Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of Sligo native Yvonne Hedigan for the 2024 League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division campaign.

The experienced defender signs for her home town club after enjoying spells at Bohemians, Galway and Castlebar Celtic. After a difficult two years in which Hedigan has worked her way back from a broken leg, the North Sligo native is ready for a big season in which she announces her return from injury.

Hedigan started her Women’s National League career with Castlebar Celtic, where she played alongside the Bit O’Red’s Emma Hansberry. She played in the 2013 Women’s FAI Cup final, and impressed during her spell with the Mayo side. In 2016, she signed for Galway Women.

In 2021, Hedigan joined Bohemians and was enjoying a great season until she suffered an horrific injury that would see her miss two years. And now having worked her way back from that injury, Hedigan feels it is the right time to sign for Rovers.

She told sligorovers.com: “I’m obviously from Sligo, when Tommy approached me back in November and said that he wanted me to come in with him, we had numerous chats about it, I felt like now is the right time. I’m coming back from an injury that kept me out for two years. When Tommy approached me, he wanted to instil confidence in me and my return to play and come back and represent my home club, I felt that now is the right time to do that. 

“I grew up in Sligo, I used to go to all the home games with my father every weekend. I just felt that now is the right time to go home and put on the Sligo Rovers jersey.

“Now I can always turn around and say I’ve always represented my home town club and that’s something that everybody wants to do. Especially from a young age, now is the right time to go back and represent them.”

Now that she has recovered from the broken leg, Hedigan wants to put it all behind her and make a statement as she returns to league action.”I broke my leg in September 2021. I went through eight or nine months of rehab to find out that I had to get an osteotomy to try and re-break the leg. It had healed wrong initially so I had to go through the rehab process again for another year. It just made me not take anything for granted.

“My passion and drive to get back is massive. It’s been very difficult. I’m delighted to be back in and back training. I had my first session with Sligo Rovers on Saturday. I’m delighted to be back and hope to push on and make a statement for myself, that I’m back.”

Due to that injury, Hedigan has actually not had the opportunity to play against Rovers since they entered the league in 2022. But, she has already played alongside a number of players and is familiar with others.”I would have played with the likes of Emma Hansberry from a young age, when I was in school and obviously at Castlebar Celtic. 

“I grew up playing with Emma Hansberry and Lauren Boles. Those girls are quality players. We knew last year at Bohs coming down playing against Sligo, we always knew how strong Sligo were going forward. I think when Tommy came in he knew what he had to do to try and strengthen the team. 

“He’s brought in some defensive players and I think that’s what Sligo needed to take it up another step. It’s exciting, it’s exciting to see where we’re going to go and bring that standard up to try and compete in the league.”

Hedigan works for Sport Ireland in Dublin and says her employers will generously allow her to work from home, which will make the commute between Sligo and Dublin for training that bit easier. Playin for Rovers means her family will have less travelling to do in order to support her, another reason to sign for the Bit O’Red.

“My family have been right behind me from a very young age since I was 16 playing national league. My father has driven me all around the country and supported me all the time. “Now for him and the likes of my grandfather, to have them in the stands and for them to not have to travel as far will be nice. It will be nice support for me as well.”

And Hedigan believes that Rovers will be a dark horse this year, given the quality of new signings that manager Tommy Hewitt has brought in.”I think we’re going to strive to increase league position this year. I think we can do that. I think the squad we have in there this year is going to really compete in the league. “Sligo Rovers are going to be a dark horse. In the cup, anything can happen. In the cup, it comes down to who wants it more. I think we’re going to push on this year.”

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce that Amber Hardy has signed for the 2024 season.

After impressive performances with the club’s underage sides Amber was called up to train with the first team. Thanks to her good showings in training, she was given her senior debut away to Shelbourne in October.

On signing for the senior team, Amber said, “I’m delighted to sign with the senior team for the 2024 season. I really enjoyed the end of last season after getting called into training and even making my debut. It’s a big opportunity for me, and I’m excited to get going with the girls and Tommy.”

Tommy Hewitt added, “It’s great that Amber has decided to sign with us this season. She really showed at the end of last season she can perform at senior level. I’m looking forward to seeing her grow this season.”

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the signing of defender Kelsey Munroe for the 2024 League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division campaign.

It’s a Rovers return for the Mayo native who was part of Rovers’ first-ever Women’s Under 17 team in 2018 before joining Galway. She spent two years with Galway before signing for Athlone Town.

In 2022, Munroe missed just three games for Athlone, enjoying a great season as the Midlanders, under Tommy Hewitt, finished as runners-up in both the cup and the league. Now, she reunites with Hewitt at Rovers, where she hopes she can enjoy many more great days, this time in the Bit O’Red jersey.

