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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Anything less than three points against Waterford ‘not acceptable' says John Mahon as Sligo Rovers captain targets a turnaround in form
Sligo Champion Today at 23:30 Sligo Rovers captain John Mahon says the Bit O'Red must pick up three points this Saturday when they take on Waterford at home in the first game since returning from the international break. Rovers are currently sat bottom of the table after a dreadful first-half of the season, and Mahon says the players are well aware that their season so far has been well off what is expected of them.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Reece Hutchinson the hero as Sligo Rovers beat Galway
Reece Hutchinson scored the decisive goal in the second-half, as Rovers collected just a second clean sheet of the year. It was what felt like another must win game for Rovers, who travelled to Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night desperate to pick up points, still sitting bottom of the table. With three defeats and two draws in their last five, the Bit O'Red have found wins hard to come by this season. John Russell's men had just two wins in their opening 15, and had only kept one clean sheet in those games. Russell made three changes to the side that lost to Bohemians the previous week, with John Mahon returning from suspension, and Matty Wolfe and Jad Hakiki returning to the starting 11. Ronan Manning missed out through injury, while Francely Lomboto and Harvey Lintott dropped to the bench. Galway had also struggled for form in recent weeks, and came into this Connacht derby with three defeats on the bounce. John Caulfield is without several key players through injury, and made three changes to his side for this tie. Bobby Burns, Ed McCarthy and Greg Cunningham all came back into the team, with Conor McCormack, Cillian Tollett and Regan Donelon all dropping out. In what was an even first half, Rovers started brightly. Rob Slevin diverted Hakiki's cross away from goal on three minutes, before the hosts put Rovers under pressure for a period, with Sam Sargeant barely troubled. Paddy Hickey's cross was volleyed at goal by the league's top scorer Dyer, with Rovers captain Mahon blocking it down, before Sargeant saved comfortably from McCarthy's low effort. Killian Brouder and David Hurley forced saves from Sargeant, before Gareth McElroy cleared Jeannot Esua's drive off the line. Brendan Clarke was called into action on 37 minutes, pushing Cian Kavanagh's overhead kick away from goal, claiming Jake Doyle-Hayes' tame effort in additional time at the end of the half. Dyer burst down the left-hand side two minutes into the second-half and just as the New Zealander went to pull the trigger, McElroy got his body in the way. Rovers were breathing a sigh of relief on 67 minutes when Paddy Hickey's shot somehow stayed out. The American cleverly worked his way around Hutchinson, aiming for the far post, only for his effort to hit the post and bounce around, with Rovers eventually clearing the danger. Two minutes later, Rovers went ahead. Former Barnsley man Matty Wolfe burst forward and picked out the run of Hutchinson on his left. The left-back cut inside and fired at goal, his effort taking a deflection and going in past Clarke to put the Bit O'Red ahead. The home side threw everything at Sligo Rovers late on, and were applying serious pressure, but Rovers to their credit held on and picked up a valuable three points. Two late goals from St Patrick's Athletic mean that Cork City lose again, and are now just above Rovers on goal difference. Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Rob Slevin, Killian Brouder, Greg Cunningham; Jeannot Esua, Cian Byrne, Bobby Burns (Colm Horgan, 57 [Brian Cunningham, 92]), Ed McCarthy (Stephen Walsh, 81); Patrick Hickey, David Hurley (Sean Kerrigan, 92); Moses Dyer. Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Harvey Lintott, 74), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Matty Wolfe (Francely Lomboto, 82); Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki, Will Fitzgerald; Cian Kavanagh. Referee: Damien MacGraith.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
John Russell not worried despite Sligo Rovers' struggles 14 games into season
Sligo Rovers boss John Russell says he's not worried, despite the fact that the Bit O'Red remain in bottom spot in the Premier Division table, three points off Cork City in second bottom. But Russell believes he will be able to strengthen his squad somewhat in the summer transfer window, and with long term absentee Wilson Waweru returning to the fold, there will be options off the bench.
Irish Independent
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Sligo Rovers forced to forfeit Under 19 women's tie against Bohemians
The Bit O'Red had just ten players available for Sunday's meeting with Bohs, and so were forced to forfeit the game. With the senior Rovers side currently in the middle of an injury crisis, Steve Feeney named a number of young academy players on the bench. With the exception of midfielder Muireann Devaney, and 22-year-old American Morgan Burnap, all players on the bench were 18 or under. Goalkeeper Julia Gawalkiewicz, Keeva Flynn, Lauren Devaney, Natasha Kelly, Roise Burke and Sarah McDaniel were all named on the bench for Steve Feeney's side, which is already probably the youngest side in the league. FAI rules state that 14 year olds cannot play under 19s football, so Rovers could not bring the younger players from their Under 17s into the Under 19s squad for the day. It's not the first time the Bit O'Red have had to forfeit a fixture due to lack of numbers for this age group. It is understood there is no sanction for clubs who are unable to field a time. But it is an unfortunate situation, with players missing out on important contact time, and also unfortunate for the Bohemians players who had been preparing for this game. Steve Feeney has had to lean heavily on the club's underage academy to fill the bench on several occasions this season, with younger players getting plenty of minutes last season under Tommy Hewitt as well.
The Irish Sun
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
John Russell aims fiery message at players as Sligo Rovers need to up home form – starting with Cork City clash
AFTER mixed fortunes on the road, John Russell wants his Sligo Rovers players to make the most of home comforts tonight. The Bit O' Red defeated Waterford 4-0 - a result which Advertisement And, with Cork City defeating the Blues with two late goals on Monday, it means Russell's side are propping up the Premier Division table. In that position, Russell knows actions will speak louder than words as they look to claim only their third win of the season. Russell said: "There's not really much point in me or anyone else talking too much about the game, it's about actions. 'We can analyse and talk all we want but it's worth nothing if we don't go out on Saturday in front of our own supporters, on our own ground and take the game to Cork. Advertisement Read More On Irish Football 'The players, every one of them, know what is expected of all of them and they know what I want from them. I need them to do their talking on the pitch now. "It's all about actions now. We know how good we can be and we must show it.' Russell's hand is strengthened by the return of Connor Malley after suspension with Harvey Lintott available after injury. Ollie Denham faces a fitness test but Wilson Waweru is still out. Advertisement Most read in Football Russell added: 'We're a very young side but we also have experience and having someone like Connor back adds to that. "Harvey being back also gives us a boost and hopefully we'll have positive news on Ollie. Incredible footage shows 7ft 3in NBA star Victor Wembanyama playing football as Peter Crouch posts one-word verdict 'We're as close to full strength as we've been all year so we have no excuse on that front. "Cork scored those late goals against Waterford and that's going to have done a lot for them. Advertisement "They're a very good side and they'll be coming up here looking for another win. "We will be as well prepared as we can be and the players will have all the information they need. 1 The 39-year-old acknowledged talk is cheap at the end of the day "We're really looking forward to being back at the Showgrounds and we're focused on putting in a good shift." Advertisement Tim Clancy is hoping Greg Bolger will be fit after being forced off with a calf issue on Monday, his first start in seven weeks. Clancy said: 'We need to back up what we did against Waterford, both in terms of a performance and a result.' Bookies odds: Sligo 6-5, Cork 9-5, Draw 12-5. VERDICT: Draw Advertisement
