Mayo men in the frame for Bit o' Red in battle of the Rovers
Sligo Rovers begin their 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season tomorrow night at The Showgrounds, playing host to defending champions Shamrock Rovers at 7.45 p.m.
The match is a sell-out, with around 4,200 supporters expected to be in attendance. There will be no admission on the night without a ticket.
Mayo men in the Sligo Rovers squad include goalkeepers Luke McNicholas (now back from injury) and Conor Walsh plus outfield players Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne, Cillian Heaney and the hugely experienced David Cawley. Boylan signed up for a second spell in Sligo during the off-season but unfortunately picked up an injury in training that rules him out long-term, with Byrne also sidelined for a lenghty spell due to injury.
Elsewhere, Bit o' Red manager John Russell has a fresh look to his squad, with Johan Brannefalk, Daniel Lafferty, Reece Hutchinson (loan), James Finnerty, Stefan Radosavljevic, Lukas Browning, John Mahon and Bogdan Vastsuk all signing since the end of the 2022 season last November.
Fabrice Hartmann’s loan spell from RB Leipzig was also confirmed and the German winger is in the squad ahead of the new season.
Russell is looking forward to tomorrow’s game. He told the Sligo Rovers website: “We’re all excited to kick-off the season in front of a sold-out Showgrounds. The players and staff have worked extremely hard during pre-season and, we’re all ready for the challenge ahead.
“We know the quality Shamrock Rovers bring tomorrow evening. They have set the benchmark for the past few seasons but it’s important that we focus on ourselves.
“Our home support will be vital for us this season and the players are relishing playing in front of them.”
Shamrock Rovers come into the new season having won their third SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division title in succession last season and Stephen Bradley has again added to his squad for 2023, including a loan deal for Riverstown native Johnny Kenny from Celtic.
The Hoops were defeated in last Friday’s President’s Cup game away to Derry City on a 2-0 scoreline at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.