Sporting Fingal 2 - 1 Limerick

• Gordon Hunt
• Tue, Oct 20 2009


Gary O’Neill and Eamon Zayed each netted fine goals for Sporting as a Pat Scully’s men were beaten at Morton Stadium. Stephen O’Flynn’s excellent display - capped with a second half penalty - gave Limerick hope, but Fingal held on for what could be an important victory.

Both sides started brightly, with O’Neill up front for the hosts and O’Flynn up front for Limerick, both impressing early on.

As early as the third minute, O’Neill turned his man and burst through the middle, only to blast his effort straight at Dave Ryan in goal.

On eighteen minutes Sporting again threatened. Gary O’Neill turned his marker, inside the area, but his powerful effort was palmed wide. From the resulting corner, Shaun Maher leapt highest but his header went narrowly wide.

A few minutes later and Limerick had a good chance. Daryl Kavanagh beat both John Frost and Eamon Zayed down the right before rolling it to Shane Treacy, but he couldn’t direct it on target.

Then came Limerick’s best chance. Robbie Kelleher capitalised on a mistake by Colm James before rifling a shot at goal which Darren Quigley palmed wide. Pat Purcell met the resulting corner but the woodwork denied his looping header.

Five minutes later and Limerick were behind. Shaun Maher’s through ball from inside his own half released Gary O’Neill who charged at goal and blasted it past Dave Ryan. Fingal lead at the break 1-0.

Five minutes after the restart Fingal doubled their lead. Alan Kirby and Conan Byrne combined with the latter’s effort palmed into Eamon Zayed’s path as he easily slotted it in.

Limerick almost responded immediately through the impressive Stephen O’Flynn, but his narrow effort hit the post from ten yards.

However, on seventy three minutes Limerick finally took their chance. Stephen McFaul hauled down John Tierney with little or no danger apparent from the Limerick man. O’Flynn stepped up and got the goal his performance deserved.

Athlone pushed on and left gaps for Liam Buckley’s side to take advantage of with Conan Byrne, Alan Kirby and Eamon Zayed in particular looking threatening, but the third goal didn’t come.

It didn’t matter though, as the win moved Sporting Fingal above Shelbourne in the league.

extratime.ie man of the match: Stephen O’Flynn

Sporting Fingal: Quigley, James, Frost, Williams, Maher, Paisley, Byrne, Zayed, O’Neill, Kirby, McFaul Subs: Whelan, Gannon, Foley, Doyle, Konopka

Limerick: Ryan, Boyle, Deedy, Roche, Purcell, Tier, Kavanagh, Colbert, O’Flynn, Kelleher, Treacy Subs: Sheehan, Hughes, Ryan, Tierney, Gilmartin