McGinty returns to The Showgies on loan
SLIGO Rovers have received a timely boost to their senior men’s team ranks for the coming season with the return of goalkeeper Ed McGinty. The club officially unveiled McGinty as their newest signing yesterday, Wednesday, with the netminder joining on a six-month loan deal until the end of June.
McGinty joins on loan from EFL League One outfit Oxford United, who he moved to from Rovers in July 2022.
He has largely been utilised as a back-up goalkeeper making sporadic appearances but has not played in a competitive first team game since a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 9 last year.
The 24-year-old is a former Rovers academy player who made the step up to the first team in 2017, going on to make 106 appearances in all competitions, the last of being the night of his penalty shoot-out heroics against Bala Town.
The return of McGinty comes just a day after another Rovers goalkeeper, Luke McNicholas, made his loan move to English Football League Two side Wrexham AFC a permanent one.
Last August McNicholas initially joined Wrexham from Rovers on a short-term loan for a fee. A permanent move however never seemed in doubt with Rovers boss John Russell confirming in late December that the Mayo native would not be returning to Sligo. It is understood Rovers will receive a further fee from Wrexham as a result of the move officially becoming permanent.
Russell remains busy finalising his first team squad for the coming season with a striker and centre-back among his priorities. The defender is needed to replace the unavailable John Mahon. In addressing the need for an extra forward, Russell is understood to be interested in signing Dutch striker Rein Smit.
Smit – currently without a club – was
Fabrice Hartmann and Owen Elding scored a goal each. Hartmann scored from the penalty spot and Elding’s goal was a cracking finish.
In addition to Chapman, fans also got their first glimpse of Connor Malley, Wilson Waweru, JR Wilson and Simon Power in action.
Timi Sobowale, Seamas Keogh and Mark Byrne also made appearances as trialists, with Keogh and Byrne having previously played for the club.
Rovers were due to play again on Tuesday night – away to Longford Town – but this fixture cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
Their next outing is this Saturday in Westport, Co. Mayo, when they play against their Connacht rivals Galway United, who are back in the top flight for 2024 (kick-off 2pm).
undergone surgery for his recent achilles injury. The centre-back, a first choice pick when fit, suffered the setback in pre-season training earlier this month and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, with the best case scenario believed to be a return to action in October.
Rovers player Wilson Waweru defends a corner during last Saturday’s game.