“I think there’s big things coming for Sligo Rovers. There’s some great new signings coming in, and the girls who have been there the last couple of years, there’s great potential in this time. I think it could be an exciting year.

“I never left on bad terms or anything, I was just exploring my career to see what comes next.  I was in college in Athlone so playing for Athlone worked out for me, always had Sligo in the back of my mind. It’s a great club with great people around. I knew I’d come back here sometime and this is the year.

“Tommy Hewitt added: “Kelsey came into me at Athlone and for two, two and a half seasons she was excellent. She’d be the first to admit that at the start she struggled with injuries but once she got up she played a massive part in the league as we came runners up and got to the cup final. She was a consistent performer and then last year with injuries and other things Kelsey stepped away to get herself right.

“I had always intended to reach out to her but when I did it was almost by accident, and then we got chatting and the Sligo Rovers connection for Kelsey was big. She’s hungry to get back into the game. That’s what I was looking for here, players that are hungry. I know what Kelsey can bring. Kelsey is a confidence player, she’s very good on the pitch. She’s experienced, she can read the game. I’m hoping, as is Kelsey, that she really kicks on this season.”

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the signing of midfielder Muireann Devaney ahead of the 2024 League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division campaign.

Leitrim native Devaney signs for the Bit O’Red, having spent three seasons with Athlone Town. The 20-year-old returns to Rovers having played for the club’s Under 17 side in 2019 and 2020. Devaney was named Rovers’ women’s Under 17 player of the year in 2020.

She departed the Bit O’Red and joined Athlone Town in 2021, where she went on to impress throughout her stay in the Midlands. In 2022, the Manorhamilton native was rewarded for an incredible season by being named in the team of the year for the season.

Devaney said: “I’ve had three great seasons with Athlone, it started off with Tommy as the manager. I really enjoyed it. We won the cup last year. I always wanted to come back to Sligo at some stage, and I felt that this season was the right season to do it.”It’s good knowing who is managing and what he brings to it. I think Tommy is going to bring Sligo on leaps and bounds.”

“Travelling for the last number of years was hard, but Sligo is only in the road. It’s going to make it a bit easier for me, having friends and family in the stand when it’s so close. I hope it’s going to be a good year.”I went to Athlone with the ambition of winning something and getting my place in a senior team. I’ve had that experience now, and I hope there’s something I can bring to Sligo with that experience.”

Manager Tommy Hewitt added: “Getting Muireann back to Sligo, we always had these conversations every season, I encouraged her to have a look at Sligo. Muireann is massive, I think she’s the most under-rated player in the league. I’ve always said that to her. I think by now she should be a senior international and hopefully with her performances now at Sligo that will happen.

“She brings an awful lot of experience for such a young girl. For me as a manager to sign a player twice, and a player of Muireann’s quality, it’s fantastic. When we signed Kelly (Crompton), I said it was like Christmas morning; this is like everything rolled into one. When Muireann agreed to sign, I was over the moon.”

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the re-signing of Kerri O’Hara for the 2024 season.

Kerri, or Pixie as she is more commonly known, made her debut for the senior team in 2022, having progressed from the academy.

The 18-year-old Tubbercurry native can play in numerous positions and has previously had several call-ups to The Republic of Ireland Under 19 Women’s squad.

Speaking with Sligorovers.com, Pixie said, “I am delighted to have re-signed for the 2024 season. I’m a bit disappointed with how last season went for me, so I’m looking forward to this season working with Tommy and his team and getting back in with all the girls.”

Tommy Hewitt expressed his delight in having Pixie back for the season. “I’m delighted Pixie has re-signed for the club. Pixie is one of the brightest young talents in our league, and I’m really looking forward to working with her this season.”

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the re-signing of defender Amy Roddy for the 2024 season.

The Ballina native returns for a 3rd season with the Bit O’Red. Over the past two years, she has become a regular in the squad, making 38 appearances.

Speaking with sligorovers.com, Amy said,” I’ve been in two minds about my playing career for the past few weeks. It’s hard to stop when I’ve been playing football for so long. When I got the call from Tommy, I was delighted, and I don’t want to take these opportunities for granted. 

I’ve loved playing with Sligo Rovers over the past two seasons. Steve and his staff created an amazing culture for us to develop in and I’m looking forward to building on it with Tommy. This season will be a big one for us and I can’t wait to get stuck in again.”

Tommy Hewitt said 

“It’s great to have Amy back at Sligo for next season. Amy has been a vital part of Rovers Women over the last two seasons. I’m looking forward to working with Amy for the season ahead.”

