Superb Finn laments his worst moment in football

WHEN Ronan Finn sits down in the coming days to hook up the new Panasonic 50’ LED 4k HDR Smart TV which he won courtesy of Lally’s Electrical for being named man of the match by the local media in Sunday’s FAI Cup final, it’s fair to say he won’t be sticking on a replay of the game.

That’s because despite a brilliant individual display the defeat to Cork City ranks as Finn’s self-professed worst moment in football.

The 28-year-old midfielder will no doubt appreciate the stunning new addition to his home but he’d have undoubtedly traded it in for another FAI Cup winners’ medal.

The TV will get plenty of use no doubt over the winter months but Finn doesn’t need it to review a game which will play on his mind for some time.

‘I’m heartbroken,’ he admitted afterwards before outlining his disbelief that Dundalk had lost.

‘It’s a nightmare. When that goal went in, it was just one of those things in life. Life isn’t fair and football is a part of life.

‘It was just a very difficult moment to take. Not even to have a chance to react. Even with the last kick of the game we had another chance.

‘I’d probably say over the course of the night we created double figures in chances but we just didn’t take them. I thought we were by far the superior side. We were fitter, stronger, faster. We’ve had a lot more games than Cork in recent times and we’re still stronger than them going into extra-time.

‘Looking at their faces and how tired they were, it nearly gave me a boost to keep going because I knew they were running out of steam. It was just one of those things where it wasn’t to be.’

Finn had a chance of his own that flashed just past the post near the end of extra-time prior to Sean Maguire’s goal but he was struggling to get his head around the fact that Dundalk had failed to take any of their chances on the day.

‘There were probably three, four or five in extra-time. I had a strike that just went by the post.

‘There were just half chances every few minutes and Cork were on the ropes. I could see in their faces that they were struggling but fair play to them they rode their luck and got the goal. I’d never begrudge anybody, that’s football. All the best to Cork. That’s life.

‘We’ve been very good this season. We were very good again today and the better side today but it just goes to show that football doesn’t always work out the way you think it will. We played well on the day but it’s the cup final and anything can happen.’

Asked was it his worst moment in football, Finn said: ‘Definitely.

‘I don’t know which is harder to take, being battered three or four nil or losing like that. It’s very, very difficult to take.’