Sporting Fingal 3 - 1 Waterford United

Three goals in a crucial ten-minute spell, just before the break, helped Sporting Fingal to a massive victory over promotion rivals Waterford United tonight. Collie James’ 34th minute penalty was added to immediately by Paul Byrne, before Fiachra McArdle notched the third bang on half time.

A very well organised - and for the most part far superior – Waterford side struck back through Dave Warren’s great header just after the break. However Willie John Kiely’s missed penalty with ten minutes to go was just one of numerous chances spurned by the visitors in a remarkably entertaining match at Morton Stadium.

The game started at a very high tempo, with Sporting showing everyone that they can in fact perform without talisman Robbie Doyle. It was Waterford, though, who had the first chance when Kevin Waters shot just over from twenty yards. Daniel Corcoran replied moments later with a deflected shot wide for the hosts.

Waterford then began to destroy Sporting. From the tenth minute until the opening goal in the 34th minute, United were class. Waters was playing very well, and indeed should have given his side the lead when Karl Bermingham put an inch perfect cross on his head, however Brendan Clarke tipped it over. Waters then turned provider for Bermingham, however Barry Ferguson, not for the last time, did enough to put off the visitor.

However after further chances for the impressive yet profligate Waterford duo were missed, Sporting pounced. Paul Byrne was dragged down in the area by Kenny Browne and after the referee first awarded a free, he then heeded advice from his assistant ant awarded a penalty which Collie James happily slotted away.

Before the texts had been sent to the extratime.ie studios to update the score, Sporting were at it again. Conan Byrne’s long ball was well controlled by Paul Byrne, who caught the ball with his first touch and finished it from sixteen yards with his second. Bam.

Waterford were understandably shocked and conceded a third before the break when Conan Byrne’s cross-field pass found Fiachra McArdle. He breezed past Kieran Fitzgerald and squeezed a great shot in from a tight angle. Halftime 3-0.

Waterford’s Paul McCarthy came on for the restart and for ten minutes he destroyed the hosts. Brian Gannon and John Frost were having stinkers at full back and McCarthy, along with whoever fancied a bit of space, held residency wide and deep in Sporting’s half. Dave Warren headed McCarthy’s 47th minute cross as Waterford started to turn the screw on the poor yet three goals up hosts.

McCarthy supplied an identical cross for Bermingham on the hour mark however his header was tipped over the bar. Ten minutes later and Waterford should have won a penalty when Barry Ferguson held Bermingham down in the box while a great cross whizzed over his head. The ref got that wrong, however Ferguson was brilliant on the night and we can excuse him that one.

More and more chances came from more and more un challenged crosses as time began to run out for Waterford. Then Brian Gannon creamed Vinnie Sullivan in the area and gave away what really could have been a season defining penalty; however Willie John Kiely missed, miserably, and the chance got away.

Sporting held on to keep the fight for promotion ridiculously hard to call.

Sporting Fingal: Brendan Clarke; Brian Gannon, Philip Byrne, Barry Ferguson, John Frost; Conan Byrne, Colm James, Paul Caffrey (Jim Crawford 81), Fiachra McArdle (Brian Kelly 89); Dinny Corcoran (Peter Hynes 90), Paul Byrne
Subs not used: Steve Williams, Chris Deans

Waterford United: Packie Holden; Kieran Fitzgerald (Paul McCarthy 46), John Hayes (Joe Mulcahy 81), Kenny Browne, Robbie Clarke; Dave Warren, Gary Dunphy (Willie John Kiely 63), Luke Fitzgerald, Kevin Waters; Vinny Sullivan, Karl Bermingham.
Subs not used: David Breen.

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald.

Man of the match: Barry Ferguson (Sporting Fingal).