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the re-signing of Emma Doherty for the 2024 season.

The Buncrana native joined Rovers ahead of our inaugural season in the Women’s National League in 2022 and has since made 51 appearances and is the club’s leading goal-scorer, having scored 24 times for the Bit o’Red. 

The ATU Sligo scholarship recipient’s impressive performances throughout the season seen her awarded the club Player of the Year award for 2023.

Doherty is delighted to have signed back and is looking forward to the new season: “I’m delighted to have signed back and am looking forward to the new season. I have spoken with Tommy a few times and can see that he wants us to push on and challenge for trophies, and I want to be a part of that. Getting to the Cup semi-final last season gave us a taste of what it is like to challenge for major honours, and we all want that feeling again.”

Speaking to Sligorovers.com on Emma’s re-signing, Tommy Hewitt said, “To have Emma staying at the club is a big boost for everyone. Emma is a top-quality player and is getting better every season. She has an incredible hunger to succeed and push Sligo up the league. I’m really looking forward to working with Emma this season.”

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of experienced midfielder Kelly Crompton for the 2024 Women’s Premier Division season.

Crompton joins having spent her career playing for her hometown team Sion Swifts, whom she has played for since the age of five.

The 27-year-old is the first new signing for Tommy Hewitt’s side, joining Sarah Kiernan, Caoimhe O’Reilly, Emma Hansberry and Leah Kelly in committing for the upcoming 2024 season.

Crompton brings a wealth of experience to The Showgrounds, having been vice-captain of Swifts, with whom she enjoyed great success, including a League Cup win in 2022.

It’s the first time the County Tyrone native moves from Swifts, and is a signing that manager Tommy Hewitt has hailed as being a statement signing for the Bit O’Red.

Crompton said: “I was contacted by Tommy, I had decided to take a step away from the club I was at. To be honest, I was looking to move to this league anyway, it came about at the right time. I’m so excited.

“It was a very difficult decision to leave Swifts. It’s a decision that I know is right for me. I need to push myself on and I feel like this league is a step up. It will be a challenge but a good challenge for me.

“I think I can bring experience, that’s probably my best attribute. I’ve played football for a very long time and I feel like I’ve played a high standard. My experience in how to manage games, and I was vice-captain so I feel like I bring leadership too.”

Tommy Hewitt added: “For me, when Kelly decided to sign I told her it felt like Christmas morning for me! 

“I did a lot of research on Kelly, and we had good conversations. She’s probably underselling herself a bit just mentioning experience, she’s a very good footballer and a good person. That’s the kind of person we want at Sligo Rovers.

“We’ll hopefully have three or four more signings coming in over the next couple of weeks. It’s a great day for the club having a player of Kelly’s quality coming into the league, she’s definitely going to help this team progress.”

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the re-signing of Sarah Kiernan for the 2024 season. 

The Grange native joined Rovers in 2018 when she joined the newly formed under-17 team. She played for the club at under-17 and under-19 levels before joining the senior team in its debut year.

Over the past two seasons, Sarah has become a regular in the first team, playing 46 times. 

In October, it was announced that Sarah was selected to be one of nine players at the club to be awarded a sports scholarship for the 2023/24 academic year through Sligo Rovers’ partnership with Atlantic Technological University.

Earlier this year, Sarah was awarded the League of Ireland goal of the month for her long-range goal against Wexford Youths. 

Speaking to sligorovers.com, Sarah said, “I’m delighted to be re-signing with Sligo Rovers for the 2024 season. I’m looking forward to working with Tommy and the new management team and building on what we’ve created over the past two years.”

Tommy Hewitt is delighted to have Sarah commit to another season. “I’m delighted Sarah is staying with the club. I’m looking forward to working with her this season.”

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the re-signing of goalkeeper Caoimhe O’Reilly for the 2024 season.

Caoimhe joined last July from Hounslow Women in England. Unfortunately, due to an injury picked up during training, she was unable to make an appearance for the Bit o’Red in 2023

On signing back, Caoimhe said, “I am delighted to have re-signed with Sligo Rovers for 2024.  I was unlucky with an injury that kept me on the sidelines since joining in the break last season, but I am really looking forward to putting that behind me. During my time on the sidelines, I have seen the potential and talent in this squad of players, and I really feel that over the course of the 2024 season that, we can push on and prove how good we are. I am hoping for a good year with this talented group of players under the new management of Tommy and his team .”

Tommy Hewitt is delighted to have Caoimhe on board for the 2024 season. “Caoimhe is a very good Goalkeeper with loads of experience, and we are excited to see her on the pitch next season.”