- Back November 3rd 2009	Printer Friendly Version
Toms River East alum Konopka playing well in Ireland - Asbury Park Press
November 2, 2009 Asbury Park Press Toms River East alum Konopka playing well in Ireland By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER Staff Writer DUBLIN, Ireland — Former Toms River High School East player Chris Konopka played a full 90 minutes Oct. 25 for the Sporting Fingal Football Club in its 4-2 win over the Bray Wanderers at Morton Stadium in the team's first appearance in the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) Cup semifinal. Konopka, the former Providence College and Jersey Shore Boca standout, helped his team secure a date with the Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup final Nobv. 22 at Tallaght Stadium, South Dublin. Sligo defeated Waterford United, 1-0, on Oct. 23 in the other semifinal. Dane Massey had Bray's first shot on goal in the 42nd minute as Konopka was forced to parry the ball behind his goal to end the first 45 minutes, 3-0, in favor of Sporting Fingal. In the 74th minute, a free kick was awarded to Bray just outside the Fingal penalty area and was magnificently converted past the outstretched Konopka by the Seagulls' Gary McCabe. Konopka signed with Sporting Fingal on July 28 and made his first-team league debut against Monaghan United on Oct. 2, securing a 2-2 tie in the fill 90 minutes. He also featured Oct. 17 with a 4-0 win over Longford Town, also going the full match in League of Ireland play. Konopka spent last year with the Bohemians of Dublin, winning two medals with the 2008 League of Ireland Premiere Division and FAI Cup champions. It's believed that last year Konopka was the first American born soccer player in history to win the Irish Double. He has his sights set on back-to-back FAI Cup medals, which would again etch his name into the history of Irish soccer. Konopka spent his first professional season in 2007 with the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer.