Sporting Fingal 1-1 Limerick

Sporting Fingal remain unbeaten in seven after drawing against  Limerick at Morton Stadium in a match they dominated throughout.

Fingal began brightly and dominated the early possession. Colm James came close to opening the scoring after just two minutes when his long range effort was tipped over by Dave Ryan in the Limerick goal.

The hosts had another good chance when Eamon Zayed found himself through on goal. Pat Purcell denied Zayed a chance to get a shot off but the ball fell to Conan Byrne who couldn’t beat Ryan.

Limerick had a short period of pressure when they won four corners in a row but they failed to pressure Fingal keeper Darren Quigley.

Ryan continued to frustrate Byrne as he once more saved a shot from close range to keep the sides level. Quigley was only called into action on one occasion in the first half when he saved Tommy Barrett’s shot from distance to ensure the sides went in 0-0 at the break.

The home side continued to control possession in the second half but failed to open the scoring. Ryan pulled off yet another save from James who shot from the edge of the box.

Fingal eventually breached Ryan’s goal eleven minutes from time when the Limerick defence failed to clear Byrne’s cross. The ball fell to substitute Gareth Whelan at the back post who found the net.

Limerick replied two minutes later when Martin Deady found the top corner from a free kick to bring his side back level, leaving Fingal with little time to chase victory.


Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Quigley; Gannon, Paisley (Whelan 62), P. Byrne, Frost; Kirby, James (McArdle 85), Williams; C. Byrne, Zayed, Gaynor.

Limerick (4-5-1): Dave Ryan; O’Brien (Daly 40), Danaher, Purcell, Deady; Walsh, Barrett, Hughes, Treacy (Colbert 69), Scanlan; Cummins (Tierney 55).

Referee: P. Caschera.

Attendance: 782.