Shamrock Rovers 1 Sporting Fingal 2: IN A city full of age-old football rivalries, the first chapter in a new one concluded last night in Tallaght where Shamrock Rovers effectively went out of the FAI Cup on penalties without the need for a shoot-out.
The news from Sligo had generated what was probably the biggest cheer of the night from the home fans and briefly raised hopes that the end of a long, long wait for the club’s 25th FAI Cup success might finally be around the corner. An Alan Kirby penalty five minutes from the end of the night’s second half of extra-time for Liam Buckley’s side, though, gave Fingal a late lead.
And when Rovers’ Stephen Bradley missed his second spot kick of the night a minute into stoppage time, the locals realised that they had failed of avail of Bohemians’ misfortune.
Fingal’s ability to match so closely serious contenders for the league title over these two games may well underline the notion that Buckley’s is a team made up of what are, in reality, Premier Division players. But the fact that Rovers trailed at the break had far more to do with the home side’s defensive frailties than the attacking prowess of their visitors.
The goal itself – after eight minutes – came from a terrible mistake 35 metres out by Aidan Price whose stumble on the ball allowed Gary O’Neill to steal possession and advance towards the area.
Craig Sives briefly looked to have mopped up the danger but his challenge wasn’t quite enough to dispossess O’Neill, who recovered his footing before squaring the ball for Alan Kirby who gratefully poked home from the middle of the area.
Michael O’Neill’s side then made a succession of attempts to help their opponents to a greater advantage with passes being misplaced and opponents going unmarked whenever Sporting pressed forward. The closest they came to succeeding was when Shaun Williams floated in a free from the right and Stephen Paisley rose completely unchallenged to meet it. A glancing header would have been enough to turn the ball home but the defender failed to make any contact.
The home support must have been relieved to see just how charitable the First Division outfit were inclined to be, for Alan Mannus somehow went the rest of the half without making a serious save.
At half-time a rival league manager shook his head and predicted Sporting would be made to pay for their profligacy and, within 40 seconds of the restart, O’Neill’s men looked to have set about justifying his confidence.
They had a little help from referee with Richie Winter reckoning that a slight nudge in the back by Shane McFaul on Ross Chisholm merited a penalty. But after Bradley converted it the hosts showed definite signs of improvement, particularly in midfield where Stephen Rice replaced Shane Robinson.
Up front, Graham Barrett still looked a little short of match fitness and the former international struggled to make an impact despite the best efforts of Dessie Baker. But with Gary Twigg unavailable due to a family member’s illness, the striker stayed on until the second period when Sives’ dismissal for a second bookable offence prompted a reshuffle.
There had at least been a bit more ball for him to chase in the period leading up to his departure. Rovers were firmly in contention in what was a far more even and intermittently entertaining game. Real chances remained rare enough, though, and there was a strong sense that the contest was going to require additional time long before Chisholm and O’Neill each failed to convert late chances to nick late winners.
The scale of the late drama, however, was harder to see coming.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Flynn, Sives, Price, Cahill; Bradley, Robinson (Rice, half-time), Chisholm, O'Connor; Baker (Amond, 72 mins), Barrett (Treacy, 108 mins).
SPORTING FINGAL: Quigley; Gannon, Maher, Paisley, Frost; Byrne (Zayed, 82 mins), Williams, McFaul, Bayly (James, 118 mins), Kirby; O'Neill (Doyle, 87 mins).
Referee: R Winter (Dublin).
