IT Sligo women soccer players have notched up another memorable victory and will soon head to Spain to represent Ireland.
They won the WSCAI Intervarsities Futsal tournament for the first time, a great victory in a tournament that has seen them as beaten finalists in 2008, 2011 and 2012.
In an exciting tussle in which Carlow IT were in front twice, IT Sligo came back strongly to take a 4-2 lead and withstood a final push when Carlow scored a third.
Geraldine McLaughlin was outstanding, finding the back of the net three times. Sligo’s other scorer was Amy Roddy.
The team was Roisin McCafferty (captain), Amy Roddy, Nicole Fowley, Emma Hansberry, Deirdre Doherty, Maria Harrington, Aoife Brenna, Geraldine McLaughlin and Ina Butler; manager, Emma Mullin.
The win was a particular triumph for Roisin McCafferty and Emma Mullin as it capped a very successful season for IT Sligo women’s soccer by ensuring a second piece of silver — a just reward show for all the effort, energy and expertise they have all demonstrated.
In February, IT Sligo won the National Premier League for the fifth time.
The WSCAI National Futsal finals were held at Gormanston College, Co Meath and involved eight teams with two groups of four playing off and the top two in each group advancing to the semi-finals. The other teams were Athlone IT, Cork IT, Mary Immaculate College, NUI Maynooth, UCD and UCC.
The win means that IT Sligo will travel to Malaga, Spain, to represent Ireland in the European Futsal Championships.
Futsal is a fast paced indoor game played with a special ball that is a little smaller and heavier than a standard ball. Games are 5-a-side, with unlimited substitutions among a squad of 10 players.
It is popular in Brazil and a few years ago the FAI began promoting it because of its benefits in improving players’ soccer skills.
Photo caption: IT Sligo players celebrate after winning the WSCAI Intervarsities Futsal finals. (Photo by Paul Mohan/SPORTSFILE)