POTENTIAL KEENA REPLACEMENTS
Could a Rovers return be on the cards for the out of contract Ronan Coughlan? In some respects
Coughlan, pictured right, possesses qualities that manager John Russell looks for in a player, but questions still remain over his consistency in front of goal. by setbacks, but his recent short-term stay at Forest Green Rovers suggests the 29-year-old still has plenty to offer up front. Notably, he also shares an agent with Fabrice Hartmann.
If John Russell extends his search to Estonia once again, he may have one eye on Eduard Golovljov, an out of contract forward who has boasted a good scoring record in the top and second tiers of the Estonian league.
SLIGO Rovers returned to home soil last weekend to continue their pre-season schedule with games against Athlone Town and Galway United. Rovers were away to Athlone Town as Aidan Keena and Sean McAteer scored a goal in each half on Friday last to secure a 2-1 win, the Bit O’Red’s second friendly victory in the space of a week.
Rovers started the game well with their wide men, Frank Liivak and Will Fitzgerald, impressing and the latter testing Athlone with an early chance. After 22 minutes Rovers were handed an opportunity to open the scoring when Aidan Keena was fouled in the box and a spot-kick was awarded. The Mullingar man stepped up and coolly dispatched it with a low finish with what proved to be his last goal for the club before completing a move to EFL League One outfit Cheltenham Town two days later. Shortly after the half-time break the First Division side equalised through Jack Kavanagh. This was immediately followed by a second goal for Rovers when a mix-up at the back was pounced on by Sean McAteer who restored Rovers’ lead with a neat goal. Rovers were then in action again the following afternoon (Saturday) when they played out a 2-2 draw with Galway United at United Park in Westport. Cillian Heaney and Fabrice Hartmann found the back of the net for Rovers while David Hurley scored a brace for the Tribesmen.
Rovers, who played less than 24 hours earlier in Athlone, made a raft of changes with the aim to ensure as many players as possible got game time.
The match was organised in memory of Westport United player Adam Mulchrone who passed away in 2019 from bacterial meningitis. The pitch the match was played on is now named after him.
It was a Westport man who opened the scoring on 23 minutes – but it was for Rovers as Cillian Heaney received a pass from Max Mata and converted it into the bottom corner for his second pre-season goal.
With Aidan Keena gone from the club and until a new striker is signed, Heaney and Mata are currently the only striking options available to manager John Russell.
Galway were level just two minutes later when David Hurley beat Luke McNicholas from the penalty spot. A fine team move from Rovers was finished off by Fabrice Hartmann – also scoring his second pre-season goal – to put Rovers back in front. Again, Galway would not be behind for long when David Hurley made it 2-2 on the cusp of half-time. The second-half was low on goalmouth action as the Connacht rivals finished all-square in Westport. Rovers are in action twice again this weekend. They host Wexford FC at The Showgrounds tomorrow, Friday, at 6.30pm, before travelling to Dublin on Saturday to face St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park (5pm).
The Bit O’Red host Finn Harps on Saturday week, February 11 (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm).
Luke McNicholas (Conor Walsh 60), Karl O’Sullivan, James Finnerty (Eanna Clancy 60), John Mahon (Nando Pijnaker 60), Daniel Lafferty (Daire McCarthy 60), Greg Bolger (Kailin Barlow h-t), David Cawley (Lukas Browning h-t), Sean McAteer (Fabrice Hartmann 60), Frank Liivak (Conor Campbell 60), Will Fitzgerald (Cillian Heaney h-t), Aidan Keena (Max Mata 60) Sligo Rovers (v Galway United): Luke McNicholas (Conor Walsh h-t), Johann Brannefalk (Daire McCarthy 80), Nando Pijnaker (James Finnerty 60), Eanna Clancy (John Mahon 60), Will Fitzgerald (Daniel Lafferty 60), Greg Bolger (David Cawley h-t), Lukas Browning (Sean McAteer 60), Kailin Barlow (Frank Liivak 60), Cillian Heaney, Fabrice Hartmann (Daniel Kelly 85), Max Mata (Karl O’Sullivan 75)