Shamrock Rovers 1 Sporting Fingal 1:GLEN CROWE, such a menace to them during his time at their arch-rivals Bohemians, deprived Shamrock Rovers of victory with his first goal for Sporting Fingal in a thrilling game at Tallaght Stadium last night.
It looked like ending scoreless until a dramatic last few minutes. Rovers stole the lead against the run of play on 86 minutes when midfielder James Chambers headed home Dessie Baker’s corner.
However, Sporting struck back within a minute. Conan Byrne’s corner was only parried away by Alan Mannus and Alan Kirby put the ball back across goal for substitute Crowe to head home. That was the only blemish on Mannus’ copybook as he produced two great saves earlier in the second half. The best move of the night brought the first stop from Northern Ireland’s international goalkeeper on 53 minutes.
Shaun Williams’ diagonal ball put Byrne away on the right to cross, but Mannus somehow saved Gary O’Neill’s shot from point-blank range. Mannus would excel again eight minutes later with an astonishing one-handed save from O’Neill’s header from another Byrne delivery from the right.
Both sides hit the woodwork during a lively first half. Rovers were first to do so on three minutes as they tried to capitalise on an energetic start. A Chambers corner was headed down by Craig Sives and Gary Twigg’s flick came back off the underside of the bar with Williams clearing.
Poor defending provided Sporting with their first chance on the half hour. Williams worked a short corner with Byrne to cross and skipper Shaun Maher headed against the Rovers bar.
SHAMROCK ROVERS:Mannus; Flynn, Sives, Murray, Murphy; Stewart (Rice, 74 mins), Bayly, Bradley (Baker, 57 mins), Dennehy (O'Connor, 67 mins); Chambers; Twigg.
SPORTING FINGAL: Quigley; O'Brien, Maher, Browne, Fitzgerald; Byrne, Finn, Williams, Kirby, Quinn (Dawson, 85 mins); O'Neill (Crowe, 67 mins).
Referee: A Kelly (Cork).
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