MATCH PREVIEW: Sligo Rovers FC vs Waterford FC

After last week’s postponement, the Blues return to action this Saturday evening as Jon Daly’s side make the journey to the Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.

Sligo Rovers FC vs Waterford FC

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Saturday 18th April 2026

The Showgrounds, Sligo

7:45pm

WATERFORD FC

Waterford travel to the Showgrounds this Saturday evening full of confidence having picked up two important points in our most recent two league fixtures at home to Shamrock Rovers & away to Bohemians over the Easter weekend.

Last week’s fixture at home to Drogheda United FC was postponed after heavy rainfall in the RSC on Friday afternoon, as the Blues turned their attention to this clash away to Sligo Rovers.

The sides played out a tight 0-0 draw at the RSC at the end of February, with Pádraig Amond’s 47th minute spot-kick the closest either side came to snatching all three points, as our number nine’s effort rebounded off the Sligo crossbar.

The Blues remain at the foot of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table, with their eyes set on closing the gap between the rest of the table on Saturday evening.

SLIGO ROVERS FC

The Bit O’ Red head into Saturday’s game against the Blues on the back of an impressive result away in Dalymount Park last Friday night. Having gone a goal behind inside the opening ten minutes, Sligo captain Will Fitzgerald levelled the scoring just before half-time, before Sean McHale’s first goal for the club gave Sligo inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Bohemians.

Waterford’s visit to the Showgrounds on Saturday will see us face up against some familiar faces in the Sligo Rovers squad, with Will Fitzgerald, Sam Sargeant & Cian Kavanagh all having spells at the RSC in previous seasons.

Sligo currently sit in ninth position in the league table with eight points to their name after 11 games played – four points ahead of the Blues albeit with one more game played than Jon Daly’s side.

TEAM NEWS

Jon Daly has confirmed that the trio of Sam Glenfield, Stephen McMullan & Tommy Lonergan are all in contention for tomorrow evening’s game, after the trio picked up knocks whilst on international duty earlier this month.

RICHARD FOSTER’S THOUGHTS

“It was disappointing that last week’s game was called off, because for us we were going into it on the back of two good results. We knew how tough the game was going to be but we thought we had a bit of momentum going into it, but it wasn’t to be. But we’ve had a really good training week this week, and we’re hoping we’re still bringing forward that good feeling from those two results [against Shamrock Rovers & Bohemians] so that should also stand to us in good stead on Saturday night.

It’s a different pressure going into this weeks game. We played last years Champions at home before going to Bohemians away who started the season really well. We knew we weren’t going to have loads of the ball & that we were going to have to defend really well. I felt for most part in those games we carried a threat going forward. It’s a different pressure than in games when you’re going to see more of the ball, more opportunities to attack. It does mean you might be a bit more vulnerable at the back, but it’s a pressure we’re looking forward to.

I think when you go back-to back in games against Rovers & Bohs, you’re almost desperate for that game where you can get on the ball a little bit more and play. We have got a very good squad here in terms of quality of player. We haven’t quite reached the heights yet – we have in moments – but we haven’t reached the full heights that we feel we’re capable of.

Sligo are on the back of a very good result [against Bohemians last weekend], and they’ll be looking at this game as a game they’ll want to win. They’ve also got a bit of momentum, and it will be a tough game. I don’t think there are any easy games in this league – everyone has the capability in this league to beat everyone – but we’re desperate for that first win. Whether it was the game last week, or now this week, we’re going to relish that challenge because we know we need to get wins on the board.”

JORDAN FARIA’S THOUGHTS

“Last Friday was unfortunate. It was out of our control with the weather, but we were looking forward to this weekends game after two good back-to-back performances over the Easter weekend. We have standards within ourselves to get results, and that will be the same this weekend in Sligo.

We’re focusing every day on how we can improve & how we can get better, and eventually the results will come. You saw that against Shamrock Rovers & Bohemians two weeks ago, and now we need to move onto our Saturday’s game in Sligo and continue to build that. Training has been good this week. We’ve been working hard and doing what we can to focus on the game against Sligo.

There’s a lot of good players here in the squad, some real good depth and especially in forward positions. It took time for me personally to get adjusted to the league, and I had to wait for my opportunity to come in & help the team. Having a start against Shamrock Rovers helped my confidence, and then I was able to bring that into the Bohemians game, because like everyone else I just want to help the team as much as I can.

We all believe we have enough to get ourselves out of this situation we find ourselves in. It’s a long season, and it’s a matter of showing up every week – both in training & in games – because we know we have enough quality in the dressing room.”