Tickets for Mamma Mia 28/9/24
10th Alan Greer, Skreen – Signed Republic of Ireland jersey

Second half goals from Wilson Waweru and Ellis Chapman turned this game on its head as Sligo Rovers beat Dundalk at the Showgrounds.

Robbie Benson had given the Lilywhites the lead courtesy of a controversial first half penalty. But a battling Rovers fought back to record their seventh straight league win on home soil and were aided by a winderful last-gasp save from goalkeeper Ed McGinty.

The win sees the Bit O’Red move into fourth, level on points with Shamrock Rovers who occupy the final automatic European qualification spot. 

Dundalk’s cause was further hampered in the second half by the dismissal of defender Hayden Cann 15 minutes from time. 

The night was capped off by the news that the club had raised a record €130,300 in this year’s annual draw. 

On the pitch and despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.

Rovers boss John Russell welcomed club captain Niall Morahan back to the starting eleven after the Leitrim man had missed last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers through suspension. Morahan Sligo’s only change from that defeat at Tallaght Stadium.

The visitors for their part also made the one switch, Jad Hakiki replacing Scott McGill who had started the recent loss to Waterford. 

Despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.

Winger Daryl Horgan bent an effort over the Sligo crossbar from inside the area six minutes in, while Will Fitzgerald’s shot flashed past the far post at the opposite end three minutes later. 

The visitors had the lead on 24 minutes in controversial circumstances when referee Marc Lynch ruled that the ball had hit Connor Malley’s arm. A decision which enraged the home bench who argued both that the ball had hit Malley’s shoulder and that the former Dundalk man was outside the box when the incident happened.

Unfazed by the surrounding fuss, Benson knocked his spot kick beyond McGinty, although the on-loan net minder did get a touch to the ball. 

Rovers did manufacture chances in this period. Unmarked at the far post, Ollie Denham headed Simon Power’s set piece over Ross Munro’s crossbar on the half hour. While Power’s swerving drive from 35 yards out moved in the air before it smacked back off Munro’s post. 

The lively Horgan twice threatened before the break. His effort clipped Gareth McElroy on its way past McGinty’s post while the Galway man pulled an excellent save from Sligo stopper late in the first half. 

Chasing that seventh straight league win on home turf, Russell’s men almost leveled the game on 55 minutes only for a superb block from Munro who denied Fitzgerald from close range. 

The hosts restored parity on 69 when despite facing away from goal, Waweru managed to head Power’s cross from the left beyond the scrambling Munro for his tenth goal of the year. 

Waweru’s night was brought to a halt minutes later when he was stretchered off with what looked like an achilles injury but spiritis were lifted once more when Rovers hit the lead with 15 to go. 

A jaded looking Cann pushed sub Luke Pearce to the floor as the Cardiff loanee ran through on goal. Referee Lynch showed little hesitation in awarding the penalty and sending the stricken Cann to the stands. Chapman was then on target from the resulting penalty for his ninth goal of the season. 

Dundalk threw their lot at Rovers during the final moments. A world-class save from McGinty kept out a Robbie Mahon header from just yards out, while the same man kept out Jamie Gullan in the dying moments of those added minutes.  

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Conor Malley (Luke Pearce 62); Will Fitzgerald, Ellis Chapman, Simon Power; Wilson Waweru (Kailin Barlow 74). 

Dundalk: Ross Munro; Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney; Aodh Dervin, Jad Hakikii (Dara Keane 71), Robbie Benson (Norman Garbett 84); Daryl Horgan (Robbie Mahon 84), Ryan O’Kane (Bobby Faulkner 77); Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan 71). 

Referee: Marc Lynch. 

Attendance: 2,754. 

David Goulden

Sligo Rovers captain Niall Morahan returns to the Bit O’Red’s match day squad for Saturday’s Premier Division clash with Dundalk at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Rovers skipper missed last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers through suspension courtesy of an accumulation of yellow cards, but returns in time to face the Lilywhites on Saturday. This is welcome news for manager John Russell who will be without Jack Henry-Francis, who replaced Morahan in the starting eleven for that game in Tallaght. Henry-Francis himself is unavailable for the Dundalk game as he serves a one game ban for two yellow cards picked up in that loss in Dublin.

