The week started for us with a home Airtricity League game against Drogheda United on Monday, the day after we returned from Madeira.
With one eye on Thursday’s second leg at Dalymount, Liam made a lot of changes to the team and for a while we looked good for the win, having gone a goal up early on.
I came on as a substitute in the second half and unfortunately, just as it seemed a draw was likely, they slipped in the winner.
It the second match in a row we conceded a late goal to lose and not a nice feeling.
We didn’t dwell on that result, instead concentrating on the preparation for the CS Maritimo Europa League second leg three days later.
I mentioned last week that I felt we did enough at their place to have gotten at least a draw rather than the 3-2 defeat.
Our focus for the return leg was to defend as a team while playing our normal attacking game in a bid to get the goal which could be enough to see us progress.
What was apparent from the start was how sharper they were in their passing and movement compared to last week.
The Dalymount pitch suited both teams for the styles they adopt but our visitors kept the ball a lot better than us, using it to stretch us from one side of the pitch to the other.
Maritimo went up to a different level in the second leg. The way they played can only be admired and something us Irish teams need to learn from to have any chance of going further in European competitions on a consistent basis.
Our squad is quite young and seven of the starting team were experiencing European football for the first time. From speaking to the boys since the second leg, they really enjoyed it.
It’s very important that we take something from the two games. Although both were defeats, we have to build on the positives and learn from the negatives.
The crowd were a fantastic help. In the away leg, there were about 30 fans present, all of whom made plenty of noise throughout.
Back in Dublin on Thursday, it was brilliant to see such a large turnout, over 2,000, come out to support us.
For a League of Ireland club less than three years old to attract such numbers is very encouraging.
I’m sure they enjoyed the game. We competed well against a Maritimo side with some players we’re sure to see playing for major continental clubs in the coming years.
Eamon Zayed came on during the second half and finished his two goals with excellence.
Their goalkeeper saved well from Alan Kirby’s header while Ronan Finn was unlucky to have a goal chalked off for an alleged offside offence.
We’ve a game big to turn our attention on Sunday by visiting Inchicore for the meeting against St. Patrick’s Athletic.
They’ve not reached their high spot in the table without being a decent side and I’m looking forward to hopefully lining out against them.
Also, just a special mention to my old club Shamrock Rovers on a fantastic result in Israel. It was a boost not just for them, but the entire league as a whole.
I spoke to a few of the lads off the squad in Israel and they were still on Cloud Nine.
It will be a great occasion for the club to play Juventus in Tallaght next Thursday. I plan on going the game and, like the rest of Airtricity League players I’m sure, I’ll be 100 per cent behind Rovers on the night.
Finally, I’d like to state how much of an huge honour it is to be selected for the Airtricity League squad against Manchester United in the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday week.
I know myself, Shaun Williams and Alan Kirby will do our best for the league and try to represent Sporting Fingal to the best of our ability.
However, before all that we have very two important league games against Pat’s and Rovers. Our focus is fully on them and two wins will put us back in the hunt again at the top of the table