Sporting Fingal win FAI Cup
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The loudspeaker at Tallaght Stadium told all patrons to remain in the stands for the presentation of the FAI Ford Cup and ushered the stewards to take their positions. Ten minutes remained and it was Sligo Rovers who led one-nil. Fate can have cruel intentions and it would have seemed to the cynic that the announcer was tempting it.
What was to follow was to prove a bitter blow for Rovers who were attempting to put a gloss on their season, already having escaped relegation after a dog fight for much of the season’s end. Sporting Fingal’s year has reaped all the prizes available and their positive style of play has merited just reward.
The finalists’ promised a showcase at Tallaght as both sides have played some of the league’s most attractive football to date this year.
The storm that has descended on the country didn’t let up here and both Sporting and Sligo started out cagily as the ball was held up in the wind on several occasions and both side’s footing was tested early on.
After eight minutes Conan Byrne got the first chance of note but his long range effort lacked real bite and Ciaran Kelly scooped up the attempt with ease.
Byrne has been stealing a march through all defences this season and after 20 he found himself in space again after Eamon Zayed had thrown him the bait. The shot off his left lacked menace but it was Fingal who were putting out the early warning signs after Sligo had failed to grasp any real initiative in the opening period.
Two minutes later they did conjure up their first real chance after a fine move. Eoin Doyle sent Joe Kendrick on his way down the left flank. The cross was pin-point for Matthew Blinkhorn and the resultant header flashed just wide of Darren Quigley’s right post.
Fingal did get the best sniff at goal in the opening half when Conan Byrne again came close. His free-kick careered off the upright after Robert Bayly was somewhat dubiously brought down on the edge of the box by Kendrick. Sligo came forward just before the break and Raphael Cretaro found himself with seemingly only the keeper to beat from close range but Lorcan Fitzgerald slid in with a late block to deny the ’Tubercurry Tornado’.
The traditionalists in this final with Cup wins in 1983 and 1994 ; Sligo Rovers fans had travelled en masse from the north west hoping to make it another of those rare nights’ of glory by the Garavogue. Paul Cook may well have tore strips from the players at half-time because they came out for the second period looking a rejuvenated side. Two minutes in and Eoin Doyle found Cretaro who turned on the ball and struck, only to see the effort claimed well by Quigley. A minute later Cretaro was again in the right place as he found Brian Cash off his chest. Cash’s shot however lacked the fitting reply to Cretaro’s invention.
Never afraid to add to the three man front line, Lorcan Fitzgerald surged forward from left-back for Fingal after 49. With a goal bound effort looking a certainty Gavin Peers rode in with a last ditch challenge to foil the former West Ham defender.
Box to box football was taking centre stage almost in spite of the terrible conditions and shortly after Sligo found themselves bearing down on Quigley’s goal once again. Cretaro’s shot was saved by the on- loan Derry keeper and as the ball fell to Doyle, needing only the slightest of touches to open the scoring, he slipped and the chance was gone, to the frustration of Cook on the line.
The Liverpudlian boss hadn’t to wait long and in the 57th the ‘bit o’red’ finally broke through. Good exchange play by Romauld Boco and lively substitute Owen Morrison on the right saw Boco find space for the cross. Finding Cretaro on the penalty spot his shot was blocked, eventually finding its way to Doyle. He finished from close range sending the Sligo faithful and all on the bench into hysterics.
Cretaro had a chance to increase the lead after 65 but failed to meet the header Boco had put on a plate for him.
That was to be the last of the action for the Tubercurry man after he came off with what looked initially like a shoulder injury.
With six minutes left on the clock and Sligo ready to celebrate their third Cup win Fingal had other ideas. Shaun Williams played a long ball up field that had Alan Keane scrambling and his defensive header was wayward sending Eamon Zayed in on goal. Kelly upended the advancing striker and Colm James buried the resultant penalty.
All square and it looked a sure bet the tie was heading for extra-time until two minutes into stoppage time when Robert Bayly picked out Gary O’Neill. The header was sublime leaving Kelly in goal with no chance.
It hardly seemed fair but we’ve become used of such things in football this past week and Fingal march into Europe after a fine finale to the 2009 season.
Sporting Fingal: Darren Quigley; Colm James, Shaun Maher, Stephen Paisley, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Robert Bayly, Shane McFaul, Shaun Williams; Conan Byrne, Gary O’Neill, Eamon Zayed
Booked: Bayly
Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly; Romauld Boco, Gavin Peers, Alan Keane, Joe Kendrick; Brian Cash (Owen Morrison 56‘), Danny Ventre©, Richie Ryan, Eoin Doyle; Rafaele Cretaro (Darren Meenan 70’), Matthew Blinkhorn
Booked: Kendrick, Cretaro
Referee: Alan Kelly
Attendance: 8,105
What was to follow was to prove a bitter blow for Rovers who were attempting to put a gloss on their season, already having escaped relegation after a dog fight for much of the season’s end. Sporting Fingal’s year has reaped all the prizes available and their positive style of play has merited just reward.