Elsewhere Stefan Radosavljevic, John Mahon and Conor Reynolds will not take part due to injuries. Stephen Mallon is also unavailable. 

While Owen Elding will be assessed leading up to the kick-off.

The teams are evenly matched this term with one win, one draw and one defeat against each other. Rovers put five past Dundalk in the first meeting of the sides in Oriel Park back in March, while the Louth men took a point from the Showgrounds one month later. John Daly’s side then took all three points in the last game between the clubs in Dundalk in June. 

Rovers will look to keep up their superb home form, having won all of their last six league games on Sligo soil. While depending on the result between Drogheda and Bohs on Friday, Dundalk may have the chance to lift themselves off the foot of the table. 

Russell is desperate to keep that home run going but knows that recent developments at Oriel will perhaps see Saturday’s opponents arrive in Sligo with their backs up.

“They’ve had a difficult few days but there was some good news for them a few days ago and it’s great to see that Dundalk in some way at least, seem to be heading in the right direction. I am sure spirits in the camp have been lifted with recent developments and they’ll be hoping that will translate on to the pitch.

“Either way, they’ve got some of the most talented players in the league and we know from experience how they can hurt you.

“We’re in really good form at the Showgrounds and we want to keep that run going. A strong home record is the pillar of a good season.

“I thought the result in Tallaght didn’t really reflect the true story of the game. We opened Shamrock Rovers up on several occasions when we had eleven men and we just lacked that last ball to finish them off. We’ll look to improve on that come Saturday. 

“We’re very much still in the mix to finish the season the way we want to. We will get there by winning games and that’s the aim this weekend.”

David Goulden

By Conall Collier

There are more questions than answers ahead of Sunday’s eagerly-awaited Women’s FAI Cup semi-final as Sligo Rovers prepare to host double-chasing Athlone Town, 3pm.

The main question, and the only relevant one, relates to the identity of which Sligo Rovers team will turn up?

Will it be the team that ran Shamrock Rovers ragged at Tallaght Stadium last Saturday or will it be the team that was run ragged by Shelbourne in a midweek mauling at the Showgrounds?

Leaving that to one side for a moment, there are many intriguing statistics around both teams.

This will be a 77th competitive game for the Bit O’Red since the club affiliated a senior team in 2022 – that incorporates fixtures played in the League, the FAI Cup and Avenir Sports Cup, there was a walkover against Douglas Hall in 2022 that’s excluded.

Katie Melly and Paula McGrory played in the first game against Peamount Utd in 2022 and are on the panel for Sunday.

Casey Howe and Amy Mahon (goalkeeper) played with Sligo Rovers last season and moved to Athlone Town for this season while Muireann Devaney moved in the opposite direction.

That still leaves Sligo woman Roisin Molloy leading the charge for goals for the Westmeath side along with  Brenda Erika Tabe while Sligo Rovers will be without the injured Jodie Loughrey.

Top goalscorer Emma Dohery left Sligo Rovers at the mid-season break and moved to Galway while Kelly Crompton and Zoe McGlynn also exited.

Those departures, for whatever reasons, impacted the balance of the team that was trying to adjust to new players and a new manager after Steve Feeney stepped away at the end of last season.

Add in the vital statistic that Sligo Rovers have not beaten Athlone Town since they joined the League of Ireland in 2022 and it all points to a comfortable stroll in the park for the team formerly managed by Bit O’Red boss Tommy Hewitt and now with Ciaran Kilduff in the hot seat.

This will be the fourth game for Sligo Rovers against Athlone this season, two in the League and one in the Avenir Sports Cup.

Sligo Rovers lost 2-0 in League in May and lost 2-1 in the Avenir Sports Cup in April with Muireann Devaney scoring the goal against her former club.

Athlone won 5-1 most recently, but Sligo Rovers had goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan sent off after 60 seconds. She collided with former Sligo Rovers player Casey Howe as she raced out of her penalty area – both players were injured in the collision.

Tackling Athlone with 10 players for 90 minutes was only going to produce one result as goals from Roisin Molloy (two), Kerry Brown and the impressive Brenda Erika Tabe gave the hosts a comfortable victory.

However, it was a commendable display from the Bit O’red on the day with Anna McDaniel showing remarkable composure for her goal with 20 minutes remaining. Athlone’s fifth goal was a 90^th minute penalty.

