Sporting Fingal beat Athlone 2-0 at Morton Stadium last night with a hard fought win over Athlone town.
The home team started well with good passing and movement, the highlight being in the first ten minutes when they came close to finishing when Garrett Whelan headed just over from Brian Gannon's through ball.
Athlone then came close to opening the deadlock with a golden opportunity as Colm James mis directed header fell to the feet of Stephen Place who failed to direct his shoot straight.
The match was a mostly dull affair, with the match coming alive with a brace of goals from the home side back to back in the second half from Conan Byrne, and an forced own goal by the visitors by Robert Benson adding to their pain.
Byrne latched onto a through pass from fellow team mate Gaynor, who slickly swept past McGuinness to finish off the visitors. The visitors then tried desperately to apply some late pressure but it was not to be as the team team stood firm to ensure a well deserved victory. The next match on Monday against Sligo rovers will be eagerly awaited with anticipation. Fingal manager Liam Buckley stated in the after match that he was delighted with the players gritty performance and resolve to close out the visitors in the hard fought match.
Sporting Fingal lineup (4:3:3) Quigley; James, Gannon, Whelan, Frost; Kirby, McFaul, Bayly (Fitzgerald 85 mins); C. Byrne, Doyle (McArdle 82 mins), Gaynor.
Athlone (4-5-1) McGuinness; Hamm, McGauley, Hope, Cleary; Dunne, Benson, McGee (Stack 86 mins), Tyrell (Reilly 70 mins), Onwubiko (Coffey 80 mins); Place.
Referee: K. Callanan.
Attendance: 722.
