FAI National Futsal League Quarter-finals

Derry City secure place in semi finals of the FAI National Futsal League

Saturday, 07 March 2009

DERRY CITY became the first side into the semi-finals of the FAI National Futsal League after a pulsating victory over Leinster group winners Dundalk at the Basketball Arena today when they beat Dundalk by a narrow eight goals to seven.

Dundalk 7 Derry City 8

Dundalk took the lead in the second minute when Sean Hand tapped home after a counter-attack involving Barry Woods and Barry McKenna.

Derry were unlucky not to level moments later when Darren Harkin headed against the crossbar. Dundalk keeper Ryan Coulter had already made a number of excellent saves.

Despite a number of opportunities to extend their lead, Dundalk ended up conceding an equaliser with 12 minutes left in the half when Seanan McColgan blasted home after good work by Gerard McClintock.

Barry Woods then hit the Derry upright before McClintock then scored a fine individual goal to give the Candystripes the lead.

Dundalk drew level once again four minutes later when Colin O’Brien set up Adrian Rafferty to tap home.

The Lilywhites regained the lead less than a minute into the second half when Hand burst through and side-footed past keeper Keith Toland.

McClintock pulled Derry level with 13 minutes left with a fine side-footed finish to ensure the tension continued.

Colin O’Brien put Dundalk back in front with ten minutes left then Adam Clarke hit the Dundalk crossbar before O’Brien burst through to score again – putting the Louthmen 5-3 up.

Derry were handed a lifeline when Derry were awarded a penalty after a tackle by Coulter on McClintock. David Shovlin converted the spot-kick to make it 5-4.

City then completed their comeback when McClintock smashed home from just outside the box to make it 5-5 but remarkably Dundalk went down the other end to go back in front through Jason Brennan.

Derry didn’t stay behind for long as they intercepted a Dundalk attack and broke for Lee Roddy to tap home and make it 6-6.

The Candystripes then took the lead for the first time with just under three minutes left after Shovlin scored from a ten-metre penalty.

Shovlin then missed another ten-metre penalty with 45 seconds left on the clock and remarkably Dundalk went down the other end and won a ten-metre penalty themselves which Hand converted to make it 7-7.

But the drama continued as Derry ended up clinching victory with seven seconds left when McColgan headed home from close range to secure City’s place in the last four.




Salthill Devon lose out on semi final spot at hands of Wexford Youths

Saturday, 07 March 2009

Wexford Youths secured their place in the semi-finals of the FAI National Futsal League after a thrilling encounter with Salthill Devon at the National Basketball Arena today. Salthill weathered the early Wexford storm then took a surprise lead after nine minutes when Sean Murphy showed great footwork to carve out a goal for himself.

Wexford Youths 8 Salthill Devon 5

Ray Winters was then unlucky not to increase the Connacht side’s lead moments later with a low strike that smacked off a Wexford upright.

Wexford punished Salthill for wasting that opportunity as Maciej Lewandowski found the net to level with nine minutes left in the half.

Youths then went in front for the first time with seven minutes left when Arthur Opeldus found the net with a deflected shot.

Salthill bounced back three minutes later when Gerry Dolan beat keeper Barry Lindsay from close range but Lewandowski showed his poacher’s instinct by poking home within seconds.

The Galwegians weren’t finished yet and the impressive Enda Dunne volleyed a spectacular equaliser.

Unfortunately for the young Salthill side they lost their concentration and allowed Des Kelly bundle home another goal to make it 4-3 to Youths.

The second half began with a cagey atmosphere as Wexford looked to hang onto their lead and it wasn’t until the eighth minute of the half that Salthill carved out an equaliser through James Whelan.

Wexford regained the lead after a period of sustained pressure when Marcin Fornal tapped home after a one-two with Lewandowski. Once again it was a brilliant goal from Whelan that levelled it at 5-5.

Salthill had a couple of opportunities to take the lead but ultimately fell behind again when John O’Donoghue put Wexford back in front with six minutes left.

Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with four and a half minutes left on the stop clock to put Wexford in control. Whelan then hit the post before O’Donoghue made it 8-5 with a neat finish.

Remarkably Whelan hit the upright again as luck seemed to be against Salthill. Wexford became the second team into the last four.




Extra time goals see St. Pat's into semi finals of Futsal League

Saturday, 07 March 2009

St. Patrick's Athletic needed extra-time to overcome a determined Finn Harps in a classic quarter-final of the FAI National Futsal League at the Basketball Arena today.

Finn Harps 4 St Patrick’s Athletic 6 (after extra-time)

Finn Harps got off to a great start with Mark Moran firing them in front after just over a minute’s action.

The Donegal side then extended their lead when Darren McGowan produced a rocket of a finish from a free-kick.

Brazilian Hygo Cezar pulled one back for the Saints with a close range finish but Harps regained the lead quickly afterwards when Moran powered through and lobbed keeper Vinicius to make it 3-1.

Cezar then turned creator for Denis Nicolai to finish from close range to cut the deficit to a single goal with nine minutes left in the first half. At half-time Harps were still leading 3-2.

Harps suffered a dreadful blow just 20 seconds into the second half when McGowan unfortunately scored an own goal with a poorly judged back pass to make it 3-3.

It could have been worse as just ten seconds later Yuri Assis smashed a strike off the Harps crossbar.

The impressive Moran then showed real opportunism to fire Harps back in front after Cezar had been caught in possession.

It said much about the quality of this game that both sides produced an extremely disciplined display for the remainder of the game with Harps keeper Liam Mailey making a string of brilliant saves.

St Pat’s got reward for their patience when captain Jackson Alexandre fired home through a sea of legs with just 90 seconds left on the clock to send the game into extra-time.

The Saints carried that momentum into extra-time with Assis putting them in front for the first time in the game with a powerful strike.

Jackson was so unlucky not to extend that lead with a blast that rattled the Harps crossbar and the Ulster side then broke down the court to shoot into the side-netting through Moran.

The tired Harps then conceded a second own goal in the second half of extra-time when Brian Lafferty had the misfortune of poking past his own keeper while trying to intercept a pass.




Cork City clinches final spot in semi finals of Futsal League

Saturday, 07 March 2009

Cork City clinched the final spot in the semi-finals of the FAI National Futsal League with a solid display against Bray Wanderers at the Basketball Arena today.

Cork City 6 Bray Wanderers 3

Bray got off to an excellent start with Marty Waters showed great composure to round goalkeeper Kieran McEnery and slotted home after five minutes.

Cork kept their heads and eventually carved out an equaliser when Ian Turner found the net with a clipped effort from the left flank.

Wanderers were unfortunate not to go back in front with eight minutes left in the half when Eunan Doyle saw his poked effort strike a City upright.

City’s Kevin Long then suffered the same fate at the other end but two minutes later Long put his side in front after leading a counter-attack and firing past Robert Lambert in the Bray goal.

Turner then extended Cork’s lead with an excellent strike on the turn from the right hand side with two minutes 40 seconds left in the first half.

The second half saw little between the sides but Waters brought Bray right back into the tie with eight minutes with a stunning strike.

Senior futsal international Craig Duggan then restored Cork’s two goal league with another brilliant strike just over a minute later.

Duggan then turned creator for Donal Lynch to slot home from close range with just over three minutes remaining. Duggan then made it 6-2 moments later.

Turner had the misfortune of steering the ball past his own goalkeeper with just over a minute remaining.

Semi-finals

Basketball Arena, Tallaght

12.00 Derry City v St Patrick’s Athletic
1.30pm Wexford Youths v Cork City

4.00pm Final







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com