And it’s that performance in defeat, coupled with the display at Tallaght Stadium last Saturday that will give the Sligo Rovers players sufficient reasons for optimism as they face into what could best be described as a ‘mission impossible’ where the outcome could once more demonstrate the unpredictability of sport.

PATHS TO THE SEMI-FINAL

FIRST ROUND

Sligo Rovers defeated Terenure Rangers 5-0 in the first round at the Showgrounds

Paula McGrory (two), Keri Loughrey, Jodie Loughrey and Rebecca Doddy scored the goals.

Athlone Town received a bye as holders.

QUARTER-FINALS

Sligo Rovers defeated DLR Waves 3-1 away.

Anna McDaniel, Kelsey Munroe and Paula McGrory scored the goals.

Athlone Town defeated Treaty Utd 2-1 away.

Brenda Erika Tabe and Kerry Brown scored the goals.

By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers manager Tommy Hewitt is adopting a pragmatic approach ahead of Sunday’s Women’s FAI Cup semi-final against his former club, Athlone Town at the Showgrounds.

For Sligo Rovers this really is David versus Goliath or in footballing terms, bottom of the table against top of the table, a gap of 34 points between the sides with Athlone Town in the driving seat to win the Women’s Premier Division title.

That’s not in any way over-hyping the Westmeath side – and they will quietly have ambitions of completing a League and Cup double.

So, in real terms, is there any point in Sligo Rovers even turning up on Sunday?

After all, Sligo Rovers have failed to beat Athlone this season, last season ot the season before, and the Sligo Rovers manager was at the Athlone helm for the majority of those games, until a vacancy occurred at Athlone Town Stadium midway through last season.

Ciaran Kilduff took over the reins, his first game in charge was against Sligo Rovers, and he finished the job that Tommy Hewitt started with an FAI Cup final win at the end of last season.

Athlone Town defeated Sligo Rovers at the same stage of the competition last season.

“Athlone will rightly be overwhelming favourites on Sunday, but I know that the Sligo Rovers players can put in a performance that they will be happy with,” commented the Bit O’Red boss.

“We had three hard games in seven days last week and we were better in the third game despite losing the first two and conceding eight goals.

“We now can go into the Cup semi-final knowing that we can compete, but we have to bring consistency to our performances, once we do that we will have a chance.

“We definitely won’t lie down and roll over and hopefully we will make a contest out of it.

“I’ve been here before, that was as an underdog with Athlone in a Cup semi-final against Wexford and we won that day. A repeat of that now with Sligo Rovers would be a brilliant outcome.

“I have seen massive improvements since the start of the season and this is a free hit for us, we have nothing to lose and we really need to get a result against Athlone,” he added.

There are reasons for optimism ahead of Sunday’s encounter, one being the inclusion of both Keeva Flynn and Muireann Devaney in the League of Ireland team-of-the-week selection.

For a team that’s still looking for a first League win of the season to have the youngest centre-back in the Women’s Premier Division recognised is certainly overdue at this stage.

And the performance against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium last Saturday now gives the manager a new kind of headache as he explained.

“A problem I have now is what team will I pick, it’s a good problem to have and the young players have put their hands up to start on Sunday in what is the biggest game of the season, so far,” he explained.

“We have to get the basics right and make it difficult for Athlone, if we can do that and stay in the game, then we will be in with a chance.

“When we conceded that early goal last week at Tallaght Stadium I felt that our reaction was superb, we certainly didn’t panic and Paula (McGrory) had a great chance of an equaliser about a minute later.

“It was a dogged performance in one sense, but we also played some very good football.

“One of my main targets initially was to improve our game from a physical aspect, that we wouldn’t be pushed off the ball or intimidated by the opposition.

“It’s quite obvious from our position in the League that all the other teams are better than us, up to now anyway, and to counter that we have to raise our performance in every game for 90 minutes.

“I got the feeling at Tallaght last Saturday, just standing on the sideline and watching the game, that we were actually going to get something out of it.

“I know that we gave away some chances, but we defended well and Bonnie (McKiernan) made some very good saves.

“We eventually got the equaliser with about three minutes remaining and then we almost won it.

“We were after losing twice in the previous five days and then to go to Tallaght and get the result we got just shows the character and determination of the players.

