Ger O'Brien's Euro Insight Part II
Credit:
Fingal defender Ger O’Brien gives a unique insight into the team’s performance after Thursday night’s Europa League tie against CS Marítimo (courtesy of Sportingfingal.ie and John Fallon)
Win a Sporting Fingal jersey and two tickets to their game against Maritimo in Dalymount
Yes, we’ve lost a game but we’re only midway through this Europa League tie against CS Marítimo and they have to visit Dalymount next Thursday for the return leg.
While the primary emotion amongst the squad in the aftermath of the game was one of disappointment, particularly at conceding the winner with the last kick of stoppage time, we all realise that the chance is there for us now to go on and finish the job.
Rare it is that League of Ireland teams manage to score twice in the away leg of European competition and the fact is we created enough chances to have netted more than just the goals by Glen Crowe and Lorcan Fitzgerald.
The way I see it is that even if we had played out a scoreless draw or even a 2-2 draw, the likelihood was that we’d have to score in Dublin anyway. Now, we have to ensure none are conceded.
1-0 or 2-1 would see us advance and we’ve got goals in our side. We’ve scored in all but four of our 20 league games so far and there’s enough creativity within our team to make goalscoring opportunities.
Liam shared our disappointment in the dressing-room afterwards, commenting on how well we retained possession during the first half only to lose it a bit after the break.
He, like I, was always of the belief that the destiny of this tie would hinge of us beating the Portuguese side at home. That scenario is clear-cut now and we’ve seen the strengths and weaknesses of Marítimo up close.
I’d hardly trained in the run-up to the match due to a groin problem but took a full part in last workout at the match stadium, Estadio da Madeira, the night before the game.
We trained with the Adidas Jubulani match ball for the first time that night and I can now understand why it created so much controversy at the recent World Cup.
Judging the flight of the ball is most difficult as it appears to zip away just as you think it's going to land at your feet, chest or head.
All the lads were a bit concerned about the influence it would have on the match, especially as we’d heard Marítimo had gotten familiar with it in their three pre-season matches.
It was an unexpected challenge but we knew it meant being more cautious in giving quick passes as well as attempting to control the ball in dangerous areas.
The main task entrusted in me by Liam and his staff for the match was to keep an eye on their left-winger.
His name is Djalma, an Angolan international, whose been linked with a €5 million move to Sporting Lisbon.
We were made aware that he’d been suffering with an ankle injury since last week but he started the game.
His impact in the match was minimal and I’d have to say I was happy with the job I did on him. Apart from a long-range shot in the first half that went over the crossbar, he was kept quiet and ended up being substituted with 20 minutes left. Perhaps he’ll be fitter next week or maybe his injury could be worse. We’ll just have to see.
Our first half display was impressive as we looked very comfortable in possession while at the same time not giving them much space to threaten.
Ronan Finn in midfield was causing them major problems with his trickery and pace and together with Shaun Williams and Shane McFaul, they dominated the central area.
Shaunie went close with a glancing header and Ronan burst through one-on-one with the ’keeper but the defender raced back and forced him into a shot straight at Pecanha.
Crowie’s headed goal was such a relief because it would have been annoying to go in at the break without making that pressure count.
If Marítimo had underestimated us, which I felt was the case, they soon realised they were in for a battle. The crowd, too, might have been surprised at how the game was panning out and they let their team know their feelings by booing them off at half-time.
They made two substitutions at the break, clearly in a bid to get the ball wide and give their strikers some quality service.
We still enjoyed plenty of the ball early in that second half when few chances occurred at either end but the difference was our passing lacked the same precision of the opening 45 minutes.
They had a few pots at goal from distance that Clarkie dealt with but we suffered a blow when Colin Hawkins, who had been outstanding at centre-back, sustained a couple of broken ribs in an accidental collision with his own ‘keeper.
In fairness, he played on for a while but had to come ashore with 20 minutes left.
His loss was huge and the home side scored twice in the space of seven minutes to turn the game on it’s head.
I wasn’t the only one at the stage to be leg-weary. Although the weather wasn’t too humid, the altitude factor was hitting us hard and it allowed them to press forward in numbers.
Out of nowhere, though, Lorcan popped up at the other end to continue the goal spree with our second to make it 2-2 but the sucker punch came in the fifth minute of stoppage time with their winner. I’m puzzled to know why the referee played six minutes of added time when the fourth official had indicated just four on his board.
It was dejection on the pitch at the final whistle as we slumped to the ground, exhausted and pride dented. The only consolation is there’s at least another 90 minutes to play in the tie.
We all returned to our hotel, except Colin, as he was brought to hospital for an x-ray. He re-joined up later when he revealed the extent of the injury and he’s out for a few weeks.
After some dinner, we relaxed for a while. We’re staying on in Madeira until Sunday, so Friday’s training session was light with only the lads in the 20-man squad that didn’t play taking a full involvement.
We’ll continue to prepare for Monday’s Airtricity League game at home to Drogheda United by training on Saturday before returning home the following day.
Another busy week awaits us and let’s hope it finishes on a high next Thursday at Dalymount.
