Mark Fitzpatrick, a nineteen-year-old striker, grabbed all the glory at Sligo Showgrounds on Saturday night when he grabbed a stunning late winner for Bluebell United against Sligo Rovers.
An uneventful contest looked like ending in stalemate until Fitzpatrick struck for the decisive goal 12 minutes from time. Winger Brendan Wynne carved out the opening with a pinpoint cross from the left and Fitzpatrick reacted smartly to blast the ball home from 12 yards.
Up to that point, Sligo had dominated but lacked sufficient penetration to trouble a Bluebell defence in which central defender, Liam Reilly, was a commanding figure.
Bluebell attacked with greater authority after the break and Fitzpatrick gave a warning of things to come when he headed wide from close range after 70 minutes.
Indeed, after he scored the game's only goal, the youngster might well have got on the scoresheet again but missed the target from a good position five minutes from time.
It was only in the closing frantic minutes that Sligo applied any pressure. However, the nearest they came to salvaging an equaliser was when an effort from Wesley Charles was blocked in a goalmouth scramble deep into injury time.
SLIGO ROVERS: Broujos, Rossiter, Lynch, Birks, Gray, Charles, Khalifi, Bonnar, Shannon, O'Grady, Moran. Subs: Davey for Rossiter (58 mins), Kennedy for Khalifi (61 mins), Gilroy for Gray (71 mins).
BLUEBELL UNITED: Clohessy, Swift, Curran, Geoghegan, Reilly, O'Brien, Fitzpatrick, Duff, Dunning, Behan, Wynne. Subs: Flood for Dunning (74 mins), Gill for Behan (80 mins).
Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).
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