Sligo Rovers 4 - 3 Sporting Fingal

• David Goulden
• Sat, Sep 11 2010


Despite being four goals ahead with just 12 minutes to go, Sligo Rovers made hard work of a 4-3 win over Sporting Fingal at The Showgrounds on Friday night. A thrilling game which included 20 corners and seven goals saw Rovers leapfrog their opponents into fourth place in the Airtricity League Premier Division.

Goals from Gavin Peers, Eoin Doyle and a brace from Romuald Boco cancelled out Fingal's late comeback through late strikes from Gary O'Neill, Kenny Browne and Shaun Williams.

It could have been so different for Liam Buckley and his team if O'Neill had taken the opening chance of the game as he was played through by Conan Byrne, but the former St. Pat's man failed to work Ciaran Kelly in the Sligo goal. Both sides threatened to open the scoring before Alan Kirby collected the ball at the edge of the Rovers box, before finding Shaun Williams, but his shot was too high to worry Kelly.

Shaun Maher also had a chance to put Fingal ahead but his header was straight at the Sligo Keeper. Rovers were struggling to hold the ball up front with Matthew Blinkhorn being edged out by the defensive partnership of Kenny Browne and Shaun Maher. Richie Ryan and John Russell both had strikes on goal for the home side, but nothing to really trouble Darren Quigley.

Sligo took the lead in the 39th minute when a Joseph Ndo cross found Gavin Peers unmarked at the front post to bundle the ball into the Fingal goal, before Romuald Boco doubled the lead on half-time after Richie Ryan played the Benin international through to lob the ball over Quigley.

Rovers made it three on 62 minutes as Boco controlled the ball inside the away side's six yard box, took one touch and volleyed the ball past Quigley after an Ndo corner. Paul Cook couldn't believe his sides luck when they scored their fourth 15 minutes before the final whistle when substitutes Gary McCabe and Eoin Doyle combined to give the latter room to send the ball into the Fingal net yet again.

Rovers looked comfortable with a four goal lead, but Maher and co. had different ideas. The comeback began on 77 minutes when Gary O'Neill slotted the ball under the nearest Sligo challenge before Kenny Browne scored from a corner after much confusion in the Sligo area.

If this wasn't enough to worry the home fans, Shaun Williams made it three after Sligo failed to clear their lines after another corner. Williams bundled the ball over the line on 90 minutes, but Rovers held out despite Eoin Doyle having a great chance to finish the game in the 92nd minute, as he found himself one on one with Quigley.

Sligo Rovers: 1 Ciaran Kelly; 2 Alan Keane, 4 Gavin Peers, 20 Jim Lauchlan, 3 Iarfhlaith Davoren; 5 Danny Ventre (Captain), 6 Richie Ryan (21 Gary McCabe 61), 8 John Russell (12 Conor O'Grady 74); 15 Joseph Ndo, 18 Romuald Boco, 9 Matthew Blinkhorn (11 Eoin Doyle 68).
Subs not used: 16 Derek Foran, 19 John Gibson.

Sporting Fingal: 1 Darren Quigley; 2 Brian Gannon, 5 Shaun Maher, 6 Kenny Browne, 3 Lorcan Fitzgerald; 4 Shaun Williams (Captain), 10 Alan Kirby (11 Ollie Cahill 67), 8 Ronan Finn (14 Colm James 82); 7 Conan Byrne, 9 Gary O'Neill, 17 Eamon Zayed (15 Glen Crowe 67).
Subs not used: 12 John Frost, 16 Brendan Clarke.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).
Attendance: 1400
extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Romuald Boco (Sligo Rovers)