AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION:Dundalk 1 Sporting Fingal 2
RONAN FINN inflicted a third defeat in four games on Dundalk as Sporting Fingal signed off for the summer break by leaving Oriel Park with a crucial three points.
The Fingal midfielder ran on to Glen Crowe’s clever flick in the 76th minute to crash the ball past Peter Cherrie from close range to send Dundalk back to third place.
Fingal arrived at Oriel Park knowing a win would move them ahead of the Lilywhites on goal difference and they got off to a dream start after just six minutes.
Conan Byrne’s cross from the right had just enough height on it to miss out Wayne Hatswell and former Dundalk player Shaun Williams powered a header past Peter Cherrie at his near post.
Williams’s goal marked the fifth game in succession where Dundalk had fallen behind but their response was impressive. Neale Fenn won possession back from Kenny Browne on the edge of the Fingal box and his pass found Fahrudin Kuduzovic and the Bosnian lifted a sublime chip over Brendan Clarke to draw Dundalk level.
Ian Foster’s side were playing their 15th game in just 60 days and although tiredness kicked in after half-time, the home side had enough chances to wrap up the points in the first-half.
Stephen Maher and Ross Gaynor both fired wide with efforts from distance before Kuduzovic showed great strength and skill to fashion a chance from nothing in the 28th minute but Fingal keeper Clarke proved equal to the task with a great stop.
Fingal struggled to make inroads after their early opener with the in-form Eamon Zayed forced to rely on scraps. A chance came his way in the 38th minute. Byrne again was the provider from the right but Zayed’s header lacked power and went wide.
Dundalk poured forward again and should have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time. Gaynor whipped a fabulous first time ball across the penalty area but Kuduzovic hesitated allowing Kenny Browne to make a timely block.
The second-half proved something of a non-event with Dundalk losing their way as Stephen Maher switched to left full following an injury to Nathan Murphy.
Fingal’s Williams and Alan Kirby both fired over before Finn’s winning strike and, despite having Ger O’Brien harshly sent-off in the 83rd minute for a foul on Ross Gaynor, Liam Buckley’s side saw the game out comfortably.
DUNDALK:Cherrie; Kelly, Miller, Hatswell, Murphy (McDonnell, 52 mins); Maher, Cawley; McGowan (Mulvenna, 75 mins), Fenn, Gaynor (J Breen, 89 mins); Kuduzovic.
SPORTING FINGAL:Clarke; O'Brien, Maher, Browne, Fitzgerald; McFaul, Finn, Williams; Byrne, Zayed (Crowe, 73 mins), Kirby (Gannon 76 mins).
Referee:Tom Connolly (Dublin).
Attendance:1500.