The finalists’ promised a showcase at Tallaght as both sides have played some of the league’s most attractive football to date this year.
The storm that has descended on the country didn’t let up here and both Sporting and Sligo started out cagily as the ball was held up in the wind on several occasions and both side’s footing was tested early on.
After eight minutes Conan Byrne got the first chance of note but his long range effort lacked real bite and Ciaran Kelly scooped up the attempt with ease.
Byrne has been stealing a march through all defences this season and after 20 he found himself in space again after Eamon Zayed had thrown him the bait. The shot off his left lacked menace but it was Fingal who were putting out the early warning signs after Sligo had failed to grasp any real initiative in the opening period.
Two minutes later they did conjure up their first real chance after a fine move. Eoin Doyle sent Joe Kendrick on his way down the left flank. The cross was pin-point for Matthew Blinkhorn and the resultant header flashed just wide of Darren Quigley’s right post.
Fingal did get the best sniff at goal in the opening half when Conan Byrne again came close. His free-kick careered off the upright after Robert Bayly was somewhat dubiously brought down on the edge of the box by Kendrick. Sligo came forward just before the break and Raphael Cretaro found himself with seemingly only the keeper to beat from close range but Lorcan Fitzgerald slid in with a late block to deny the ’Tubercurry Tornado’.
The traditionalists in this final with Cup wins in 1983 and 1994 ; Sligo Rovers fans had travelled en masse from the north west hoping to make it another of those rare nights’ of glory by the Garavogue. Paul Cook may well have tore strips from the players at half-time because they came out for the second period looking a rejuvenated side. Two minutes in and Eoin Doyle found Cretaro who turned on the ball and struck, only to see the effort claimed well by Quigley. A minute later Cretaro was again in the right place as he found Brian Cash off his chest. Cash’s shot however lacked the fitting reply to Cretaro’s invention.
Never afraid to add to the three man front line, Lorcan Fitzgerald surged forward from left-back for Fingal after 49. With a goal bound effort looking a certainty Gavin Peers rode in with a last ditch challenge to foil the former West Ham defender.
Box to box football was taking centre stage almost in spite of the terrible conditions and shortly after Sligo found themselves bearing down on Quigley’s goal once again. Cretaro’s shot was saved by the on- loan Derry keeper and as the ball fell to Doyle, needing only the slightest of touches to open the scoring, he slipped and the chance was gone, to the frustration of Cook on the line.
The Liverpudlian boss hadn’t to wait long and in the 57th the ‘bit o’red’ finally broke through. Good exchange play by Romauld Boco and lively substitute Owen Morrison on the right saw Boco find space for the cross. Finding Cretaro on the penalty spot his shot was blocked, eventually finding its way to Doyle. He finished from close range sending the Sligo faithful and all on the bench into hysterics.
Cretaro had a chance to increase the lead after 65 but failed to meet the header Boco had put on a plate for him.
That was to be the last of the action for the Tubercurry man after he came off with what looked initially like a shoulder injury.
With six minutes left on the clock and Sligo ready to celebrate their third Cup win Fingal had other ideas. Shaun Williams played a long ball up field that had Alan Keane scrambling and his defensive header was wayward sending Eamon Zayed in on goal. Kelly upended the advancing striker and Colm James buried the resultant penalty.
All square and it looked a sure bet the tie was heading for extra-time until two minutes into stoppage time when Robert Bayly picked out Gary O’Neill. The header was sublime leaving Kelly in goal with no chance.
It hardly seemed fair but we’ve become used of such things in football this past week and Fingal march into Europe after a fine finale to the 2009 season.
Sporting Fingal: Darren Quigley; Colm James, Shaun Maher, Stephen Paisley, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Robert Bayly, Shane McFaul, Shaun Williams; Conan Byrne, Gary O’Neill, Eamon Zayed
Booked: Bayly
Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly; Romauld Boco, Gavin Peers, Alan Keane, Joe Kendrick; Brian Cash (Owen Morrison 56‘), Danny Ventre©, Richie Ryan, Eoin Doyle; Rafaele Cretaro (Darren Meenan 70’), Matthew Blinkhorn
Booked: Kendrick, Cretaro
Referee: Alan Kelly
Attendance: 8,105
