Only a couple of months back Sporting Fingal overcame Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup quarter final at Tallaght Stadium in what was largely the shock of the season. That they should return on Sunday to claim the Cup itself barely two years into their existence is a measure of the strides being taken by the Northsiders. One of the founders at the start up club was Liam Buckley and the vision at the outset was to slowly get a club prospering in the Fingal community under a specific and tightly monitored business plan. After only finding their feet in domestic football Sporting are sprinting as quick as they’ve put one foot in front of the other.

“Promotion was our main gig, we just had to get promoted, sorry not had to but that was our main objective. It was try to get out [of the First Division] because where we are with our soccer development plan in Fingal; it was important to have the club in the Premier division, so we're delighted we've achieved that this year.” stated Buckley after Sunday’s Cup success.

Having hardly registered with the sporting public at large the Fingal outfit have, up until Sunday at least, flown under the radar of Irish soccer. That they are now firmly on the map in this country is somewhat of an understatement as their Cup Final heroics has opened the gates to Europe next year.

“That's a real bonus, we'll regroup again for next season and in a couple of months time but certainly looking back on this season we're delighted. To get promotion was our main target and to have a cup now on top of that and Europe as well next year is just fantastic.” said Buckley.

It wasn’t all plain sailing on Sunday and for the Fingal boss there was still plenty of work remaining, right up to the final minutes of the season. “With ten minutes to go we were changing from four-four-two to four-three-five-two (sic), whatever, we've bagged a goal, we sit tight.

We‘ve been a bit fortunate. In fairness Sligo played well, they've had a few chances themselves but listen we'll take it.”

As Buckley took in the atmosphere in the Stadium while soaking up a famous victory he acknowledged the Sligo faithful who had made the journey from the northwest.

“They've a great fan base Sligo, I feel for them , I'm sure with 80 minutes gone they think they're home and dry but within ten minutes it's been completely reversed. I've been there, on a losing side, but listen there can only be one winner and we've been fortunate enough today.”