Cretaro honoured with award

SLIGO ROVERS striker Raffaele Cretaro has been named the Soccer Writers’ Association Player Of The Month for June after his goals proved crucial in eliminating Cork City in the FAI Cup.

The Tubbercurry native of Italian parentage has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season with four of them coming during a productive spell last month.

Unfortunately, Cretaro was unable to help his side avoid falling to a 2-1 defeat to FK Vllaznia in the Europa League at the Showgrounds on Thursday but he will be hoping for better when Sligo host Drogheda United in the league tomorrow (7.45pm).

Said the 27-year-old: “It was a good month with me scoring all the goals I suppose. I would have gladly given that all up to win on Thursday but what can you do. There are some exciting games coming up and we can push on up the table and maybe bring some silverware back to the club.” However, Drogheda United, currently two points adrift of Sligo at the foot of the table, will be hoping to inflict more pain on the Bit O’ Red tomorrow.

Said manager Alan Mathews: “Everyone apart from (long-term injuries) Steve Williams and Robbie Farrell has returned with a clean bill of health after the break. We need to pick up where we left off and that’s what we will be looking to do on Sunday. There is a long way to go and we aren’t anywhere near safety just yet.”

Meanwhile, today’s Premier Division action is a Dublin derby between St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park (8pm).

For the Hoops, Stephen Rice is out with a one-match suspension and there are doubts about Darragh Maguire (knee) and goalkeeper Robert Duggan (thigh) but boss Michael O’ Neill has reasons to feel confident about the journey across the city.

“It’s a tough one but we have the benefit of having gone there already this season when we beat them in the EA Sports Cup,” he points out.

For Pats, striker and skipper Mark Quigley misses out with broken jaw he sustained against Drogheda, joining Damien Lynch, Darragh Ryan, Gary Dempsey and Mark Leech on the sidelines. Alan Cawley and Gints Freiman return.