Following on from their 3-2 win against Peamount on the opening day of the season, the Sligo Rovers Women’s Under 17 team are preparing for their first home game tomorrow, when they take on Galway WFC at 2pm at The Showgrounds.

Prior to kick-off, there will be a festival of football in the Showgrounds from 11am until 1pm for girls aged 6-14, with family fun, free t-shirts and goodie bags.

Damon Kearney, Head-Coach of the Bit O’Red Women, said his side can take a lot of confidence from last weekend’s performance into tomorrow’s game.

“It was nice to start off with a win against Peamount and I was delighted for the group as they can take a lot of confidence from that to take forward. It was a highly entertaining game which could have gone either way but the quality of our goals were especially pleasing.

“Overall our focus with the group this season is performances rather than results, which will come and go. We are trying to implement a certain style of play with the girls and at times they did really well last weekend but there is room for improvement on certain areas. That is our focus from game to game and that is the challenge for the group this weekend against one of the strongest teams in the league in Galway WFC and we want to improve on those areas.

Kearney added: “It is a big day for women’s football not just for Sligo Rovers and the U17’s but for the whole North-West region. It’s great to have the opportunity to play our Connaught rivals in the clubs first ever Women’s National League home game in the Showgrounds. It is a landmark occasion in the history of Sligo Rovers and the beginning of a journey to build a pathway for girls in our region from the girls attending the the FIFA Live Your Goals Festival who now can like the boys in the region have ambitions to go represent the Bit O’Red in the years to come in the pathway being established from underage to senior football at elite level.

“I would encourage all Sligo Rovers supporters to come out, show their support for the game this weekend and be part of the exciting new journey in the club’s history.”