Sporting Fingal 2-2 Shamrock Rovers

Sporting Fingal’s storming second-half revival forced a replay against Shamrock Rovers in front of a crowd of 1,608 in the FAI Cup Quarter finals at Morton Stadium.

Fingal got off to a lively start and Conan Byrne had his early chance saved by Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.

Murphy then mopped up Alan Kirby’s long ball with Gary O’Neill and Robert Bayly bearing down on him.

Rovers' first chance came when captain Shane Robinson’s attempted lob was headed clear by Shaun Maher with no one behind him.

The Tallaght side came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when Robinson’s free kick hit the crossbar and came back out after beating Darren Quigley in the Fingal net.

Rovers did open the scoring only minutes later when Dessie Baker found himself through on goal and slotted past Quigley with ease.

Ross Chisholm then doubled the visitors lead with a stunning twenty yard strike into the top corner of the net after the Fingal defence failed to clear Robinson’s cross.

O’Neill then had a superb chance to pull a goal back when Shaun Williams fell to him with no one around. O’Neill headed wide however, and the score stayed at 2-0 at the break.

Shaun Williams nearly sent the Fingal support into a frenzy with just minutes gone in the second half when he forced a superb save out of Murphy from a one on one.

Williams did beat Murphy shortly afterward when Conan Byrne was set free down the wing by Bayly. Byrne looked up to see Williams free on the six yard box and the midfielder slotted past the helpless Murphy.

Williams then turned provider when his free kick was headed home by Shaun Maher to level the tie with half an hour left to play.

Rovers amost went back in front when Sean O’Connor’s shot was cleared off the line by John Frost.

Byrne then had Murphy beaten with ten minutes to go only for his shot to hit the side netting.
Rovers began to pressure the Fingal goal forcing Quigley to save well from Don Cowen in stoppage time securing a replay in Tallaght Stadium.

Sporting Fingal: Darren Quigley, Brian Gannon, John Frost, Shaun Williams, Shaun Maher, Stephen Paisley, Conan Byrne, Robert Bayly (Eric Foley 90 mins), Gary O’Neill (Robbie Doyle 84 mins), Alan Kirby, Shane McFaul Subs Not Used: Chris Konopka, Colm James, Philip Byrne, Eamon Zayed, Kevin Dawson
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy, Pat Flynn (Corie Treacy 60 mins), Aidan Price, Craig Sives, Graham Barrett (Gary Twigg 65 mins), Ollie Cahill, Shane Robinson, Stephen Rice, Ross Chisholm, Dessie Baker (Don Cowen 82 mins), Sean O’Connor Subs Not Used: Alan Mannus, Simon Madden, Barry Johnston, Padraig Amond
Referee: Richie Winter
Attendance: 1,608.