Sligo gets ready to go title crazy as trophy comes to town

SLIGO ROVERS are just one match away from securing their place among the elite of Irish soccer. A win or draw in Rovers' last home match of the season against bottom club Athlone Town on Saturday evening, will be enough to ensure that Sean Connor's men will be playing in the Premier Division next season.
The excitement around the town and county is heightening on a daily basis in the lead-up to Rovers' penultimate game of the season, for the last chance to see the champions-elect in action in their home town for this historic season.
Rovers' 4-0 hammering of Monaghan United on Friday night, coupled with Cobh Ramblers defeat to Dublin City on Saturday, leaves Rovers on the brink of promotion.
The Eircom League Division One trophy will be in The Showgrounds on Saturday night to be presented to Sligo Rovers captain Michael McNamara in front of an expected full house of home fans, if and when Rovers secure the title.
A result will secure Rovers' first trophy since their League Cup win seven years ago, and their first league success since the historic treble in 1994.
Even if Rovers were to lose to Athlone, they can still claim the trophy by default if Cobh Ramblers slip-up again away to Dundalk on the same night.
However, after a stunning season that has seen the side lose just four league games, Rovers will be in no mood to win anything by default.
Instead they will go out to sign off a historic season at The Showgrounds on a winning note.
Rovers success really should not come as such as surprise as the team has headed the First Division since August 20.
Nevertheless, six draws in Rovers' six games prior to the Monaghan trip left the worrying statistic of twelve points dropped at a crucial stage of the season, and
Rovers, however, managed to hold both their nearest challengers, Cobh Ramblers and Dublin City, to draws in this period in front of packed houses in The Showgrounds and despite their lean spell they never succumbed to defeat.
In fact the Bit O' Red have not been beaten in the league since a 2-0 reversal to Dundalk back in the first week of August.
So good is Rovers goal difference that even if they were to lose their last two games, Cobh Ramblers would have to win by considerable margins just to pull level with the leaders.
The club have opted to open the supporters shop in The Showgrounds every evening this week as the demand for jerseys, flags, scarves and headbands increases in the lead-up to Saturday's match, with Rovers officials expecting the ground to fill up early as a 'sea of red and white' descents on the Maugheraboy venue.

Yesterday, Monday, the First Division Cup was busy getting a polish at Bailhams Jewellers in Temple Bar in Dublin, as the very first red and white ribbons were attached to the handles.

http://www.sligoweekender.ie/news/story.asp?j=25435