Sporting Fingal 1 - 0 Bray Wanderers

• Niall Farrell
• Wed, May 05 2010


A lone Shane McFaul goal gave Sporting Fingal a win on Tuesday night over a toothless Bray Wanderers.

Fingal, who were missing five defenders through injury, still had a majority of possession and never really looked like conceding. The home side were in the ascendency since early in the match, but sloppy passing meant they had to wait for their goal to come.

Alan Kirby could have opened the scoring for Fingal after just five minutes, but the midfielder shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Seagulls held their own for much of the second half, but gave their hosts far too much room in the middle of the park and were made to pay for that lack of midfield presence after 25 minutes.

Ronan Finn’s shot deflected wide of the post and out for a corner, which was in turn taken by Conan Byrne. Byrne’s corner found its target in Shane McFaul who headed the ball past Bray ‘keeper Brian Kane for his first goal of the season.

In the minutes after the goal, Fingal increased the pressure on Bray in an attempt to kill the match off.

McFaul was again at the centre of Fingal’s attack but Eamon Zayed couldn’t direct the scorer’s cross into the net on 32 minutes.

Half-time saw both teams emerge with something to play for, but Bray had the better attacks early in the second half.

Robbie Doyle, once of Fingal but now plying his trade with the Seagulls, had a chance a minute after the restart. Jake Kelly flicked the ball on to Doyle, whose half-volley forced Fingal ‘keeper Darren Quigley to stretch and tip the ball wide.

Despite the best efforts of Bray midfielder Ian Tuohy, who had two half-chances, Fingal still managed to retain the majority of possesion.

Thanks largely to their retention of the ball, it wasn’t long before Fingal had another clear chance. Alan Kirby, enjoying a rare start for Fingal, came in off the right wing on 56 minutes and powered a stinging shot at goal which rasped just over Chris Kane’s crossbar.

Minutes later, Glen Crowe had a goal ruled out for offside, as the ex- Bohemians striker struck the ball in from close range. Bray’s best chance of the match came after 65 minutes, when Jake Kelly headed the ball off the bar. Dane Massey won the ball out wide from Lorcan Fitzgerald and the ball fell to David Tyrell who whipped the ball in for Kelly.

Fingal had one last chance with 12 minutes left, as Shane McFaul shot from fifteen yards out, forcing Kane to parry the ball. Conan Byrne pounced on the ball but dragged his shot wide.

The match ended 1-0, as Bray are left to rue their lack of luck and Fingal treasure their ability to keep the ball.

Attendance: 592

Sporting Fingal: Darren Quigley, Ger O’Brien, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Shaun Williams, Kevin Dawson, Shane McFaul, Conan Byrne, Ronan Finn, Glen Crowe (Gary O’Neill ’84), Alan Kirby, Eamon Zayed (Keith Quinn ’65)
Subs Not Used: Colm James, Brendan Clarke, Kevin Boyd

Bray Wanderers: Brian Kane, Shane O’Connor, Dane Massey, Colm Tresson, Dave Webster, Chris Shields, Ian Tuohy (Adam O’Connor ’79), Stephen Brennan (Mark O’Brien ’79), Jake Kelly, Robert Doyle, David Tyrrell (Andrei Georgescu ’86)
Subs Not Used: Dylan Vickers, James Kavanagh

Referee: Tommy Connolly (Dublin)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Shane McFaul