“If we can repeat that in the Showgrounds on Sunday, then we will definitely have a chance of causing an upset and hopefully we will have Emma (Hansberry) available again because she brings a lot of experience to the team,” he concluded.

By Conall Collier

Living almost in the shadow, or even the mist, of the famous Glencar Waterfall, Muireann Devaney has her focus set solely this week on the build up to Sunday’s Women’s FAI Cup semi-final at the Showgrounds where Sligo Rovers will take on her former club, Athlone Town.

Muireann returned to the Bit O’Red this year after three seasons with Athlone Town, she previously played at u-17 level for Sligo Rovers in 2019 and 2020 and was player of the year in 2020 and she also has appearances for the Republic of Ireland under-19s to her credit.

However, on Sunday the Leitrim woman will emerge from the home dressing room whereas 12 months ago it was the away dressing room as she helped Athlone Town to victory against her home town club.

She combines her role with Sligo Rovers along with Leitrim GAA footballers and apart from the FAI Cup medal shoe won with Athlone last year, she has enjoyed success already this year.

Muireann has Connacht and All-Ireland GAA medals in the locker after a great year with Leitrim and she would be thrilled to add another FAI Cup medal to go with the one that she collected last season.

“I had three great seasons with Athlone, Tommy (Hewitt) was the manager, but I always wanted to come back to Sligo at some stage, and I felt that this season was the right time to do it as the travelling for training was significant, it was two hours to Athlone, each way, and I also wanted to give the GAA with Leitrim another shot,” she explained.

“I think Tommy is going to bring Sligo Rovers on in leaps and bounds, but we will be underdogs against Athlone, they will be expecting to get another comfortable victory.

“However, you saw a few weeks ago when UCD came to the Showgrounds and knocked the men out of the FAI Cup, you always have to expect the unexpected and this weekend could be our chance,” she added.

Muireann was delighted to have the chance to combine playing for Leitrim and for Sligo Rovers this year and also suggested the GAA can toughen you up for the physicality of the Women’s Premier Division.

“I played GAA for Glencar / Manorhamilton and then the soccer was with Manor Rangers, I was selected for the Sligo / Leitrim Gaynor Cup team and I also featured in the Connacht interprovincials before linking up with Sligo Rovers,” she said.

“That’s how I got started, but there are only two soccer clubs in Leitrim, Manor Rangers and Carrick Town, Niall Morahan’s club and he has made a big impact at Sligo Rovers, that’s my intention now as well.

“The standard in the Women’s Premier Division this season has continued to improve from last year and the year before, that’s quite easy to substantiate when you see the clubs in England regularly recruiting the best players here.

“They wouldn’t be doing something like that just because they like us, it’s down to the quality of the players at adult level and that’s a credit to what is going on at academy level around the country,” she suggested.

Apart from playing Gaelic football and soccer, Muireann is studying at the University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway) where she has completed three years of a four-year Ag Science course (Level 8 Bachelor of Science) and she lives with a number of Athlone Town players while in Galway.

“I’m studying Ag Science in Galway, I’m in my third year so I will finish in 2025, I’m staying with some of the girls, Shauna Brennan and Kate Slevin, who are on the Athlone team so that will make for some interesting discussions this week anyway,” she commented..

“I can’t wait for the game on Sunday, it’s a semi-final, we are one game away from the final and anything is possible, anything can happen.

“We played them (Athlone) a few weeks ago, but Bonnie (McKiernan) was sent-off after about a minute and that really changed the game, despite that we were by no means outclassed and we scored a good goal against them.

“The performance that day demonstrated our spirit and determination and I’m quite certain that we can put it up to Athlone, they will definitely know they have been in a game after 90 minutes.

“I had a great season last year with Athlone Town, but the time was right for me to move a bit closer to home and I was delighted to have the opportunity of joining Sligo Rovers.

“I’m really looking forward to playing Athlone on Sunday and hopefully we can give it a good go, especially after our performance last Saturday at Tallaght Stadium.

“We worked hard for that late equaliser and we deserved it, what you saw in that game is the real potential of this group of players.

“Anyone looking in from the outside will see a semi-final between the team that’s top of the table and the team at the bottom of the table, that would point towards a particular result, but we won’t be too concerned about that.

