Seamus Sharkey has revealed that he is likely to miss the upcoming CONIFA World Cup in order to help Sligo Rovers deal with both a number of injuries and upcoming suspensions. The defender was due to join up with his Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) team
Seamus Sharkey has revealed that he is likely to miss the upcoming CONIFA World Cup in order to help Sligo Rovers deal with both a number of injuries and upcoming suspensions.
The defender was due to join up with his Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) team mates next week for the tournament which gets underway on Thursday.
But with the Bit O'Red sweating over the fitness of defenders Gary Boylan and Regan Donelon ahead of next week's meeting with Derry City, Sharkey has been asked to stay in the north-west to bolster Rovers' ranks. Sligo will also be without centre-half John Mahon for their visit to the Brandywell after the youngster was sent off late on in Friday's draw with Limerick.
While although left back Calum Waters is expected to be available for the Candystripes clash, he could return to parent club Kilmarnock before his loan deal is due to expire on June 10.
Sharkey can’t hide his disappointed on missing out on the tournament which caters for sides not officially recognised by FIFA, but is now fully focused on helping Rovers move away from the bottom of the table.
"I'm gutted because the boys in the Isle of Man have been asking me every day if I'm coming", he explains. "They've made contact with Sligo and they've told the Isle of Man that it depends on Paddy's (McClean) injury but now that we have a few more injuries and with John missing Derry it doesn't look like I'll go. But I'm signed with Sligo and they pay my wages so I have to respect that."
"I know next year I'll have another chance because there's another championship coming up that I can be involved with. I'm disappointed but I'm a Sligo Rovers player and with the injury list we have, I'm going to get my chance to play. I can't turn that down."
Friday's stalemate with Seamus' former club Limerick was Rovers' third game in a row in which they've failed to find the net. One of the lower scoring teams in the league, Sharkey says Sligo's problems can be traced back to a confidence issue.
"I think it's a bit of belief", he admits. "Sometimes when we get to the final third, we build up and then we run out of ideas. It's confidence. We don't have enough of that to go at defences and get the ball across to runners inside the box.
"Also sometimes we're not clinical enough which doesn't help us. But we've done really well at the back with another clean sheet. It's something the gaffer has asked us to do so two clean sheets in a row is great. It's just now to try and build up those performances into wins.
"When you watch us from the stand you realise we can actually play a bit instead of knocking it long. It probably suits Lewis to play to feet, but with Greg (Moorhouse), he's a bit of a target and he can run in behind. Hopefully
we can get Adam (Morgan) back in soon too because he's scored a few already. The goals he's scored so far haven't been spectacular but as long as they go in, they count!"
Friday's start was Sharkey's first since a 2-0 defeat to Dundalk back in March. A combination of injuries and in-form team mates has made a starting berth hard to come by for the 28-year-old.
"It's great to get back. John (Mahon) has been excellent so I can't complain. Kyle's (Callan-McFadden) captain and he's done really well. I don't mind playing right back. It takes a while to adjust when you've got wingers coming at you. But I just want to play."
Sharkey also feels that once the goals arrive, Ger Lyttle's charges will begin to climb away from their current problems at the wrong end of the standings.
He admits: "I think with the players we have, we can do a lot better. The fans are frustrated but it's great for us that they still come out in numbers. It will change though. We're keeping clean sheets, we just need to find the goals."
Sligo Rovers have also confirmed after the 0-0 draw against Limerick that Calum Waters has played the final game of his loan spell from Kilmarnock. Waters will return to Scotland following his loan spell at the Showgrounds.
