Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sligo Rovers on Sky Sports News
Sligo Rovers today had a piece on Sky Sports News. It was very interesting and hopefully it brings some more publicity to the club. here is a link to the video >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNZHhFDq3Y0
Friday, November 19, 2010
Cook, Peers and Blinkhorn sign contracts
Sligo Rovers have today anounced that Gavin Peers and Mathew Blinkhorn have signed for Rovers for the 2011 season. Paul Cook has also signed a 2 year contract with the club. The club are also hoping to complete negotiations with more players in the coming days.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Fai cup final match report
Report thanks to rte.ie/mns
Goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly was the hero for Sligo Rovers as they claimed the FAI Ford Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva Stadium.
Kelly saved spot-kicks from Gary Twigg, Pat Flynn, Chris Turner and Paddy Kavanagh to deny the Hoops a seventh domestic league and cup double. Eoin Doyle and Gary McCabe found the net in the shootout as the Bit O' Red added the Blue Riband of Irish football to their EA Sports Cup triumph earlier in the season. Conor O'Grady and Alan Keane both missed penalties for Sligo but Kelly's heroics more than made up for that. The largest cup final attendance in recent memory, 36,101, had seen Sligo dominate for long periods without making the breakthrough.
The Hoops raised their game in the second half, but had to hang for the last ten minutes of extra-time after Stephen Bradley was sent-off. Sligo and Kelly had suffered heartbreak in losing the cup final to Sporting Fingal last year. Indeed, Kelly's foul on Eamon Zayed in the box gave Sporting a late chance to equalise, from where they went on to win. The victory was Sligo third FAI Cup triumph and means that the Hoops long wait for a 25th cup victory goes on.
Michael O'Neill's side were second best for much of the afternoon, but they do have Champions League football to look forward to next season. Shamrock Rovers' centre-half Aidan Price failed to recover fully from a hamstring injury, so Flynn started in the centre of defence and Stephen Rice moved to right-back. Sligo were without the suspended Richie Ryan and Matthew Blinkhorn, so Paul Cook opted to play Doyle as the main striker supported by John Russell. The game began with another refereeing mistake, as Tomás Connolly stopped play for foul on Sligo's Danny Ventre when Doyle was clean through. Both Iarfhlaith Davoran and Twigg had shots that failed to find the target in the opening minutes, but thereafter it was almost all Sligo. Cook's side settled quicker, even without their captain and playmaker Ryan, and showed the football that has won them many admirers this season. They should have been in front after 17 minutes as Joseph Ndo's corner found Romauld Boco unmarked, but Alan Mannus touched Boco's header onto the bar. Sligo, and Ndo in particular, controlled possession for long spells, but were often let down by their final ball and their decisions in the attacking third.
Shamrock Rovers were troubled by another Ndo corner kick just before half-time, but Gavin Peers could only glance his header wide. It took the Hoops half an hour to get to the pace of the game, but the closest they came was a Billy Dennehy free-kick that sailed over Kelly's crossbar.
Bradley, who had been subdued in the opening half, had the chance to test Kelly just after the break but scuffed his shot wide. In a lively opening to the second half, Twigg headed straight into Kelly's arms after a swift break by Thomas Stewart and James Chambers. At the other end, McCabe fired over following a counter-attack by Doyle and Boco.
Sligo turned up the pressure on Shamrock Rovers as Doyle shot over the bar from close range. Minutes later, Keane slipped Boco through, but he could only shoot straight at Mannus. The keeper's handling skills were tested again soon after by McCabe's low drive. O'Neill made an attacking change to counter Sligo's dominance, with Dessie Baker coming on for Chambers.
Stewart, who had switched to left after Baker's introduction, skipped past Keane and forced Peers to clear from his line. Keane returned the favour, as he got in the way of Flynn's header from the resulting corner. McCabe must have thought he had won the game when he went for goal with five minutes left, but Flynn threw his head in the way for a crucial block. In a frantic finale, Kelly ensured the game went to extra-time as he pushed away Dennehy's shot and Twigg's header. Both teams appeared jaded in extra-time following their exertions in the 90 minutes.
However, the momentum swung Sligo's way after Bradley picked up his second booking for a needless foul on Keane in the second half of extra-time. There was then the strange sight of a substitute being substituted as Price came on for Baker to shore things up at the back. Both Bradley and Baker's penalty-taking skills would be missed later on. Despite late Sligo pressure, the Hoops held on to take the game to the shootout. However, this was to be Sligo and Kelly's day as they completed an impressive season with two trophies.
Sligo Rovers: 1 Kelly; 2 Keane, 4 Peers, 20 Lauchlan, 3 Davoran; 18 Boco, 15 Ndo, 5 Ventre (12 O'Grady '118), 21 McCabe; 8 Russell; 11 Doyle.
