Sligo Rovers v Derry City: Match Preview (July 25)

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 24, Sligo Showgrounds, Saturday 12^th July 2025, kick-off 7.45pm

Following Derry City’s seven goal annihilation of Waterford on Friday, the Candystripes face a trip to north-west rivals Sligo Rovers on Saturday, hoping to close the gap to the top. Last Friday’s victory over Waterford was the highest scoring game of the Premier Division season and the first time City scored seven in three years. Derry, as the form team in the league, travel to a Sligo side who held Shamrock Rovers last week and knowing that the Showgrounds has proved a difficult host in the recent past.

Derry City:

Last Friday’s win over Waterford really needs no introduction. After losing 2-1 in both previous games against the Blues this year, Tiernan Lynch knew his side needed a big win to break that curse and continue the winning run. That’s exactly what they did. I’ll try to make my recap brief, but I have to apologise in advance if I get carried away.

Within just five minutes, the home side had the deadlock broken. A brilliant switch from Mark Connolly found Ronan Boyce high and wide. Boyce squared it to Gavin Whyte and, when most other players would go for goal, put the ball on a plate for Liam Boyce to smash into the top corner. A quality goal from City to get off the mark.

A Mark Connolly header hit the crossbar just two minutes after the opener, but on the 24th minute Liam Boyce had bagged his brace. Michael Duffy surged down the left flank and slid the ball across the box unchallenged. Boyce was on hand to double City’s lead via a deflected effort – more slick football from the home side.

On the 36^th minute, Derry made it three. After some pinballing on the edge of the box, Michael Duffy laid the ball to Sadou Diallo. City’s number 15 had only one thing on his mind, to put his laces through it. The ball subsequently rocketed off the crossbar and in, giving the City fans a goal of the season contender to match. One of the best goals I’ve seen live, and it had the home side in cruise control. Five minutes before half time saw Michael Duffy bag a hat-trick of assists when his corner was directed into the net via the forehead of Mark Connolly. 4-0 and a first of the season for the big centre back.

Waterford’s main man Pádraig Amond capitalised on a defensive error from Hayden Cann to slide the ball under Brian Maher to pull one back for the away side four minutes into the second half, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished just a further four minutes after that. Gavin Whyte swept a sumptuous ball into the path of Michael Duffy who chopped it into his weak foot to shrug off the covering defender before slotting past Brad Wade for City’s fifth. A deserved goal to add to his three assists, as five star Derry ran riot.

To add to Michael Duffy’s trio of assists, Liam Boyce bagged his first hattrick in City colours five minutes later. Gavin Whyte delivered a dangerous ball into the box, which was poked expertly home by the veteran striker. That put Boyce up to eight in terms of goals this season and was his first hattrick since April 2021, when he scored three in a 6-0 win for Hearts against Alloa Athletic. It also meant that Gavin Whyte bagged himself a hattrick of assists. Christ we’re good.

Six became seven on the 73^rd minute when Michael Duffy jinked down the left wing before playing the ball to Gavin Whyte, who took one touch before firing into the bottom corner. A goal to add to his three assists as City thumped Waterford. Two absolutely fantastic players showcasing their talent at the peak of their powers, we really are lucky to have Duffy and Whyte in our team.

Waterford did pull another back before the end as Pádraig Amond found the bottom corner to see him become the first player in the Premier Division to break the ten goal barrier. Despite defensive lapses for both Waterford goals, we really can’t be complaining. According to @StattoLOI on X, Duffy is the first player since Graham Burke in 2020 to record five goal involvements in one Premier Division game. Prior to Friday night, the last Derry player to record four goal involvements was Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe in June 2019 and, six years later, we had two players to it in one night.

Michael Duffy’s performances were duly rewarded with the SSE Airtricity Player of the Month award for June after standout performances. It’s his first time winning it since 2018 and his victory makes him the first Derry City player since Jordan McEneff in February 2023 to be named the Player of the Month. Derry’s number 7 will be hoping to make it back-to-back awards in July following another immense performance against Waterford.

I said I’d try not to get carried away, but this is one of the most entertaining sides I’ve seen in my time watching Derry. They turn defensive to attack in a heartbeat, going forward with energy and purpose. The forward line have found that clinical streak and blown a side away. I’ve been saying we’d click and it’s finally come. That’s 12 goals scored and 2 conceded in the last four games for Tiernan Lynch’s men. Michael Duffy’s eight goals and seven assists has him on 15 goal involvements for the year, more than any other player. Liam Boyce has joined him on 8 goals now too. Boyce in the Better Land back in full swing.

Now nine points behind Shamrock Rovers at the top, Derry City go into their two games in hand and FAI Cup opener on full confidence. With new signing Adam Frizzell handed a debut last week, and some rotational players getting a runout in Sunday’s 2-2 draw away to Cliftonville, we have a fit and firing squad with quality throughout. Alex Bannon also made his first appearance for City last Sunday. English striker Dipo Akinyemi joined the Candystripes on a long term contract from York City on Wednesday and adds yet more quality to the attack. Yes Sir Akinyemi will be getting a run out very soon.

The players have bought into Tiernan Lynch’s tactics and that 5-2-3 formation has been working wonders. Sadou Diallo’s wondergoal was deserving following his recent good form, while words can’t really describe Michael Duffy and Gavin Whyte these days. With our closest away trip coming on a Saturday, for the second time this year, the City faithful will travel to Sligo in their numbers, hoping for a repeat of March’s and May’s victories.

Sligo Rovers:

After a mid-tabled finish last year, 2025 hasn’t been quite so kind to Sligo Rovers. After 22 games, the Bit’O’Red find themselves in the relegation zone, seven points adrift of safety. That ninth place is one of uncertainty, as the club finishing there has the buffer of a play-off spot but isn’t quite comfortable with regards to staying up.

That’s the predicament which Sligo Rovers find themselves in. They’re five points clear of Cork City, who have won just twice all season and look to be in turmoil off the pitch. That gap to Waterford in eighth looks like it could be a bridge too far for the Connacht side, but it’s a battle they’re willing to take.

Operating on a relatively tight budget, and having to deal with the yearly onslaught of a heavily changing squad going into the new campaign, it could be that the number of new faces is the cause for Rovers’ inconsistency. They’ve picked up points in consecutive games just three times this year. When you combine that with the fact that John Russell’s side have lost more games than anyone else in the Premier Division, you can see the size of the task at hand.

Sligo Rovers have lost at least once to eight out of the other nine teams in the division this year, the only exception being relegation zone neighbours Cork City, with whom they drew twice. With the third most goals conceded (39), the upcoming transfer window will be key in Rovers’ fight for survival.

Said window didn’t get off to a brilliant start, losing key fullback Reece Hutchinson to League Two side Crewe Alexandra. The attacking left-footer scored three and assisted twice for Sligo in 2025, who will net his former side a healthy fee after the English club activated his release clause.

Hutchinson has been replaced by former Derry City man Patrick McClean, who returns to the Showgrounds on an 18 month deal after six years at Glentoran. The 28 year old can play in central defence or at fullback and has experience captaining the Glens. He has been joined by 23 year old Englishman Seb Quirk, who made 41 appearances for Accrington Stanley since signing from Everton in January 2023.

Hutchinson’s departure was followed by two further shrewd incomings. First was 20 year old midfielder James McManus, who joined on-loan from Bohemians after making 12 appearances for the Gypsies this term. He’s a deep-lying midfielder who will hope that a successful spell on the west coast can forge him a spot back in the Bohemians team.

The second arrival from north Dublin came in the form of Ryan O’Kane, on loan from Shelbourne. The quick winger impressed at Dundalk after joining from Warrenpoint Town in 2021. He was one of Shelbourne's first signings of their title defending season but made just five appearances this term. Still just 21, O’Kane has played in almost 120 career matches and adds to an already energetic attack of Wilson Waweru, Francely Lomboto and Owen Elding.

Speak of the devil, Owen Elding is perhaps the hottest property in the League of Ireland at the minute. At just 19, he’s scored eight goals in the Premier Division this term, starting 21 of his side’s 23 games. They aren’t just regular goals either, he’s scored absolute rockets against Bohemians and Shelbourne. He’s a serious player, who’s eligibility to play for the Irish national underage sides is believed to be at the final stages. I remember his father playing for both Sligo Rovers and Derry City, which makes me feel quite old. I don’t want to focus too much on Anthony Elding, but I did some digging and found out that he did actually play in goal for Derry after Gerard Doherty and Shaun Patton got injured in a match against Galway United in 2015. I knew I wasn’t going mad, he made a brilliant stop if I remember right too.

With eight league goals, Owen Elding is Sligo’s main man this year. Francely Lomboto is tied with Jad Hakiki on four, whilst Reece Hutchinson and former Derry striker Cian Kavanagh have three each. Will Fitzgerald’s six assists highlights the winger’s threat down the left flank.

Sligo Rovers’ midfield is certainly deserving of a higher league placing on quality alone. Former Hibernian midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes was a marquee signing, joining Conor Malley, who attracted interest from Shamrock Rovers following a standout 2024 in the middle of the park. Malley hasn’t hit those heights this year, but the energy of Jad Hakiki and now James McManus add more legs into the centre of the park. 18 year old Guilherme Priosti recently signed his first professional contract, while youngsters Kyle McDonagh and Daire Patton have been given first team involvement.

Sam Sargeant, signed from Waterford to replace McGinty, has been Rovers’ first choice this year, although 20 year Conor Walsh made six appearances earlier in the campaign. Sargeant made some brilliant saves to deny Shamrock Rovers last weekend. 18 year olds Conor Reynolds and Gareth McElroy have made 17 and 18 appearances as Russell has gone for a youthful backline. The experience of John Mahon and Patrick McClean will be welcomed in their fight for survival.

Sligo Rovers will hope that City’s 1-0 win in the Showgrounds in March was a blip in their impressive home record against the Candystripes. That win was City’s first there since 2021, while dropped points at the Showgrounds in the past couple of years have been costly. With just thirteen games remaining, Sligo will be desperate for points wherever they can get them. Going 2-0 up against Shamrock Rovers last week, before holding on for a draw, may give them the confidence they need to pull off a result on Saturday.

Round-up:

Derry City travel to Sligo Rovers on Saturday as the form team in the league, on a four game winning streak having scored twelve in that time. The Showgrounds haven’t given the Candystripes such joy in the past few years though. City have won just once in their last eight visits to the Yeats Country, with March’s 1-0 win marking their first victory there since August 2021.

Three of the four meetings in 2024 between City and Rovers were draws, while the Bit’O’Red bagged an 89^th minute winner to claim all three points in the other game. This year, City have won both games against Sligo Rovers, scoring four and keeping two clean sheets. Tiernan Lynch will be desperate for his side to continue that streak in their hunt for Europe, and even the title. It’s a Saturday trip to the west coast whilst City are in great form, not to mention it’s meant to be pushing 30C. Viva summer football.

Pól O’Hare – 9^th July 2025