WOULD-BE giant-killers Fingal paid the price for wasteful finishing as they controversially crashed out of the Irish Senior Cup to hot favourites Lisnagarvey at ALSAA last Saturday.

The hosts put it up to their Ulster opponents from the start and nearly took a surprise 10th-minute lead following a quick counter-attack from a Lisnagarvey penalty corner. Tom Manning had the shooting opportunity, but his effort just shaved the post as colleague Gary Sharman just failed to redirect the ball into the net from close range.

Lisnagarvey failed to heed the warning signs, and on the quarter-hour Fingal were ahead as Manning teed up Paddy Gahan who shot past the visitors' goalkeeper.

Fingal should have doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Adrian Sweeny somehow deflected the ball the wrong side of the post.

It proved a costly miss, for Lisnagarvey hauled themselves level on the half-hour mark courtesy of a quick reverse-hit from Gregory Thompson.

Fingal's greater physical strength kept them very much in the contest throughout the second half, and Sweeny will reflect on another wasted chance on 55 minutes when he put the ball wide after it broke off the Lisnagarvey keeper into his path.

There was further frustration two minutes later when Eamonn Bane made a great run down the right flank and pulled an inviting ball back to Brian Gray who didn't make a clean connection, allowing the opposition keeper to make a comfortable save.

At this stage the tie looked destined for extra time, but Lisnagarvey had other ideas and in the 65th minute Thompson fired past keeper Neil Grothier from close range, with Fingal claiming they should have been awarded a free for a foul on Ben Chillingworth.

Fingal had one final flourish in the closing two minutes of the game, but the Lisnagarvey goalkeeper blocked both David Bane's shot and Derek O'Gorman's follow-up to save his side's blushes.

Still, Fingal can take plenty of positives from the game as they prepare to host another top side – Glennane – in a Leinster Division 1 game at ALSAA this evening ( Tuesday) at 8pm.

- Marcus CAVAROLI