Sporting Fingal 2-2 Shelbourne

Peter Hynes earned Shelbourne a precious point against title rivals Sporting Fingal with an equaliser six minutes from time in an action-packed Dublin derby at Morton Stadium.

Despite having Robert Bayly dismissed for a second booking on 65 minutes, Conan Byrne fired Fingal into the lead five minutes later with a free-kick before adding a second on 73 minutes.

Fingal goalkeeper Darren Quigley gifted Shels a route back by spilling David McGill’s cross into his net 14 minutes from time and Hynes made it 2-2 with a deft chip.

The result leaves the gap between the sides at three points, though the Reds have the game in hand away to Waterford United to play on October 27. Four matches of the campaign remain for Fingal.

Shels enjoyed the better opening quarter hour as Anthony Flood and David McAllister both had efforts on goal but failed to challenge Darren Quigley in the Fingal goal.

It was Fingal, however, who had the first real chance of the game when Shaun Williams played the ball across the face of the goal only for the ball to slide agonisingly past an onrushing Gary O’Neill.

Fingal started the second half brightly and had a good chance just five minutes in when O’Neill headed Robert Bayly’s cross straight at Shels stopper Dean Delaney.

The home side were dealt a massive blow when Bayly was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Delaney, leaving Fingal a man down for the remaining twenty five minutes.

Despite losing Bayly Fingal went in front on 70 minutes when Conan Byrne’s free kick around the wall deceived Delaney to squeeze inside the post.

Sharp-shooter Byrne then doubled his and Final’s tally two minutes later when Alan Kirby dispossessed Kevin Doherty inside the Shelbourne half and played in the winger who calmly slotted past Delaney for his 23rd goal of the campaign.

The drama continued as Shels pulled one back on 76 after David McGill’s cross was dropped over the goal line by Darren Quigley.

Quigley made amends just a minute later when McAlister found himself free at the back post. The midfielder’s strike looked certain to hit the net only for the ‘keeper to superbly turn over the effort.

Peter Hynes then broke Fingal hearts when he lobbed Quigley with six minutes left on the clock to draw the sides level and claim a valuable draw for the Reds.

Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Quigley; James, Maher, Paisley, Fitzgerald; Bayly, McFaul, Williams; C. Byrne, O’Neill (Zayed 84), Kirby (Dawson 86).

Shelbourne (4-4-2): Delaney; Synnott, Keely (Doherty 35), Brennan (Crawley 70), Hedderman; M. O’Brien, McGill, McAllister, Cassidy; Flood (Griffiths 64), Hynes

Referee: R. Rogers.

Attendance: 1493.