*In Friday's UEFA Europa League draw for the third qualifying round, the winner of the Sporting Fingal versus CS Maritimo tie were paired with Finland's Honka Espoo or Welsh club Bangor City.
Win a Sporting Fingal jersey and two tickets to their game against Maritimo in Dalymount
Yes, we’ve lost a game but we’re only midway through this Europa League tie against CS Marítimo and they have to visit Dalymount next Thursday for the return leg.
While the primary emotion amongst the squad in the aftermath of the game was one of disappointment, particularly at conceding the winner with the last kick of stoppage time, we all realise that the chance is there for us now to go on and finish the job.
Rare it is that League of Ireland teams manage to score twice in the away leg of European competition and the fact is we created enough chances to have netted more than just the goals by Glen Crowe and Lorcan Fitzgerald.
The way I see it is that even if we had played out a scoreless draw or even a 2-2 draw, the likelihood was that we’d have to score in Dublin anyway. Now, we have to ensure none are conceded.
1-0 or 2-1 would see us advance and we’ve got goals in our side. We’ve scored in all but four of our 20 league games so far and there’s enough creativity within our team to make goalscoring opportunities.
Liam shared our disappointment in the dressing-room afterwards, commenting on how well we retained possession during the first half only to lose it a bit after the break.
He, like I, was always of the belief that the destiny of this tie would hinge of us beating the Portuguese side at home. That scenario is clear-cut now and we’ve seen the strengths and weaknesses of Marítimo up close.
I’d hardly trained in the run-up to the match due to a groin problem but took a full part in last workout at the match stadium, Estadio da Madeira, the night before the game.
We trained with the Adidas Jubulani match ball for the first time that night and I can now understand why it created so much controversy at the recent World Cup.
Judging the flight of the ball is most difficult as it appears to zip away just as you think it's going to land at your feet, chest or head.
All the lads were a bit concerned about the influence it would have on the match, especially as we’d heard Marítimo had gotten familiar with it in their three pre-season matches.
It was an unexpected challenge but we knew it meant being more cautious in giving quick passes as well as attempting to control the ball in dangerous areas.
The main task entrusted in me by Liam and his staff for the match was to keep an eye on their left-winger.
His name is Djalma, an Angolan international, whose been linked with a €5 million move to Sporting Lisbon.
We were made aware that he’d been suffering with an ankle injury since last week but he started the game.
His impact in the match was minimal and I’d have to say I was happy with the job I did on him. Apart from a long-range shot in the first half that went over the crossbar, he was kept quiet and ended up being substituted with 20 minutes left. Perhaps he’ll be fitter next week or maybe his injury could be worse. We’ll just have to see.
Our first half display was impressive as we looked very comfortable in possession while at the same time not giving them much space to threaten.
Ronan Finn in midfield was causing them major problems with his trickery and pace and together with Shaun Williams and Shane McFaul, they dominated the central area.
Shaunie went close with a glancing header and Ronan burst through one-on-one with the ’keeper but the defender raced back and forced him into a shot straight at Pecanha.
Crowie’s headed goal was such a relief because it would have been annoying to go in at the break without making that pressure count.
If Marítimo had underestimated us, which I felt was the case, they soon realised they were in for a battle. The crowd, too, might have been surprised at how the game was panning out and they let their team know their feelings by booing them off at half-time.
They made two substitutions at the break, clearly in a bid to get the ball wide and give their strikers some quality service.
We still enjoyed plenty of the ball early in that second half when few chances occurred at either end but the difference was our passing lacked the same precision of the opening 45 minutes.
They had a few pots at goal from distance that Clarkie dealt with but we suffered a blow when Colin Hawkins, who had been outstanding at centre-back, sustained a couple of broken ribs in an accidental collision with his own ‘keeper.
In fairness, he played on for a while but had to come ashore with 20 minutes left.
His loss was huge and the home side scored twice in the space of seven minutes to turn the game on it’s head.
I wasn’t the only one at the stage to be leg-weary. Although the weather wasn’t too humid, the altitude factor was hitting us hard and it allowed them to press forward in numbers.
Out of nowhere, though, Lorcan popped up at the other end to continue the goal spree with our second to make it 2-2 but the sucker punch came in the fifth minute of stoppage time with their winner. I’m puzzled to know why the referee played six minutes of added time when the fourth official had indicated just four on his board.
It was dejection on the pitch at the final whistle as we slumped to the ground, exhausted and pride dented. The only consolation is there’s at least another 90 minutes to play in the tie.
We all returned to our hotel, except Colin, as he was brought to hospital for an x-ray. He re-joined up later when he revealed the extent of the injury and he’s out for a few weeks.
After some dinner, we relaxed for a while. We’re staying on in Madeira until Sunday, so Friday’s training session was light with only the lads in the 20-man squad that didn’t play taking a full involvement.
We’ll continue to prepare for Monday’s Airtricity League game at home to Drogheda United by training on Saturday before returning home the following day.
Another busy week awaits us and let’s hope it finishes on a high next Thursday at Dalymount.
*In Friday's UEFA Europa League draw for the third qualifying round, the winner of the Sporting Fingal versus CS Maritimo tie were paired with Finland's Honka Espoo or Welsh club Bangor City.
