Sporting Fingal (2) - St Patrick's Athletic (2)

Sporting Fingal 2 - St Patrick's Athletic 2

Sporting Fingal stay within a point of third-placed St Patrick's
Athletic after coming from two goals down to draw against their Dublin rivals.

The Saints nudged ahead on eight minutes through Dave Mulcahy's half volley and, after Fingal wasted several chances to level, Danny North punished them by extending the lead nine minutes into the second half.

Glen Crowe side-footed home 13 minutes from time to reduce the
arrears before Conan Byrne crowned the Fingal comeback by steering Ronan Finn's volley past Gary Rogers on 84 minutes.

Fingal knew victory would push them ahead of Pat's with four games to go in the pursuit of third spot and guaranteed Europa League qualification.

They began well with Crowe curling a shot just wide on four minutes following good approach play by Finn and Gary O'Neill.

However, Pat's had never lost to Fingal in their six previous meetings and stung the Northsiders by claiming an eight minute lead.

Ryan Guy got the better of Colin Hawkins near the end line on the
right and crossed for the unmarked Mulcahy to guide a low shot into Darren Quigley's bottom right corner.

Dave McAllister, deployed in an unfamiliar right-back role due to Dave Pender's suspension, was alert to snuff out the danger when Gary O'Neill looked poised to convert from close range.

But the visitors continued to look threatening on the break and Guy spurned a great chance of doubling the lead midway through the half when he raced clear only to angle his drive off-target.

The Ravens continued to probe too and after Conan Byrne blasted over from eight yards, Ollie Cahill squandered a sitter on 35 minutes when Ger O'Brien delivered a cross right onto the winger's head.

Pat's went further ahead on 54 minutes by punishing sloppy Fingal defending.

Guy slipped in to dispossess Shaun Williams as the midfielder attempted to control Lorcan Fitzgerald's throw-in at his
own 18-yard line and Danny North took full advantage by controlling Guy's pass, sweeping past Shaun Maher and squeezing his acute shot across Quigley and in off the far post.

Fingal boss Liam Buckley introduced midfielder Shane McFaul for
defender Fitzgerald in a bid to salvage a result and after Williams
whipped a shot wide, they pulled one back on 77 minutes.

O'Neill won possession in a central area and with Pat's defenders
sucked out of possession, the striker freed Crowe in plenty of space allowing his attacking partner to calmly stroke the ball to the side of Rogers to grab his fourth of the campaign.

The Saints continued to defend deep as their opponents sensed an equaliser and it arrived on 84 minutes following another telling
contribution from O'Neill.

His right-wing cross was headed away by McAllister only as far as
Finn, whose first time volley found the net with the assistance of
Byrne's deflection.

O'Neill was close to making the comeback more heroic in the last
minute yet poked Byrne's vicious cross wide with the goal at his
mercy.

© rte.ie

Match Report

Sporting Fingal 2 - St Patrick's Athletic 2

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