Sporting Fingal 1-1 Shamrock Rovers

Sporting Fingal were denied their second straight home Airtricity League win by a late Shamrock Rovers penalty at Morton Stadium on Easter Monday.

With just three minutes left and ahead through Conan Byrne’s first goal of the season nine minutes earlier, Fingal conceded their second harsh spot-kick of the season.

Referee Anthony Buttimer adjudged that a free-kick by James Chambers 25 yards out struck the arm of Gary O’Neill in the defensive wall and pointed to the spot. While no-one would disagree that the ball hit the striker’s hand, it was stretching it to suggest there was intent on his behalf.

Fingal goalkeeper Brendan Clarke guessed correctly by diving to his right but the power of Chambers’ effort took it past his dive and in off the post for the equaliser.

The strong wind had a big influence on the day’s proceedings as both sides had the better of the exchanges during the 45 minutes in which the breeze was behind them.

Fingal got off to a bright start and look to capitalise on the gale-like wind at their backs.
Conan Byrne came close to opening the scoring on five minutes when his free kick bent around Alan Mannus’ left post.

The home side were dealt a blow on nine minutes when Keith Quinn had to replace left full John Frost due to injury.

Mannus then fumbled a Shaun Williams free kick but recovered well to knock the ball away from an on rushing Eamon Zayed.

Rovers looked to get back into the tie and were almost gifted an opportunity when Ger O’Brien hit a pass back into the path of Thomas Stewart but the Fingal right back got back and made amends for his error.

O’Brien was nearly hero just minutes later when his free kick fell to O’Neill who shot over from ten yards out.

O’Neill then had another great chance when former Fingal player Robert Bayly gave the ball away outside the box. Fingal’s top scorer broke into the Rovers box and looked certain to find the net only to be prevented by a superb tackle from Dan Murray.

Stewart looked to break the deadlock with just minutes to go in the half yet his shot rolled harmlessly wide of Brendan Clarke’s goal.

The sides went in level at the break with no sign of the wind subsiding for the second half.

Rovers had the first attempt of the second half when Clarke pushed James Chambers’ free kick out for a corner.

Chambers again caused problems for Fingal’s defence when his cross found Craig Sives making a late run and his header blazed high and wide.

Fingal then found their feet in the second half and Byrne pounced on a loose pass. He found himself in space and put in a low cross which was cleared by Rovers skipper Murray with Zayed looming ominously on the six yard box.

Ollie Cahill came close from long range on 75 minutes but the strong wind took the ball past the Fingal post.

Byrne broke the deadlock on 78 minutes after he latched onto Shaun Williams’ cross-pass, weaved inside two defenders and slotted his shot past Mannus into the far corner.

Michael O’Neill rolled the dice with eight minutes left when he brought Graham Barrett for defender Danny Murphy as Rovers looked to salvage a point.

The Hoops were given that lifeline with four minutes left and Chambers did the rest.

Rovers laid siege in the final moments and Clarke produced the stop of the match in injury time when he stooped low to keep out Murray’s close range effort.

Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Clarke; O’Brien, Maher, Browne, Frost (Quinn 9); Finn, Williams McFaul; C. Byrne, O’Neill, Zayed.

Shamrock Rovers (4-5-1): Mannus; Sives, Murray, Price, Murphy (Barrett 80); O’Connor (Dennehy 70), Turner, Chambers, Bayly (Rice 70), Cahill; Stewart.

Ref: A. Buttimer (Cork)

Att: 1440