Carrick United 1 Sporting Fingal 3: FINGAL MANAGER Liam Buckley was sanguine after his side's victory in Saturday evening's FAI Cup tie at Tom Drohan Park.
Happy to be in the draw for the last eight, perhaps, but realistic enough to know that similar performances may well compromise promotion as well as cup hopes.
Torrential overnight rain had threatened this fixture but remarkable work by the junior club's ground staff saw the pitch in excellent condition at the start.
Fingal dominated most of the first half but Adrian Walsh was superb as the last line of defence for the home side.
Carrick bowed to the inevitable on 32 minutes when a Fiacra McArdle free-kick found the head of centre half Philip Byrne, whose header looped into an unguarded net.
Walsh looked to be impeded by his own player as he advanced for the ball, and it was cruel luck on a goalkeeper who was largely responsible for all that was good about Carrick in the opening half hour.
Carrick rallied somewhat after that and a fine strike by Keith Walsh on the 40th minute left goalkeeper Brendan Clarke rooted to the spot.
With Carrick level at the break, they altered their midfield partnerships soon after, and started much the brighter in the second half. First Keith Walsh and then Stephen Hahessy went close but a bizarre 90 seconds ended this cup-tie.
When Peter Hynes flicked on a Conor Byrne corner in the 61st minute, the Carrick defence struggled to cope and Adam McSherry had the last touch as it rebounded into his own net.
Moments later Robbie Doyle lifted a Hynes through ball over Walsh and this tie was effectively over.
For Fingal, an escape from this sticky fourth round tie was all they needed, and the League of Ireland's newest club is safely into the quarter-finals.
CARRICK UNITED: A Walsh; J Walsh, 3 B Barry, A O'Donnell, J Walsh, K Walsh (G Keane, 77), A McSherry, A Ryan (capt), B Murphy (A Redmond, 68), I Cleary, R Lawrence (S Hahessy, 45).
SPORTING FINGAL: B Clarke; D Tyrrell (B Gannon, 85), J Frost, C Deans, P Byrne, C James, C Byrne, F McArdle, P Hynes (P Byrne, 85), P Caffrey (capt), R Doyle (D Corcoran, 83).
Referee: H Whorisky(Meath).
