Courtesy: Shamrock Rovers Official Web Site


Rovers' Futsal team win semi final

SHAMROCK ROVERS are one game away from retaining their Emerald Futsal League (Leinster) crown after an epic semi-final victory over Blue Magic FC at IT Blanchardstown on Saturday.

Shamrock Rovers 13 Blue Magic 10
The Hoops grabbed a remarkable three goals in the final two and a half minutes of normal time to send this pulsating tie into extra-time.

Irish futsal international Ian Byrne proved an inspirational skipper for Rovers with an astonishing seven-goal haul to keep his side’s hopes alive when they looked dead and buried.

Rovers trailed 6-2 and then 9-6 but still managed to stay in the game before clinching their final sport with an emphatic extra-time display.

The Hoops began poorly with Wojiech Korzan and Daniel Caetano putting Blue Magic in front early on. Byrne pulled one back for Rovers but Bartosz Paszkiewicz and Korzan scored again before Hiago Freitas kept the Hoops in touch just before half-time.

Artur Opeldus and Korzan once more extended Blue Magic’s lead early in the second half as thing really began to look bleak for the Hoops.

Byrne then produced one of the most exquisitely executed free-kicks ever seen in an Irish futsal game to give Rovers hope.

Klaudiusz Rybak and Badr Bouznig then traded goals as it appeared that every time Rovers countered, Blue Magic had an immediate response.

Byrne showed tremendous leadership to bring it back to 7-6 with a pair of clever finishes but just when it appeared the game was turning in favour of the Hoops, Blue Magic bagged two goals through Dominik Gawor and Lloyd Massey.

Jack Doyle gave Rovers a chink of light before discipline counted badly against Blue Magic as they conceded a series of ten-metre penalties for foul play.

Blue Magic’s brilliant goalkeeper Rafal Wirkus had saved ten-metre kicks from Rovers keeper John Somers and Bouznig had shot wide before Byrne showed tremendous character to fire a double from the same spot to send the game into extra-time.

Byrne’s seventh goal of a memorable encounter came with just 20 seconds left to play.

In extra-time Rovers finally asserted their control with Bouznig netting from open play before Doyle and Freitas each found the net from ten-metre penalties. Opeldus scored what turned out to a consolation tenth goal just before the final whistle.

After clinching the inaugural title last year, the side coached by Stephen Finn, will now face Dublin Santos Leinster College in next Friday’s final.

“It was a remarkable display from all of the players. Luck just didn’t seem to be going our way for long periods but I never lacked belief that if we could settle ourselves the game was still there for us,” said Finn.

“Ian Byrne’s display was astonishing. He has reached a level for he is now unquestionably the best futsal player Ireland has ever produced and I would love it if he got the chance to play this game professionally.

“The final against Dublin Santos Leinster College promises to be a tremendous clash. They did brilliantly to beat Sporting Fingal EID in their semi-final and with an entirely Brazilian squad they can play lovely futsal at times.”

Entry is €2 for adults and admission is free for under-16s on Friday, December 17 (8pm) at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght. Why not pop along and support the Futsal lads.


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