Subs not used: 26 Brush, 19 Gibson, 16 Foran, 14 McGoldrick, 17 Vieira, 7 Dillon.
Booked: Peers, Ndo, Keane, Ventre,
Shamrock Rovers: 1 Mannus; 6 Rice, 4 Sives, 13 Flynn, 3 Stevens; 20 Dennehy, 7 Bradley, 18 Turner, 8 Chambers (10 Baker '69 (5 Price 113), 23 Stewart (15 Kavanagh '102); 9 Twigg.
Subs not used: 16 Jennings, 11 Fenn, 14 Downes, 19 Murphy.
Booked: Bradley, Stewart, Turner,
Sent-off: Bradley
Referee: Tomás Connolly.
SLIGO ROVERS PENALTIES
Scored: Eoin Doyle, Gary McCabe
Missed: Alan Keane (saved), Conor O'Grady (wide)
SHAMROCK ROVERS PENALTIES
Missed: Gary Twigg (saved), Pat Flynn (saved), Chris Turner (saved), Paddy Kavanagh (saved).
Attendance: 36,101.
Ford Man of the Match: Joseph Ndo.
Sorry about the lateness, completely forgott.
Goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly was the hero for Sligo Rovers as they claimed the FAI Ford Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva Stadium.
Kelly saved spot-kicks from Gary Twigg, Pat Flynn, Chris Turner and Paddy Kavanagh to deny the Hoops a seventh domestic league and cup double. Eoin Doyle and Gary McCabe found the net in the shootout as the Bit O' Red added the Blue Riband of Irish football to their EA Sports Cup triumph earlier in the season. Conor O'Grady and Alan Keane both missed penalties for Sligo but Kelly's heroics more than made up for that. The largest cup final attendance in recent memory, 36,101, had seen Sligo dominate for long periods without making the breakthrough.
The Hoops raised their game in the second half, but had to hang for the last ten minutes of extra-time after Stephen Bradley was sent-off. Sligo and Kelly had suffered heartbreak in losing the cup final to Sporting Fingal last year. Indeed, Kelly's foul on Eamon Zayed in the box gave Sporting a late chance to equalise, from where they went on to win. The victory was Sligo third FAI Cup triumph and means that the Hoops long wait for a 25th cup victory goes on.
Michael O'Neill's side were second best for much of the afternoon, but they do have Champions League football to look forward to next season. Shamrock Rovers' centre-half Aidan Price failed to recover fully from a hamstring injury, so Flynn started in the centre of defence and Stephen Rice moved to right-back. Sligo were without the suspended Richie Ryan and Matthew Blinkhorn, so Paul Cook opted to play Doyle as the main striker supported by John Russell. The game began with another refereeing mistake, as Tomás Connolly stopped play for foul on Sligo's Danny Ventre when Doyle was clean through. Both Iarfhlaith Davoran and Twigg had shots that failed to find the target in the opening minutes, but thereafter it was almost all Sligo. Cook's side settled quicker, even without their captain and playmaker Ryan, and showed the football that has won them many admirers this season. They should have been in front after 17 minutes as Joseph Ndo's corner found Romauld Boco unmarked, but Alan Mannus touched Boco's header onto the bar. Sligo, and Ndo in particular, controlled possession for long spells, but were often let down by their final ball and their decisions in the attacking third.
Shamrock Rovers were troubled by another Ndo corner kick just before half-time, but Gavin Peers could only glance his header wide. It took the Hoops half an hour to get to the pace of the game, but the closest they came was a Billy Dennehy free-kick that sailed over Kelly's crossbar.
Bradley, who had been subdued in the opening half, had the chance to test Kelly just after the break but scuffed his shot wide. In a lively opening to the second half, Twigg headed straight into Kelly's arms after a swift break by Thomas Stewart and James Chambers. At the other end, McCabe fired over following a counter-attack by Doyle and Boco.
Sligo turned up the pressure on Shamrock Rovers as Doyle shot over the bar from close range. Minutes later, Keane slipped Boco through, but he could only shoot straight at Mannus. The keeper's handling skills were tested again soon after by McCabe's low drive. O'Neill made an attacking change to counter Sligo's dominance, with Dessie Baker coming on for Chambers.
Stewart, who had switched to left after Baker's introduction, skipped past Keane and forced Peers to clear from his line. Keane returned the favour, as he got in the way of Flynn's header from the resulting corner. McCabe must have thought he had won the game when he went for goal with five minutes left, but Flynn threw his head in the way for a crucial block. In a frantic finale, Kelly ensured the game went to extra-time as he pushed away Dennehy's shot and Twigg's header. Both teams appeared jaded in extra-time following their exertions in the 90 minutes.
