Pushed all the way by a resolute Erin’s Isle side, defending champions Templeogue Synge Street eventually advanced to the last four of the Dublin Minor ‘B’ Football Championship with an extra-time victory at Dolphin Park on Sunday.
With little over 20 minutes of regular time remaining, the hosts were left with a mountain to climb as they Trailed 1-4 to 0-2. However, thanks in no small part to the contributions of Dublin minor Scott McConnell and Fintan Dignam, TSS forced the game into two additional periods.
With momentum on their side, they gained the ascendancy and were on top for the closing stages of the action. Rowan Finnegan fired to the net from the last kick of the game and Synger can now switch their focus to a forthcoming semi-final.
edition
It was close to two months ago that the Southsiders triumphed in the delayed 2020 edition of the ‘B’ Championship – another extra-time success over Fingal Ravens. Eight squad members from that impressive win featured at the Crumlin Road venue last weekend, including McConnell.
He broke the deadlock in the ninth minute by converting a free in fine style. TSS had survived an early scare when netminder Niall Fitzgibbon turned away Tadhg Gorman’s goal-bound effort for Isles, but Philip Ryan’s side largely dominated possession around the middle third.
However, the home team found it difficult to convert industry into accuracy and registered nine wides by the first-half water break. Having soaked up considerable pressure, Isles levelled matters through a Gorman free on 21 minutes.
That was the launchpad for a positive end to the opening period from the visitors. Following excellent approach work by Ollie Gaffney and Alex Matthews, wing-forward Luke Dunne grabbed the maiden goal of the contest.
Nathan Fitzgerald and Gorman then split the uprights as the Finglas men brought a 1-3 to 0-1 cushion into the interval.
Despite losing to TSS on home turf during the group stages, Isles remained in the frame for the penultimate rounds, and wing-back Cian Moran cancelled out a McConnell score on the resumption.
stride
Yet Synger finally hit their stride approaching the third-quarter mark. Adding to another McConnell single, Dignam registered three magnificent points to reduce the gap to the bare minimum.
Although Aaron Duff ensured Isles were two in front on 47 minutes, TSS looked ready for a big push.
A stubborn Isles defence kept them at bay until a straight red card for Dunne presented Synge Street with a numerical advantage with the final whistle on the horizon.
After substitute Evan Sheehan found the target, McConnell showed nerves of steel to convert a free that left the sides inseparable at the end of regulation time (1-5 to 0-8).
Even though they had their full complement for the start of extra-time, Isles lost midfielder Fitzgerald to a black card soon after the restart. Luke Davis had already edged TSS ahead by then, and after Fitzgibbon pulled off a superb penalty save from Gorman on 69 minutes, McConnell effortlessly doubled their lead.
In a somewhat chaotic conclusion, TSS finished with just 12 players following the dismissals of Sheehan (black card), Dignam and Conor Curran (both red). Nevertheless, after Gorman and McConnell had traded frees, Finnegan kicked over, in an emphatic fashion, to finally place the outcome beyond doubt.
MATCHFILE
SCORERS - Templeogue Synge Street: S McConnell 0-6 (4f), F Dignam 0-3, R Finnegan 1-0, E Sheehan, L Davis 0-1 each. Erin’s Isle: T Gorman 0-3 (2f), L Dunne 1-0, C Moran, N Fitzgerald, A Duff 0-1 each.
TEMPLEOGUE SYNGE STREET: N Fitzgibbon; P McNamara, E Quinn, D O’Donovan; M Hennelly, L O’Connor, S Ruane; J Grimes, S Cooney; C Curran, F Dignam, A Cotter; S McConnell, U Byrne, R Finnegan. Subs: E Sheehan for Cotter (43), L Davis for Byrne (47), Cotter for Finnegan (70+1), Finnegan for O’Connor (75), Byrne for McConnell (78).
ERIN’S ISLE: A McGrath; C Lawlor, S Coffey, L Lowndes; D Gorman, C Gorman, C Moran; T Akinleye, N Fitzgerald; L Dunne, A Langan, A Duff; O Gaffney, T Gorman, A Matthews Subs: S Trawally on for start of extra-time, K Curtis for Langan (61), C Byrne for C Gorman (80).
MENTORS - Templeogue Synge Street: Philip Ryan, Jim Dignam, Colm Finnegan. Erin’s Isle: Robbie Mullins, Alan Duff, Gary Matthews, Damien Lawlor.
REFEREE: Tony Lambe (St Vincent’s).
WIDES - Templeogue Synge Street: 20 (11+6+2+1). Erin’s Isle: 6 (2+3+0+1).
CONDITIONS: Bright and sunny throughout, but breezy at times.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Scott McConnell (Templeogue Synge Street).
