Fingal's battle against the drop goes down to the wire
Skerries' formidable prop James Ngatupuna attempts to wriggle free from a Dundalk tackler during Sunday's Towns Cup tie at Holmpatrick. Match report on Page 70. Pic: Fintan Clarke
EAMONN Bane's late equaliser saved Fingal from a potentially fatal defeat at ALSAA on Sunday, but the result still felt more like a defeat against bottom club Clontarf.
Victory for John Mcinerney's side would have given them some breathing space in the batlle against relegation from Division 1 of the Leinster League, but instead they remain in a dogfight with Clontarf and UCD to avoid the drop, with six matches remaining. Early unforced errors from Ken Tracey and David Bane almost gifted Clontarf the lead, even though Fingal enjoyed the bulk of the possession, but instead of learning from their mistakes the hosts gave a soft goal away in the 15th minute, with Ben Shekleton the culprit on that particular occasion. Fingal continued on the offensive, but they were unable to convert either of two corner opportunities, while the visitors somehow managed to scramble a Tom Manning effort off their goal-line and they held on to their slender single-goal lead at the interval.
The Clontarf defence were finally breached in the 50th minute when a David Bane shot from open play was saved and Manning followed up to score from close range. But that good work was quickly undone as Brian Gray gave away possession cheaply in midfield and Clontarf forced their only corner of the game, from which they managed to score to edge 2-1 in front. Fingal continued to create the vast majority of the chances, though, with seven corners created in the closing stages and none of them converted. The Clontarf goal led a charmed life, while a remarkable save on the line prevented Adrian Sweeney's reverse shot finding the net. The equalising goal finally arrived four minutes from time when Eamonn Bane flicked Andrew Shekleton's cross past the Clontarf keeper. Fingal will hope to have Derek O'gorman back for next weekend's difficult assignment away to Railway Union, and there are crucial home matches to follow against UCD and Three Rock Rovers.
FINGAL
Nigel Grothier, Glen Shekleton, Ken Tracey, Eamonn Bane, Andy Marshall, Luke Hayden, Brian Gray, Gary Sharman, Andrew Shekleton, David Bane, Simon Mckeever. Rotation subs: Tom Manning, Adrian Sweeney, Conor Connolly.