“We have four points (four draws) from 17 games, but we were well in contention in many of those games and just didn’t get what we deserved for a variety of reasons, we now have this big opportunity to make a statement against Athlone Town, don’t underestimate us.

“We have had a lot of injuries, some experienced players moved on, but we are one of only four teams left in the competition at this stage, a win on Sunday and we are in the final.

“We have a young team, we finished a recent game and including myself, there were two players aged over-20, the girls from the Academy are doing very well, but it has been a steep learning curve.

“I know the threat that Athlone will pose, but I’m really looking forward to what is a huge game for everyone, it give us a platform to show that we are better than our position in the League.

“Winning the All-Ireland Intermediate final with Leitrim means that next year we will have the likes of Kerry and Dublin on the radar, that’s huge for the county and it will be a challenge for everyone involved.

“Winning an FAI Cup medal with Sligo Rovers would be a brilliant way to finish 2023 and I firmly believe that we are now only starting to see the full potential of the panel of players.

“We have already won twice in the FAI Cup this season, our target next Sunday will be to make that three wins and secure a final ticket for the first time in the club’s history,” she concluded.

By Conall Collier

Battling Sligo Rovers earned a precious Women’s Premier Division (WPD) point at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday evening with an 86^th minute Keri Loughrey equaliser against Shamrock Rovers.

What was admirable about the result, from a Sligo Rovers perspective, was that the hosts hit the front in the fifth minute from an opportunist Aine O’Gorman effort that could certainly be classified as of the ‘soft’ variety, but the players displayed true grit and determination to stay in the game.

It was no more than the performance over 90 minutes merited as the players earned a tangible reward that will certainly boost confidence ahead of next Sunday’s FAI Cup semi-final against Athlone Town at the Showgrounds.

The opening goal was a setback as the Bit O’Red conceded a couple of early corners. From the second one O’Gorman made the most of some space in the penalty area and lobbed her effort past Bonnie McKiernan.

Sligo Rovers almost grabbed an equaliser inside 60 seconds, but Paul McGrory’s effort flashed past the outside of Amanda Budden’s post.

Nevertheless, the Bit O’Red belied a bottom-of-the-table position and dominated for large parts of the opening half with Anna McDaniel a constant threat with her tireless running.

She went close in the 20^th minute when her centre was fumbled by Budden and a minute later Muireann Devaney tested the home ‘keeper who saved well.

At the other end, Joy Ralph brought a good save out of Bonnie McKiernan as the hosts enjoyed a 1-0 interval lead.

Tommy Hewitt brought Katie Melly and Alice Lillie on for Paula McGrory and Kelsey Munroe at half-time and the Bit O’Red coped well with the swirling wind. A high-tempo performance coupled with some fine saves by Bonnie McKiernan kept the outcome in the balance.

On 65 minutes Katie Melly laid the ball off to Keri Loughrey and her effort was saved by Budden while at the other end Joy Ralph was narrowly off target for the hosts.

Most notable about the Bit O’Red was the way the players demonstrated an ability to match the opposition in terms of physicality and that, along with a willingness to work hard on and off the ball, ultimately contributed to a positive result.

Eimear Lafferty and Jessica Casey brought fresh legs for the final 25 minutes in place of Emma Hansberry and Rachel McGoldrick and Roise Burke also made another appearance for Anna McDaniel in the closing stages.

With four minutes remaining Joy Ralph was yellow-carded for an infringement around the halfway line. Bonnie McKiernan took the resultant free and lofted the ball into the penalty area where Keri Loughrey stood strong and finished to the net under pressure.

Loughrey almost grabbed a winner in added time, but a first point on the road since a scoreless draw with Treaty Utd last April certainly made the journey home much more enjoyable.

Shamrock Rovers – Amanda Budden; Fiona Owens, Savannah McCarthy, Maria Reynolds, Aoife Kelly, Stephanie Zambra, Lia O’Leary, Aine O’Gorman, Joy Ralph, Scarlett Herron, Ella Kelly.

Subs – Melissa O’Kane for Zambra and Katie O’Reilly for A Kelly both 70 mins, Jamie Thompson for E Kelly 81m.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Kelsey Munroe, Keeva Flynn, Emma Hansberry, Muireann Devaney, Paula McGrory, Keri Loughrey, Kate Nugent, Rachel McGoldrick, Cara King, Anna McDaniel.