However, the momentum swung Sligo's way after Bradley picked up his second booking for a needless foul on Keane in the second half of extra-time. There was then the strange sight of a substitute being substituted as Price came on for Baker to shore things up at the back. Both Bradley and Baker's penalty-taking skills would be missed later on. Despite late Sligo pressure, the Hoops held on to take the game to the shootout. However, this was to be Sligo and Kelly's day as they completed an impressive season with two trophies.
Sligo Rovers: 1 Kelly; 2 Keane, 4 Peers, 20 Lauchlan, 3 Davoran; 18 Boco, 15 Ndo, 5 Ventre (12 O'Grady '118), 21 McCabe; 8 Russell; 11 Doyle.
Subs not used: 26 Brush, 19 Gibson, 16 Foran, 14 McGoldrick, 17 Vieira, 7 Dillon.
Booked: Peers, Ndo, Keane, Ventre,
Shamrock Rovers: 1 Mannus; 6 Rice, 4 Sives, 13 Flynn, 3 Stevens; 20 Dennehy, 7 Bradley, 18 Turner, 8 Chambers (10 Baker '69 (5 Price 113), 23 Stewart (15 Kavanagh '102); 9 Twigg.
Subs not used: 16 Jennings, 11 Fenn, 14 Downes, 19 Murphy.
Booked: Bradley, Stewart, Turner,
Sent-off: Bradley
Referee: Tomás Connolly.
SLIGO ROVERS PENALTIES
Scored: Eoin Doyle, Gary McCabe
Missed: Alan Keane (saved), Conor O'Grady (wide)
SHAMROCK ROVERS PENALTIES
Missed: Gary Twigg (saved), Pat Flynn (saved), Chris Turner (saved), Paddy Kavanagh (saved).
Attendance: 36,101.
Ford Man of the Match: Joseph Ndo.
Sorry about the lateness, completely forgott.
Friday, November 12, 2010
The F.A.I. Cup Final preview
As the showpeice for the League of Ireland draws closer news on the sale of tickets keeps getting better. Between Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers 18,500 tickets have been sold, 6650 threw Ticketmaster, 4000 to the sponsors and around 2000 to the FAI. With more people expected to by their tickets on the day, the expected crowd is in and around 35,000 (which is more than is expected for the Irish rugby teams' encounter with Samoa in the Aviva on Saterday).
Coming into the match Sligo Rovers will be without the services of suspended Richie Ryan and Mathew Blinkhorn which has been talked about much already in the press so I will not go on a rant about it here. The Bit o Red will also be without injured Mauro Almedia and Richard Brush who is missing his second final in two years with a wrist injury. Paul Cook will be looking for a big performance from his men so as not to suffer the same dissapointment as last year.
As for Shamrock Rovers Aidan Price has been given the all clear to play ahead of Sunday while Garry Twigg will have a late fitness test before the game. Twigg is expected to start but is not expected to complete the full ninety-minutes. The 'hoops' will also be missing Dan Murray (threw a Knee injury), Pat Sullivan and Sean O'Connor are also out of the game threw injury. Shamrock Rovers will also be missing the services of Robert Bayly because of suspention.
With the big game growing closer anticipation is increasing from both sets of fans and neutrals. In my view this will be one of the games of the season with an amazing atmosphere with both sets of ultras at either ends of the ground taking it to a cresendo.
The match kicks off at 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium with the match live on RTE with coverage starting at 3:00.
Coming into the match Sligo Rovers will be without the services of suspended Richie Ryan and Mathew Blinkhorn which has been talked about much already in the press so I will not go on a rant about it here. The Bit o Red will also be without injured Mauro Almedia and Richard Brush who is missing his second final in two years with a wrist injury. Paul Cook will be looking for a big performance from his men so as not to suffer the same dissapointment as last year.
As for Shamrock Rovers Aidan Price has been given the all clear to play ahead of Sunday while Garry Twigg will have a late fitness test before the game. Twigg is expected to start but is not expected to complete the full ninety-minutes. The 'hoops' will also be missing Dan Murray (threw a Knee injury), Pat Sullivan and Sean O'Connor are also out of the game threw injury. Shamrock Rovers will also be missing the services of Robert Bayly because of suspention.
With the big game growing closer anticipation is increasing from both sets of fans and neutrals. In my view this will be one of the games of the season with an amazing atmosphere with both sets of ultras at either ends of the ground taking it to a cresendo.
The match kicks off at 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium with the match live on RTE with coverage starting at 3:00.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Keane signs new contract
Alan Keane, pictured with Sligo manager Paul Cook and club officials, will stay in The Showgrounds for the 2011 season
Alan Keane has agreed a new contract with Sligo Rovers for the 2011 Airtricity Premier Division season.
The club are also currently in talks with all the players from this year's squad and there will further announcements in the days to come.
Keane has enjoyed an excellent season at The Showgrounds, producing many fine performances to help the Bit o' Red finish third in the Premier Division and qualify for the FAI Ford Cup final with Shamrock Rovers next week.
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