Latest news with #SligoRovers'
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sligo Rovers whizz kid living up to the hype.
John Russell reckons the sky is the limit for Sligo Rovers' whizz-kid striker Owen Elding. The club has turned into a factory of talent in recent years, producing Johnny Kenny as well as Elding from their youth system, while reinvigorating the careers of Max Mata and Aidan Keana. Yet Elding could be the best of the lot - the 19-year-old taking this season by storm, getting seven goals to his name already, including a wonder strike last weekend against Shelbourne in Sligo's 3-2 defeat. And boss Russell is excited by what lies ahead. Read more: 'It's just to threaten them a little so they behave themselves' - Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds Read more: Ireland international Robbie Brady makes decision on club future He said: 'He is a fabulous talent and you could see in pre-season the way he came back that he had a big year ahead of him and that was why we spoke to the club and said, 'look we need to tie him to a long term contract'. 'I have known Owen since he was 11, when I was working as a development officer in the area; I saw him win a Primary Schools All-Ireland with his local school; and he has been in and around the first team since he was 17. 'I have no doubt there was an element of frustration for him last year, in that he made 25 appearances but only two or three of those were starts. 'But you have to be patient with young players and he has shown everyone what he is about this season and now we can see that he is impacting every game. 'What I love about him most is his mentality. 'Even last week, when we went 3-1 down to Shels, his attitude was 'give me the ball, I am going to make something happen'. When someone does that, that is when you know you have got a proper player and for a kid who has just turned 19, you know he has got a bright future.' The question now is how far can he go in the game. Russell says: 'Owen always showed promise but the question always is, when you enter the men's game, can you perform and step up to that level? He has shown he is progressing nicely over the last 18 months and is one of the most exciting and most creative young players in the league.' Yet he may not even be the best teenager in League of Ireland football right now as Spurs-bound Mason Melia and Shamrock Rovers striker Michael Noonan are absolutely flying. What a contrast that is from Russell's playing days when experienced pros were in the ascendancy. So what has changed? Russell says: 'The difference from then to now is the academy system which was not in place when I was playing. 'Yes, we need more funding in terms of having more full time coaches. But the structures are there and players can come through. That has been a big help. 'In addition, Brexit's law changes means the most outstanding young talents now are in the League of Ireland and in the first team environment at early ages. 'So Owen's development was accelerated by virtue of the fact he wasn't just playing underage football; he was in the first team playing friendlies, training full time, and when that happens, you get to a point when you are standing out. 'It is not rocket science. We all know what to do. But it is a case of putting that structure in place and I feel we are getting our rewards in the league now. And also I feel with more young coaches being in the league, young players are getting more opportunities now.'
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Studying on the bus, missing school & training by himself – Sligo Rovers' Conor Reynolds balancing pro football with Leaving Cert preparation
In three weeks time, the Rice College student will know all about a different kind of pressure as he sits his Leaving Certificate exams. The Westport man is currently trying to balance professional football with school and his Leaving Cert studies. It's tough, he admits, but Sligo Rovers' rising star is making it work, such is his determination to do well in his exams, and to progress his football career. Thanks to the support of his school, he misses one day a week in order to attend training with Sligo Rovers, having signed a professional deal with the club last year. And thanks to a supportive John Russell, Reynolds trains just once a week with Rovers so that he can focus on school and his studies. Rice College have made provisions to allow Reynolds to miss one day of school, with the teenager catching up in the evenings when he gets home from training. With whatever free time he has, the Sligo Rovers academy graduate does his own training in the evenings after school. For away trips, he gets off school early, and tries to study on the bus on the way. "It's tough at the moment,' Reynolds said. 'It can be draining enough at times. I feel that they both work well together. With the football you can get your mind off school and when you're doing all your studying you take your mind off football for a while. "It's all about balancing the two, it's been tough but I've really enjoyed it. As it's going on I'm getting used to it. It's only three weeks now. I just have to keep going now. I can't wait to get the exams out of the way. ADVERTISEMENT "I end up missing a full day of school which is tough. The day of school you miss is the toughest one because you have to go home after training and catch up on work, and study for exams on top of it. It's tough, but I like it. I find it nice. I'd hate to be in school the five days a week! 'I would do a bit at the pitch myself. At the moment, it's so limited. You don't have free time. I like it that way.' There are weeks where Reynolds gets to train twice, depending on how the days fall. And there are weeks when there is some sleep deprivation, like last week when he travelled to Tallaght to take on Shamrock Rovers, and got home late before having to get up for school the next morning when his team-mates were able to recover. 