Subs – Katie Melly for McGrory and Alice Lillie for Munroe both half-time, Eimear Lafferty for Handberry and Jessica Casey for McGoldrick both 65 mins, Roise Burke for McDaniel 83m.

Referee – Kate O’Brien.

Assistant-referees – Keenan Deering, Sean Stephens.

Sligo Rovers suffered a four goal defeat to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening. A brace each from former Rovers striker Johnny Kenny and defender Sean Hoare added gloss to a scoreline that reflected rather harshly on the Bit O’Red’s performance. Rovers played out the majority of the second period without the full quota of players after Jack Henry-Francis was dismissed for two yellow cards. 

Kenny’s first goal had Shams in the lead on 18 minutes, while the Riverstown native had his second two minutes before the break. 

The half-time scoreline didn’t tell the full story for Rovers who forced the hosts into plenty of mistakes at the back.

Hoops goalkeeper Leon Pohls was fortunate not to see red when he smashed into Simon Power outside his own area after making a total mess of an attempted clearance. Not for the first time against Sligo this term, Pohls was spared red for an error and a subsequent foul on winger Power when referee Kevin O’Sullivan deemed the German to have had cover from returning defenders. The lenient Cork official instead opted to show yellow. 

Rovers were again on the short end of a questionable refereeing decision when Wilson Waweru went down inside the area. The striker was then shoved to the floor by Hoare right in front of referee O’Sullivan who saw nothing of the incident. 

John Russell’s men began the second half the better team, but O’Sullivan made an already tough assignment even more difficult when having booked Henry-Francis for his first tackle of the game, then showed the Arsenal loanee the same colour again for his second challenge of the night. 

Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty pulled off a string of fantastic saves, but Shams overloaded the visitors when they had their third and fourth goals on 54 and 83. 

Shamrock Rovers FC: Leon Pohls; Sean Hoare, Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary; Darragh Burns (Neil Farrugia, 45’), Dylan Watts (Markus Poom, 69’), Gary O’Neill, Jack Byrne, Trevor Clarke (Joshua Honohan, 45’); Danny Mandroiu (Conan Noonan, 69’), Johnny Kenny (Marc McNulty, 61’)

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Oliver Denham, Gareth McElroy 5, Reece Hutchinson; Connor Malley (Kailin Barlow, 75’), Jack Henry-Francis; Simon Power (Stephen Mallon, 75’), Ellis Chapman, William Fitzgerald (Kyle McDonagh, 89’); Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce, 69’)

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork)

BY Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers will feature twice in the space of 20 hours at Tallaght Stadium with a Women’s Premier Division (WPD) clash against Shamrock Rovers on Saturday following on from the men’s encounter on Friday evening.

The hosts will go into the game on the back of two WPD victories in contrast to the Bit O’Red who have lost the last two outings. Both teams also lost against Shelbourne.

The Dublin side exited the FAI Cup against Shelbourne on the same weekend that Sligo Rovers advanced to the last four with an excellent away win against DLR Waves,

However, this will be a third game in seven days for the Bit O’Red and that’s likely to produce a much-changed starting 11 for manager Tommy Hewitt following Wednesday night’s outing against Shelbourne.

With an FAI Cup semi-final on the horizon the following weekend, the Bit O’Red boss will likely use this game to make a final assessment for his best 11 for that Showgrounds tie on Sunday 22^nd September.

Despite the reversal against Shelbourne two days ago, there was a positive for the manager in the return to action of Emma Hansberry as an interval substitute following a lengthy spell on the sideline due to injury.

There was also a start for Katie Melly who made a valuable contribution for an hour with a more physical presence while Muireann Devaney and Paula McGrory were introduced in the second-half.

While the points are irrelevant in terms of silverware, both teams will be looking for victory and for Sligo Rovers a positive result would be a major boost as they seek a first WPD win of the season.

Twelve months ago Sligo Rovers lost at the Dublin venue a week before they caused a major shock in the FAI Cup. The players will be determined to produce a better result at Tallaght Stadium this time and then follow up in the FAI Cup the following weekend.

The game will be live on LOITV, kick-off at Tallaght Stadium is at 4pm.