A fluid second half performance saw Three Rock rack up a comprehensive 5-1 win but it was Fingal who made the brighter opening. Enjoying much of the possession, David Bane got a deserved opener with a low drag-flick in the sixth minute.
Rovers fought back straight away, Colin Huet scoring gracefully two minutes later. The game meandered around the midfield for much of the half until Mitch Darling - a constant thorn all night - took the initiative; whacking in a quick free hit on the edge that Kyle Good slid onto with a beautiful deflection.
While the first half was hardly a thing of beauty, the style was turned on in the second. Bane broke clear but could not get his reverse shot past Richie Irivine and from the resulting free out, Rovers sealed the win. A sweeping move saw Darling win the decisive corner which Tim Hill scrambled home. Maarten Sier fired in two corners to embellish the scoreline in the closing stages.
Winter Aid - The Murmur of the Land
7 years ago
14 comments:
great result for rovers,gives them a great chance against pembroke in the final in what should be a good game,with young players like Darling ,Lewis ,Sothern and Hill on show it should be a good game to view some of irelands future performers...
I watched the game last night and it came to my attention how weak the leinster senior league is. Fingal apparently the 5/6th best team in the league have players lacking technical ability (with the excecption of the Bane brothers) on the fast bouncing pitch in Rovers.
This was a Rovers team minus 6 front line players and they ended up beating Fingal with ease.
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With regards to post above;i know McConnell and Maguire were out, and from the match report i gather Henderson was not playing, but who were the 6 frontline players?
Although I think the scoreline somewhat flattered Rovers, I would agree that there is a gap opening up in the Leinster League.
With full strength sides the mid-tier teams can still get results against those above them.
The problem is: "strength in depth" for some clubs who can field a very competitive 1st XI but then really struggle with the quality after that. Just look at Division 3 to see the consistently strong 2nd XI sides which support the 1st XI consistent performance.
Look at the league tables today for example!!
Top 4 Div1.: Glenanne, PW, TRR, Fingal
Top 4 Div3.: PW II, Fingal II, TRR II, Glenanne II
The gap will open up between those teams above with "strength in depth" and those wihtout: Corinthian, Monkstown, YMCA, UCD
With regards to the above comment. McConnell, Maguire, Henderson, Blakeney, Lyons, Ringwood did not play against Fingal
Yes, Fingal not as technically gifted but at home on a slow and sluggish pitch they have a huge advantage over a lot of teams. I thought they where extremely poor last night alright.
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I agree completely, the majority of the Fingal players struggled on that Rovers pitch and it just proves what an advantage they have when playing at home.
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Is Hill is a future Ireland performer? An ever-willing worker with great enthusiasm, is representing Ireland may be a few steps too far? I dont get to watch that much hockey, so please let me know if I am being a bit harsh. But this is my opinion.
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Why did Lyons go to Three Rock??
I agree with ur comment, not being harsh either but Tim gives it his all in matches and is a great team player but I would question whether he will make the step up to irish senior level. I heard he was playing seconds the other day and hes 20, surely time is running out considering how the irish team is picked! Not good enough by 20 ur not getting in!
Fully agree with you. It's a bit of a joke to be honest. Passmore seems to have his 'favourites'; you're either already established, or your a youngster. There's nobody in between. And there's nobody in between even considered.
id like to kill that statment off now!! andy barbour made his irish debut wen he was 26 or so in 2003!!! anything is possible!
Clive K
I think 'clive k' must be a youngster. Yes, Barbour did make his debut at 26, as have many players in their late 20's in the past. But it was not under the Passmore regime!!
I agree with the last comment, Passmore basis his squad on age and favouritism. I back this up with a story that I heard 2 or 3 years ago when David Bane was the player of the tournament at that years inter-pros. Following the inter-pros, Passmore selected his squad and Bane wasn't included. It was later found out that he thought Bane was 26 when in fact he was 23. When his age was confirmed he was brought into the squad.
Hill has time on his hands as long as he doesn't look old before his time. :-)
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