'I got home at about 12.30am but it was nearly 2am when I got to sleep, wired after the game. I was in school then for 8.50am, I was drained after that. But I'm getting used to it now.' Balancing the two has been made possible by a number of factors. The support of his manager John Russell and assistant manager Ryan Casey has been vital, but the co-operation and support of his school and his family have made the balancing act a lot easier. 'I couldn't ask for more, between John and Case and everyone. They've been so accommodating. They've been telling me to take time for the leaving if I need it. They've been so helpful, I couldn't have asked for more really from them. 'The school have been very good. They wouldn't have a problem with it at all, Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers goalkeeper and Rice College alumnus) might have been training more (with Sligo Rovers) than me but they were very good to him too so it was handy for me then.' Others may ask to take a break from football for the duration of their exams, but Reynolds has no intention of doing so. The long bus journeys to away games in recent weeks haven't been wasted. Thanks to a partnership between the League of Ireland and education provider Grinds 360, Reynolds - and all other academy players - can avail of free access to the online service which provides on-demand educational content to students to assist with school and exams. 'I try and do a bit on the phone when on the bus to games with Grinds 360 app, it's been very good. The league has a sponsorship deal with them, we get it all for free, I get to watch videos and all. That helps. "But it's hard when you're getting ready for a game, thinking about that, study is really the last thing on your mind. I'm trying to do a bit when I'm travelling, but you end up just chatting on the bus and it can be hard to get study done.' The 18-year-old has been a stand-out player for the Bit O'Red since earning his place in the first team this season. Rovers are in a tough patch at present, with just two wins all season, but Reynolds has been a bright light in an otherwise dark season. It hasn't been all sunshine and roses, though, with Reynolds sent off minutes into his first appearance of the season in Turners Cross back in March. Once his suspension was complete, Reynolds came back into the fold and came on for Ollie Denham in the 4-2 defeat to Bohemians at Dalymount Park in April. The Westport man has played seven league games since his return against Bohs, but hasn't been able to complete a full game, largely due to the fact he hasn't been training full-time. 'He's going to be in full-time with us in the summer once he gets his exams done, we think he can go to the top, he's going to be a really top player,' Russell said. 'We've produced a lot of top players over the last number of years, he's the next one on the conveyor belt. 'At the moment he's juggling a lot, he's giving us everything. He's not able to finish the games at the moment, which is a bit of a challenge, he's got a bright future.' Reynolds had to come off during Saturday's defeat to Bohemians suffering with severe leg cramps, after playing at centre-back where he shone yet again. While coming through the academy, the Mayo man regularly featured at centre-back along with right-back. The run of games has been tough on the body for the young man, particularly when he doesn't have the luxury of recovery time like his fellow professionals do. But he's embracing the chaos. 'It's been tough. I'm really enjoying it. The legs are kind of suffering as games go on but the more I'm playing the legs are adapting more to it. "It's about trying to get as much out of a game as I can and then training and trying to build on minutes and hopefully I'll keep getting fitter and keep playing.' With Rovers struggling at the minute, the pitch is where Reynolds is feeling the pressure at the minute. Although, as the exams get closer, and it feels more real, the nerves will kick in. 'To be honest, completely (more pressure on the pitch). The last thing I'm thinking about at the minute (is exams), and it shouldn't be that way. All I want to do is play football and help the team. It's hard. 'The pressure will start to hit me in the next week or two. We finish school in a week and a half. That's when it will properly hit. At the moment it's nearly like a fever dream.' The timing of the mid-season break means Reynolds won't miss any games for the first week of his exams, and he is hopeful that he will be able to play the home game against Waterford on June 14. He won't be finished, but he won't be far off either. And while it's hard at times for Reynolds to focus on his studies when the football season is so intense, it's important to note that this young man is fully intent on doing well in his exams. Reynolds clearly has a big future in professional football, but he is determined to go to college and get a third level degree, too. 'I definitely want to do well in the Leaving. It's been a long year in terms of study as well, trying to do well. The college here in Sligo, the courses are really good so I'd probably like to do something there.' He limped off during Saturday's defeat to Bohemians at The Showgrounds due to cramping, with Harvey Lintott also forced off. Russell finished the game with a makeshift back four, with left-winger Will Fitzgerald having to fill in at right-back and Reece Hutchinson playing centre-back 'Sickening to be honest I now,' Reynolds said of losing the game so late. "I thought as a whole team we played well, and then there's that moment at the end. When you look at it now, it's so disheartening. I definitely thought it was there for us, no words. Completely sickening.' And like his manager John Russell, Reynolds believes the wins will come if Rovers stick together. 'At the moment it's tough. We have to stick together. It's a good group we have and I know we will stick together, and wins are going to come, it's about sticking together, keeping going, which I know we will. Wins are bound to happen then.'
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Mousset finally off the mark as Bohs steal another late win in Sligo
Sligo Rovers' struggles continued at the Showgrounds as a late Lys Mousset winner fired Bohemians to within two points of the Premier Division summit. To make matters worse for the Bit O'Red, Owen Elding missed an early penalty for Rovers who have now lost ten of their opening fifteen games. Rovers boss John Russell made two changes from their defeat to Shamrock Rovers. Jake Doyle-Hayes returned from suspension while Harvey Lintott made his first start in nine games. Midfielder Conor Malley made the bench having been dropped from the squad for the trip to Tallaght. A resurgent Bohs named both Rob Cornwall and Colm Whelan in their starting team, their only changes from the late win in Galway five evenings previous. Eleven years to the day since their last trophy win in the form of the final edition of the Setanta Sports Cup, Rovers squandered a glorious early opportunity to take the lead in this one when Elding fluffed an early penalty after Rob Cornwall had barged Cian Kavangh in the back. Elding's unsuccessful spot-kick struck Kacper Choraka's crossbar and was Rovers' third missed penalty of the year. The Dubliners finished the opening half on the front foot, but Sligo did fashion another good chance on 26 minutes when Kavanagh stabbed Elding's cross narrowly past the post. Aware a win would move them within striking distance of the top two, the Phibsboro outfit asserted themselves as the half wore on. Reece Hutchinson swept a Dalye Rooney effort off his own line after goalkeeper Sam Sargeant had gone travelling while the netminder diverted Dawson Devoy's powerful volley over his goal on the next attack. Sargeat was involved in proceedings again on the hour when he produced a magnificent double save. Cornwall's initial blast was parried by the former Waterford man and Sargeant repeated the trick when his timely reaction kept out Rooney's follow up. Devoy then flashed two efforts toward goal as Alan Reynolds' men looked the more likely to register a score. That goal arrived two minutes from time when substitute Mousset arrived right in time to volley past Sargeant for another win on the road for the visitors. The former Premier League frontman's first of his Bohemians tenure was one to remember. Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Harvey Lintott (Wilson Waweru 84), Gareth McElroy, Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 78), Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ronan Manning (Jad Hakiki 68); Will Fitzgerald, Francely Lomboto (Stephen Mallon 68); Owen Elding, Cian Kavanagh (Conor Malley 78). Bohs: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan, Rob Cornwall, Sean Grehan, Ross Tierney; Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley 78), Dawson Devoy; Ross Tierney (Archie Meekison 83), James Clarke (Lys Mousset 78), Dayle Rooney; Colm Whelan (Rhys Brennan 59). Referee: Mark Houlihan. Attendance: 2,056.
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
John Russell admits Sligo Rovers ‘architects of our own downfall' but vows to ‘use it as fuel' after Drogheda Utd draw
JOHN RUSSELL will accept any criticism that comes Sligo Rovers' way due to their 'criminal' defensive record. Not for the first time this season, the 1 Sligo Rovers manager John Russell during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match against Drogheda United Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile But Rovers rallied and forced a way back into the game courtesy of two goals in five minutes, the first a close-range Owen Elding strike and the second a calamitous James Bolger own goal. The 2-2 home draw means Sligo have won just two of their first 13 games this season, despite being the Premier Division's joint-top scorers. But they have by far the leakiest defence and the Showgrounds supremo claims they are conceding too many 'stupid' goals. Raging Russell fumed: 'Players, staff, the team — we're not in a position we want to be in and we're the architects of our own downfall. Read More on League of Ireland 'But we have to use it as fuel when people want to take pops, we will prove them wrong. The big players are the leaders who step up when the chips are down. 'We showed character to come back into it against Drogs, but the killer is conceding two goals again. 'It's criminal because we have such ability in this group. 'We can score goals and could have had another two on Friday night, but it's such a challenge to score goals when you go two down. The players know how good we are and what we can do. Most read in Football 'We're dealing with a lot of setbacks but we have to deal with these stupid goals we're giving away every week.'
