THE WAIT IS finally over for Bit O’Red fans as they wrapped up the Airtricity League Premier Division title in front of a 5,000-strong crowd at the Showgrounds yesterday.
Rafael Cretaro, born and bred in Tubbercurry, scored a quick-fire double in the first half before second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic made a comeback to pull level. However, former Saints striker Mark Quigley stepped up to dispatch a late penalty and secure Sligo’s third ever title.
Manager Ian Baraclough, who has enjoyed the success in his debut season in Irish football, told journalists afterwards:
‘When it’s been backs to the wall, we’ve really dug in and seen it through. To have lost one record is a great record and I’d like to keep that intact if we can.
35 years is too long for a town like this to be waiting for a league title and I’m just so please to be able to deliver it for them.”
Watch the key moments from yesterday’s game below:
YouTube credit: John Rainey
