Courtesy: Shamrock Rovers Official Web Site


Rovers 1-4 Sporting Fingal

Tuesday, 11 August 2009

ROVERS Futsal team suffered their first defeat since the opening day of the Emerald Futsal League (Leinster) campaign in a barn-storming clash with Sporting Fingal on Monday night.

The Hoops and Fingal were level on points at the top of the division going into the tie and Rovers will be looking to bounce back with immediate effect.

It had started well enough for Rovers when Philip McDonagh won a first half penalty and duly converted from the spot.

Unfortunately for the Hoops some sloppy defending handed Fingal the initiative with Paul Fetherston banging home two goals in a matter of minutes to make it 2-1 before the break.

Rovers pushed hard to level and found keeper Sebastian Perciavale in fine form for Sporting. Brendan Dawson, Anderson Nunes and Marwan Azimi were all denied by the keeper as well as rocking the framework of the Fingal goal on a number of occasions.

While Hoops keeper John Somers had made a couple of impressive stops to deny Brazilians Helio Neto and Rodrigo De Melo it looked as if the tide was turning Rovers' favour when Isaia Lima was dismissed for Fingal.

Unfortunately Rovers couldn't capitalise and then they lost McDonagh in a controversial dismissal midway through the second half. While the Hoops held Fingal at bay for the two minutes down to four men (this is a part of the FIFA futsal rules), they then lost captain Anderson Nunes when he picked up his second yellow card and was also ordered off.

Former Dublin GAA player Mick O'Keeffe increased the Fingal lead and minutes before the end the scoreline was given a lop-sided look when former Hoops first team player Mark Langtry made it 4-1 to Sporting, who are now three points clear at the top of the table.

Rovers meet ISL in their next fixture on Saturday (2.20pm) at the BRL Umbro Arena, next to Ballymun Garda station. All Rovers fans are welcome.

SHAMROCK ROVERS - John Somers; Anderson Nunes, Brendan Dawson, Leonardo Da Sousa, Philip McDonagh, Marco Prudencio, Alvin Lawlor, Richard Maher, Marwan Azimi.








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