Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Sporting Fingal 1-1 Sligo Rovers
- Niall Farrell
- Sat, Mar 13 2010
Click on the image to view a selection of photos from the game, courtesy of Paul O'Donohoe.
Sporting Fingal and Sligo Rovers played out a score draw at Morton Stadium in a relatively timid affair, where both sides had chances for the winner but failed to take them.
Gary O’Neill opened the scoring for Fingal in the 51st minute after he went past Alan Keane and smashed the ball past Richard Brush from close range.
Minutes later Padraig Amond the equalised for Rovers after an uncharacteristic defensive slip-up from Stephen Paisley in the 55th minute.
The first half was largely a scramble for possession in the middle of
the park. The match did start out with the two sides exchanging attack
and counter-attack, but not many shots found their way on target.
A first goal could well have come for Sporting Fingal after just nine
minutes. A Conan Byrne free-kick was deflected, but the ball was well
saved.
Byrne went close again a minute later with a fizzing shot from the
edge of the box which went to the right and wide.
In goal for Sligo Rovers, Richard Brush enjoyed a fine first half as
he denied Fingal on numerous occasions.
Stephen Paisley went off injured early-on after a clash of heads, but
came back on minutes later sporting a bandage around his head only to
earn himself a yellow card.
Just before half time, Richard Brush rushed out to claim a high ball
outside his penalty area. Despite the protests of several Fingal
players, the referee judged Brush to have used his chest to clear the
ball away and not his hands.
Both sides went into the break level after a half in which the ball
was largely mired in midfield.
Coming out after half time, the match seemed to change pace
dramatically. Both sides began to push hard for an opening goal.
The opening goal did come for Sporting Fingal after 51 minutes. Gary
O’Neill used his skill to come in off the right wing, beat Alan Keane
and finish past Brush to make it 1-0 to the Ravens.
It was then Rovers’ turn to attack and the Bit O’Red poured men
forward. Their equaliser came in the 55th minute thanks to a slip by
Fingal defender Stephen Paisley.
Paisley’s mistake allowed Padraig Amond to go one-on-one with Brendan
Clarke, and the ex-Shamrock Rovers striker cooly slotted the ball past
the Fingal ‘keeper.
Rovers weren’t content with just the equaliser though, and for a while
pressed forward in search of a winner.
This let Fingal exploit them on the counter-attack, but The Ravens
weren’t able to take advantage of the chances they had.
The match ended 1-1, giving Sporting Fingal their first ever point in
the Airtricity Premier Division in their first home match at that
level.
Sporting Fingal: Brendan Clarke; Kenny Browne, Shaun Maher, Stephen Paisley, Keith Quinn; Shane McFaul, Ronan Finn, Shaun Williams;
Conan Byrne, Gary O’Neill, Alan Kirby (Glen Crowe ’70)
Unused Subs: Brian Gannon, Darren Quigley, Colm James, Eamon Zayed
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Paul Whelan, Gavin Peers, Alan Keane, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Gary McCabe (John Dillon ’69), Danny Ventre, Richie Ryan, Eoin Doyle; Matthew Blinkhorn, Padraig Amond (Mark Doninger ’90)
Unused Subs: Conor O’Grady,Mauro Almeida, Ciaran Kelly
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
Official Attendance: 1276
Extratime Man of the Match: Padraig Amond
About Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell is our correspondent at Tolka Park, covering the goings-on at Shelbourne. You can visit Niall's website for further information and contact details- niallf.net.
