Saturday, May 12, 2007

Setanta Sports Cup Final 2007, Linfield - Drogheda



Highlights

Linfield 1 - 1 Drogheda (Drogheda win 4-3 on penalties)


Windsor Park, Belfast, 12th May 2007.


So it turned out to be a game too far for the Blues, as they played their second 120 minutes of football in a week and finally ended up gallant losers to the Drogs, who won their second Setanta in a row.

I managed to listen to it in the end, thanks to the highly entertaining LMFM of Drogheda, their 2 commentators were like crackerjacks and kept ILF members highly amused all match. Smurf also did a great job in his last and unfortunately losing outing as live web updater.

To be honest, from what I could hear, Drogheda deserved it. I don't remember us having a shot on goal in the first half, whereas Alan Mannus was in world-class form, saving us on countless occasions; the woodwork and some close shaves also saved us in the first period.

Sure enough, we scored with our first worthy shot on goal, headed in by Maccers after Winkie had nodded back an O'Kane corner. We continued to ride our luck and eventually, two Drogs substitutes combined for Tony Grant, a former thorn in Linfield's side, to turn and shoot past Mannus for the equaliser. We were much more in it in the second half and in extra time, amazing considering it was our 53th game of the season, and Dickson had a good chance, but neither side could score, so it went to penalties.

We took the penalties first:
Ervin SCORED
Ferguson SCORED
Mouncey SCORED
Dickson MISSED
O'Kane MISSED

Whereas Drogs only missed their first. So they walked away with the prize and the big money. Linfield fans, superb throughout, gave the Drogs a deserved standing ovation.

Well done Drogheda. Well done Linfield. Another great season in which you have done yourselves and the Irish League proud. It just wasn't quite enough tonight. We'll have to make do with a Double (Double).

No comments: