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FINGLAS 1  ARDMOUNT 1         Saturday 22^nd of April

 Last nights A.F.L. fixture in Naul Park between Finglas FC and Ardmount Rovers proved to be a nail biting game between two teams intent on gaining 3 points. The score after 90 minutes was 1-1 a fair result with neither team deserving to loose the match up. 

The conditions were less than ideal for a game of football with a gusting wind blowing across Naul Park but nevertheless a remarkable game of football took place. Finglas looked the better team winning most of the possession in midfield but Ardmount rovers appeared the more dangerous of the two teams. Finglas built well-structured opportunities beginning from short ball kick outs to their right and left full backs but Finglas were up against a strong Ardmount defence and they were unable to capitalize on any of the chances. Most of the real goal chances it has to be said fell to the feet of the Ardmount striker number nine Sean Thompson who was unlucky not to hit the target in the first half. Finglas put plenty of pressure on Ardmount using the wings to build their attacks. Derek Aherne had a great game for Finglas playing on the left side on the pitch. Young Aherne created chances with his inspiring runs down the left wing aswell as playing a big role defensively constantly shouldering Ardmount players of the ball regaining possession for Finglas. Brian Keenan and Darren Murray in the centre played exceptionally well. The only fault one could have with Murray was that he didn’t follow the ball deeper into Ardmounts half when Finglas were surging forward. According to some of the Finglas team, which were interviewed after the game, Murray has great shooting ability and it’s a waste not to have him on the edge of the box when needed. The first half ended as it began with Finglas having most of the possession but no concrete scoring opportunities and Ardmount with little possession but creating real goal chances. The score still remained 0-0 at the half-time whistle.

  Finglas made a substitution at half time bringing on Andy Ekwe for Tommy Lowndes. This was a tactical decision by Pat Dunphy that paid off. Ekwe’s first touch of the ball lobbed the Ardmount keeper and hit the back of the net. Instead of taking this goal and building on it Finglas changed their game play to the same as Ardmount in the first half sitting deep and letting the opposition come at them. Ardmount didn’t need a second invitation to lift their game and pile the pressure on the Finglas defence. It looked for a while that playing deep actually suited Finglas. With Ekwe’s pace up front, which it has to be said can’t be matched by many defenders, the over the top ball was working when Finglas counter attacked creating many scoring opportunity. Ardmount threw everything they had at Finglas. Glen Barlow made great runs down the right wing and Ardmounts constant pressure paid off 5 minutes to go with a clever pass enabling Graham Doyle to score a well-taken equalizer.   That’s how the match ended 1-1 giving each team a well-deserved point. The Finglas manager’s man of the match was Aidan Jameson because of his shear work rate. Jameson had the best game of his career with Finglas. He showed a lot of strength in the air as well as speed and endurance by keeping his top performance up for the whole match.