Report: Sporting Fingal 3 - 1 Waterford United

Goals from Paul Caffrey, Peter Hynes and Robbie Doyle eased Sporting Fingal to a win against Waterford United at Morton Stadium tonight. Willie John Kiely’s strike was not enough for the visitors as they lost Steven Quigley to a straight red card late in the game and now sit just two goals ahead of the Dublin side in the league.

In a game of very few incidents, the referee managed to give seven yellow cards and one straight red. Add to that the four goals, one from a penalty, and a blatant second penalty not given, and many supporters will be forgiven in thinking that the headlines will hide the reality.

Waterford came to Santry on the back of as a good a run as the hosts but never got out of first gear. The majority of the first half was played in the visitors half as Robbie Doyle again spent ninety or so minutes harassing the defenders and ‘keeper whenever in possession.

The opener, on seventeen minutes came from a move started by the energetic striker. Quick footwork released Conan Byrne down the right who had time and space to place his cross. The crowd gasped as it went just behind Peter Hynes, only to see Paul Caffrey rush onto it on the edge of the area to side foot past Ben Spicer.

Hynes tested the keeper from twenty five yards on the half hour mark however the shot was straight at the keeper as Fingal sauntered through a less then demanding fixture. Hynes was the scorer of the second goal eight minutes later though as after Doyle had robbed Quigley of the ball outside the box, he was dispossessed by Kenny Browne. Browne however was put under pressure immediately by Hynes who stole the ball, looked up and curled the ball into the far corner to double the lead.

What should have been an easy second half was complicated by Waterford’s goal just before the break. Michael Foley’s three corner’s had been well struck in the first half and it was his third which found Willie-John Kiely six yards out in a crowd of players to head in.

Liam Buckley was furious with his players however they went on to dominate the second half with more ease than the first. Doyle was again a menace to the defenders of Waterford and almost scored on fifty one minutes after winning a long ball from Steve Williams, however he shot just wide after using his power excellently to get past Kenny Browne.

The winner came in the seventy third minute when Robbie Clarke was adjudged to have brought down Hynes in the area. The referee was near the incident and showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, booking Quigley for dissent in the aftermath. Doyle stepped up to win the game with seventeen minutes to go however Quigley’s straight red two minutes later for a foul on Brian Gannon-which was no more than late-underlined the referee’s ineptness this evening.

Yellows were flashed for nothing throughout as the referee managed to ruin a boring game.

Sporting Fingal: Steve Williams; Derek Tyrell, Dave Rogers, Chris Deans, Brian Kelly; Conan Byrne, Paul Caffrey, Colm James, Brian Gannon (Fiachra McArdle 79); Peter Hynes (Dinny Corcoran 87), Robbie Doyle (David Bracken 89).
Subs not used: Joey O’Neill, Jim Crawford.

Waterford United: Ben Spicer; Stephen Quigley, David Breen, Kenny Browne, Robbie Clarke; Dave Warren (Luke Fitzpatrick 45), Paul McCarthy (John Hayes 40), Gary Dunphy, Michael Foley; Vinny Sullivan, Willi John Kiely.
Subs not used: Karl Bermingham, David Grincell, Kevin Waters.

Sent Off: Quigley (75)

Referee: Neil Doyle.
Attendance: .
Man of the Match: Robbie Doyle (Sporting Fingal) - Excellent energy all game. Well deserving of his goal.