Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook was understandably downbeat after watching his team lose in Sunday's FAI Ford Cup final to Sporting Fingal.

 

The Bit O'Red took the lead through Eoin Doyle, but goals from Colm James and Gary O'Neill swung the game back in favour of the opposition, who held on to win the cup for the very first time.

 

'I'm really sickened for the players and the fans who were magnificent today,' said Cook.

 

'Nobody remembers the losers in cup finals so we will go away and lick our wounds.

 

'With eight minutes left we were in a great position but they got that lucky break with the penalty.'

 

The turning point, according to Cook, came when striker Raffaele Cretaro had to go off injured early in the second-half.

 

With their top scorer off the pitch, Sligo then conceded a penalty and were unable to stop O'Neill from smashing in a header in injury time.

 

'Losing Raffale Cretaro was a massive blow. When we are without players of his quality it hits us hard,' he said.

 

'When Raf was forced off we lost one of our key players.

 

'Good luck to Sporting Fingal. They are in Europe next season and they have had a brilliant day.

 

'We will regroup next season and do our best to challenge for trophies.'