Sporting Fingal 1 - 1 Limerick FC
Credit:
Sporting Fingal were held after Limerick put in a battling performance at Morton Stadium in an entertaining one all draw. Fingal looked certain to make it seven wins in a row when Gareth Whelan headed them into the lead late in the second half but two minutes later the Blues drew level thanks to Martin Deady’s expertly taken free kick.
The game started at a frantic pace and Fingal almost scored after two minutes when Colm James latched onto Eoin O’Brien’s weak clearance and unleashed a ferocious shot that Dave Ryan did well to turn over his crossbar. The home side were getting a lot of early joy in down the left side with Frost overlapping frequently and linking up well with Ross Gaynor. One of the full back’s early crosses almost caught the Limerick keeper out at the near post but Ryan showed quick reactions to prevent any potential embarrassment.
Limerick’s first effort of the match came after nine minutes when Shane Treacy’s free kick found the side netting. This coincided with a good period of pressure from the away side as they forced three corners in succession but they ultimately came to nothing. Liam Buckley’s men came back into the game and almost took the lead following good link up by Conan Byrne and Gannon down the right but the full back cross was unable to find anyone in the box
Fingal top scorer Eamon Zayed had his first sight of goal when he skipped past the two Limerick centre halves just past the halfway line. As the striker was bearing in on goal, Purcell got back to put in a vital last ditch challenge before he could get his shot away. Fingal had the majority of the early possession but Limerick were hard to breakdown as their five man midfield worked tirelessly and didn’t leave a lot of space for the home side to play in.
Shane Treacy was the first player in the referee’s notebook for a poor challenge on Alan Kirby in the 21st minute. Fingal’s best chance came five minutes later when Gaynor’s cross found its way to Conan Byrne. He connected with his volley well but either side of the keeper and it was in.
Limerick almost took the lead against the run of play just after the half hour mark. Deady played a fantastic raking pass that found Walsh in space on the right hand side. He crossed for Cummins but the striker, under pressure from Philip Byrne, shot straight into Quigley’s arms. The keeper was tested again moments later when he made a good save from Tommy Barrett’s 30 yard strike.Pat Scully was forced into a change on the stroke of half bringing on Brendan Daly for O’Brien.
After an entertaining first half, with plenty of chances both sides, the second half lacked much in the way of goal scoring opportunities and as we entered the final ten minutes it seemed like a nil-nil was looming large.
Fingal continued to press and they deservedly took the lead in the 79th minute. Conan Byrne’s swung in a corner from the left which caused panic in the Limerick defence. After some aerial pinball in the box the ball found its way to substitute Gareth Whelan who rose highest to plant his looping header over the reach of Dave Ryan.
There is a cliché in football that says your at your weakest just after you score. Two minutes later Limerick proved this to be right. Pat Scully’s men regrouped quickly and after Fingal failed to clear a speculative long ball they were guilty of giving away a sloppy free kick on the edge of their box. Left back Martin Deady , who was impressive all night, stepped up and planted his brilliant curling free kick around the wall and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Liam Buckley felt that his side should have taken the three points “Their keeper made three or four really good saves. We had 90% of the possession but in the final third we could have been a bit sharper and as for the goal it was a sloppy one that we gave away”.
Sporting Fingal: Quigley, Gannon, Frost, Williams, P. Byrne, Paisley (Whelan), James (McArdle) , Zayed, Kirby, Gaynor. Subs Not Used: McKay, Boyd, Hussey
Limerick: Ryan, O’Brien (Daly), Deady, Danaher, Purcell, Barrett, Walsh, Hughes, Cummins (Tierney) , Treacy (Colbert), Scanlon. Subs Not Used: Ryan, Lyons
Referee: P Caschera.
The game started at a frantic pace and Fingal almost scored after two minutes when Colm James latched onto Eoin O’Brien’s weak clearance and unleashed a ferocious shot that Dave Ryan did well to turn over his crossbar. The home side were getting a lot of early joy in down the left side with Frost overlapping frequently and linking up well with Ross Gaynor. One of the full back’s early crosses almost caught the Limerick keeper out at the near post but Ryan showed quick reactions to prevent any potential embarrassment.
Limerick’s first effort of the match came after nine minutes when Shane Treacy’s free kick found the side netting. This coincided with a good period of pressure from the away side as they forced three corners in succession but they ultimately came to nothing. Liam Buckley’s men came back into the game and almost took the lead following good link up by Conan Byrne and Gannon down the right but the full back cross was unable to find anyone in the box
Fingal top scorer Eamon Zayed had his first sight of goal when he skipped past the two Limerick centre halves just past the halfway line. As the striker was bearing in on goal, Purcell got back to put in a vital last ditch challenge before he could get his shot away. Fingal had the majority of the early possession but Limerick were hard to breakdown as their five man midfield worked tirelessly and didn’t leave a lot of space for the home side to play in.
Shane Treacy was the first player in the referee’s notebook for a poor challenge on Alan Kirby in the 21st minute. Fingal’s best chance came five minutes later when Gaynor’s cross found its way to Conan Byrne. He connected with his volley well but either side of the keeper and it was in.
Limerick almost took the lead against the run of play just after the half hour mark. Deady played a fantastic raking pass that found Walsh in space on the right hand side. He crossed for Cummins but the striker, under pressure from Philip Byrne, shot straight into Quigley’s arms. The keeper was tested again moments later when he made a good save from Tommy Barrett’s 30 yard strike.Pat Scully was forced into a change on the stroke of half bringing on Brendan Daly for O’Brien.
After an entertaining first half, with plenty of chances both sides, the second half lacked much in the way of goal scoring opportunities and as we entered the final ten minutes it seemed like a nil-nil was looming large.
Fingal continued to press and they deservedly took the lead in the 79th minute. Conan Byrne’s swung in a corner from the left which caused panic in the Limerick defence. After some aerial pinball in the box the ball found its way to substitute Gareth Whelan who rose highest to plant his looping header over the reach of Dave Ryan.
There is a cliché in football that says your at your weakest just after you score. Two minutes later Limerick proved this to be right. Pat Scully’s men regrouped quickly and after Fingal failed to clear a speculative long ball they were guilty of giving away a sloppy free kick on the edge of their box. Left back Martin Deady , who was impressive all night, stepped up and planted his brilliant curling free kick around the wall and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Liam Buckley felt that his side should have taken the three points “Their keeper made three or four really good saves. We had 90% of the possession but in the final third we could have been a bit sharper and as for the goal it was a sloppy one that we gave away”.
Sporting Fingal: Quigley, Gannon, Frost, Williams, P. Byrne, Paisley (Whelan), James (McArdle) , Zayed, Kirby, Gaynor. Subs Not Used: McKay, Boyd, Hussey
Limerick: Ryan, O’Brien (Daly), Deady, Danaher, Purcell, Barrett, Walsh, Hughes, Cummins (Tierney) , Treacy (Colbert), Scanlon. Subs Not Used: Ryan, Lyons
Referee: P Caschera.
