League of Ireland Preview: Sligo Rovers
March 3rd, 2025by Trevor Murray
Truth be told, it was always going to be an arduous task for Sligo Rovers to retain their league title last season. And so it proved as it was a superior St Patrick's Athletic outfit who instead took home the crown as the chasing pack wilted in the closing stages. Despite the fact that Rovers began the league campaign excellently by storming to an impressive eight match winning streak, their powers began to wane noticeably towards the business end of the league season .Of course, finishing third is still nothing to be sniffed at and the self-belief to better that performance remains as strong as ever.
In a league that can often be quite unpredictable from year to year, Sligo Rovers look as though they are on the right road to finding that all-important consistency. And with a very talented core group of players at his disposal, Ian Baraclough has the right utensils to win back the trophy they lost so disappointingly last year.
Their opening friendly fixture of the season recently played against a newly set up Galway FC side ended in a shock 5-3 loss in Mervue. To lose against a fresh first division team who haven't had much time to settle together and gel may not be the best preparation ahead of the new season but it's still difficult to bet against The Bit O' Red pushing all the way to knock St Pat's off their perch.
An inability to defeat the Premier Division's eventual winners at any stage in the league provides us with a little insight into the pscychological battle that could turn out to be an important factor over the course of the year. If Sligo can prove they've done enough to close the gap when the sides meet in gameweek 11, they'll feel far more upbeat as the season unfolds. Of course, before that they face a testing opening day fixture at home against First Division champions Athlone Town which they'll be keen to navigate past without too much difficulty.
Last season: 3rd2025 odds: 10/3In: Eric Odhiambo (Denizlispor), Kalen Spillane (Cork City), Paul O' Conor (Drogheda United), Daniel Ledwith (Shamrock Rovers), Richard Brush (Shamrock Rovers), John Russell (St Pats), Ruairi Keating, Jake Dykes and Gary Boylan (all U19)Out: Anthony Elding (Cork City), Ryan Connolly (Galway FC), David McMillan (Dundalk), Lee Lynch (St Pats), Danny Ventre (Derry City).
What's new?
Realising that some freshening up was clearly needed in the wake of their limp relinquishing of the title, Baraclough has drafted in a number of exciting players to boost their hopes of once again winning some silverware.
Importantly, Sligo have held on to most of the players that have proven to be very vital cogs over the
