Reliable Cawley signs up for his 10th season with Rovers
THE player who has made the most appearances for Sligo Rovers in European competitions, David Cawley, is back at The Showgrounds for another domestic campaign.
The 31-year-old midfielder from Ballina is heading into the sixth year of his second spell with Rovers, having rejoined the club in 2018 after a previous four-year spell (2012-15). Consistent Cawley, who turned 31 last September, has won three major titles with Rovers between 2012 and 2014 – League of Ireland Premier Division, FAI Cup and Setanta Sports Cup – and was also an EA SPORTS Cup winner with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2016. The Mayo man, who has also played for Rovers’ Connacht rivals Galway United, has featured in 14 of Rovers’ European games, either as a starter or substitute, and has scored twice in Europe for the Bit O’Red. A versatile midfielder, who can play in a holding role or the number 10 slot, Cawley adds to the experience available to manager John Russell, who also has veteran Greg Bolger, Niall Morhan
ROVERS SQUAD
Luke McNicholas (gk), Conor Walsh (gk), Eanna Clancy, Garry Buckley, Kailin Barlow, Niall Morahan, Cillian Heaney, Frank Liivak, Karl O’Sullivan, Mark Byrne, Fabrice Hartmann
(loan), Max Mata, Aidan Keena, Johan Brannefalk, Greg Bolger, Danny Lafferty, David Cawley
and Kailin Barlow as his engine room options for 2023. Cawley’s overall time at Rovers has seen him make over 250 appearances. The player who has also captained the team is currently recovering from a hip injury.
John Russell is relishing the presence of his former team-mate in next season’s first team squad. The Bit O’Red boss said: “He [Cawley] has won trophies throughout his career and understands what it takes to win. “He is an intelligent footballer who will play a big part, both on and off the pitch, with his quality and in setting standards around the club.
“I feel he will be like a new signing after his recent operation and I’m delighted he has re-signed for 2023.” Cawley, who has worked with previous Rovers managers Ian Baraclough, John Coleman, Dave Robertson, Gerard Lyttle and Liam Buckley, is looking forward to another campaign in the north-west.
He stated: “From the players we already have and the young lads coming through I have no doubt the future is bright – add to that the new lads coming in that have signed and we have a right good group.” Meanwhile, Rovers will have to reinforce their defence as centre-back Shane Blaney, who starred for the club this year, is set to join Scottish Premiership side Motherwell, according to a report this week in The Irish Sun. Blaney, 23, currently out of contract, scored superbly from a freekick against Motherwell when Rovers defeated the Scottish club at The Showgrounds in a European fixture last July.