IT Sligo claimed the Rustlers Colleges Plate yesterday.
A 3-1 defeat of GMIT in the final in Mervue secured the win.
Darren Somers, Gary Higgins and Jack Hever got the goals for the side coached by Colm Jinks and Darragh Healy.
The team have also qualified for the Division One League final and will take on Limerick IT at 2pm next Monday at the FAI headquarters in Abbottstown.
A win for the Sligo students would see the team return to the College & Universities Premier League.
The team made the Division 1 final after beating Blanchardstown IT 5 – 4 on penalties after a 1 – 1 extra time draw in the semi-final playoff.
Many of IT Sligo’s players in the squad, including Jason Quinn, are on the Institute’s Sports Scholarship Programme which helps talented student athletes reach their sporting potential.
Up to 20 new scholarships and bursaries are awarded each year under the scheme and students who are rewarded scholarships receive mentoring support, training guidance and other value-added support.
The overall aim of the scheme is to recruit, manage and develop players/athletes with exceptional ability to position IT Sligo as a premier centre of sporting performance.
Assistant Coach Darragh Healy said: “We are absolutely delighted with the win, we played against a really good GMIT team today and managed to come out on top. It is no more than the squad deserve.
“We have had a small squad of players who have worked tirelessly all year. They are such a talented group and it is a pleasure for myself and Colm Jinks [Head Coach of IT Sligo FC] to guide them along the way.
“We also owe a lot to the Sligo IT Soccer Committee who have provided us with everything we have asked for and a special mention to Colin Feehily who organises everything for us on a daily basis. We look forward to the league final next Monday against Limerick IT.”
Paul Powell, Treasurer of IT Sligo FC and member of the Scholarship Committee said:
“We are delighted that IT Sligo FC has won the Rustlers Plate Final. The team performed at their very best and we have no doubt they will do the same in the Division 1 final next week.”
Meanwhile, the college’s girls soccer team will be in action at the women’s intervarsities finals at the University of Limerick this week.
They face the tournament hosts UL in the plate semi-final tomorrow.
MATCH REPORT
Mervue was the venue for the CFAI Rustlers Plate final between IT Sligo and GMIT Galway on Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams started brightly but it was IT Sligo who took the lead on 13 mins when a cross into the box fell to the feet of Darren Somers who blasted home from inside the area.
On 22 mins GMIT got their equaliser when a diagonal ball was played to right winger who connected brilliantly with the ball on the volley sending it to the top corner.
Both teams pushed for a goal, but it remained 1–1 at the break.
Two mins into the second half and Sligo regained the lead when soccer scholar Gary Higgins latched onto an excellent through ball and finished across the keeper to the far corner.
GMIT piled the pressure on and had plenty of dangerous set pieces cleared from the Sligo defence.
Sligo played some fine football also and had some half chances before on 75 mins, Substitute Jack Hever wriggled his way through the GMIT defence and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner that gave the goalkeeper no chance.
GMIT kept piling the pressure on and had some half chances but Sligo stood tall and ran out worthy winners in the end.
IT Sligo FC Squad
Ben Treanor Mullingar, Westmeath
Brian Kavanagh Mullingar, Westmeath soccer scholar
Roland Anderson Collooney, Sligo soccer scholar
Conor Blaney Letterkenny, Donegal
Michael Gilfoy Foxford, Mayo
Conor Brennan Tonaphubble, Sligo
Niall Brennan Ballymote, Sligo soccer scholar
Darren Somers Cranmore, Sligo
Timmy Govorov Bundoran, Donegal
Jack Hever Ballymote, Sligo
Ryan Norris Mullingar, Westmeath
Jason Quinn Letterkenny, Donegal soccer scholar
Darren Murray Balla, Mayo
Ryan O Reilly Cavan Town, Cavan soccer scholar
Gary Higgins Ballyhaunis, Mayo soccer scholar
