Soccer team bridge Thirty Three Year Gap…
IT, Sligo’s Men’s Soccer team claimed a long awaited victory in the third level sector’s CFAI Umbro Cup Final on the 11th of March, bridging a gap of 33 years. The Institute last won the cup in 1977.
The Umbro cup is the top premier knock out competition in the country’s third level education sector with 32 teams from different institutes and universities throughout the country, taking part at the outset.
IT Sligo defeated Letterkenny IT 3-2 in a thrilling final. Letterkenny had defeated IT, Sligo in the quarter final of the Colleges & Universities Football Premier League earlier in the season.
Final – slow and cautious start
The first half was slow to start with both teams finding their feet after two tough semi-finals the previous day. The game then sprung into life when team captain Niall Costello opened the scoring on the 43rd minute with an excellent header from a well rehearsed set piece. It was Costello’s sixth of the season making him the top scorer for the club. A minute Letterkenny had a chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty. But the resulting spot kick taken by Gareth Harkin was saved by Sligo keeper Rory O’ Kelly.
Sligo pull away in pulsating Second Half
The second half was a pulsating affair. Two minutes into the re-start Caolan O Grady took down IT, Sligo’s Gareth Harkin and Paul Doohan scored the resulting penalty. Then on 51 minutes Sean Kelly volleyed home, to put IT, Sligo back in the lead.
Letterkenny again equalised at the 61st minute mark, when Mark Forker latched onto a breaking ball to slot home with an accurately placed shot.
Substitute seals victory
The game was settled when the injury stricken Stephen Coen showed great courage and commitment to come off the bench to score the winner on 75 minutes with low volley, following a neat move by Sean Kelly and Thibaut Galland.
Sligo’s firm defence kept their opponents at bay as the Letterkenny team began to tire towards the end of the game. At the final whistle the 32 year wait was over and scenes of well earned jubilation followed.
Just after the final whistle
The winning Sligo team were: R Kelly,G Coniffe, R O’Donnell,C O’Grady,N Costello,R McCombe ( T Galland 62),C Greene, S Kelly, G O’Dwyer (S Coen 53((B O’Donnell 89), R Boyle, G Melly.
Sligo also win ‘Man of the Match’
In a clean sweep for IT, Sligo Ciaran Greene of IT, Sligo was awarded ‘Man of the Match’
’77 final memories‘
The 1977 Final was held in Sligo at the Showgrounds when the then, RTC Sligo, defeated the Dublin Institute of Technology in the Final. The 1977 team was captained by Michael Cox who is a nephew of the retired caretaker David Cox.
Victorious Team return to Sligo met by Registrar Dr. Brendan McCormack. Left at rear: Keith McManus, Head of Information Systems and in blue Jacket Paul Powell, Team Manager
Success after 19 years for Team Manager Powell
Head coach Paul Harte in only his second season as coach is to be commended on this success. He expressed his pride in all the players at the end of the game. Team manager of 19 years, Paul Powell was also ecstatic with the result and the exemplary behaviour, commitment and effort of the players. ‘I would like to congratulate all involved both on the field and the organisers off the field who have made this possible. On behalf of the players and myself I would especially like to thank our coach Paul (Scotty) Harte for his commitment and professional preparation of the team in getting to the Final and then winning it. He added: ‘ I would also like to thank Keith McManus for his considerable time and effort over the last few years and indeed this year. A special thanks to Frank Mc Garry for travelling down and doing first aid and kit duty for us. But most of all I would like to thank all the players whose efforts over the last few years have been leading to this. Finally we have achieved it!!’
More photos at :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfai/3348968767/