Sporting Fingal 2 - 0 Athlone Town

• Paul Moore
• Fri, May 15 2009


Two goals in the space of two minutes were enough for Sporting Fingal to see off Athlone Town at Morton Stadium. A Robbie Benson own goal gave the hosts the 71st minute lead after he turned Alan Kirby’s cross into his own net. Conan Byrne wrapped up the points moments later when he coolly rounded John McGuinness to slot home.

The match started slowly as both sides were unable to seriously test either keeper. Gareth Whelan picked up an early booking in the 5th minute when he pulled down Stephen Place on the edge of the box but the resulting free kick was sent over by Athlone winger Onwubiko.

The host’s first chance came in the 10th minute when Fingal defender Brian Gannon whipped in a teasing cross that picked out his centre back partner Whelan but he couldn’t keep his header down. Town had their first effort on target in the 12th minute when Onwubiko cut in from the left but his shot was easily collected by Quigley.

Athlone’s five man midfield was doing well to frustrate Liam Buckley’s men and keep chances at a minimum. The visitors almost took a surprise lead in the 35th minute when Noel Mc Gee created something out of nothing. Athlone’s top scorer unleashed a vicious 25 yard effort that seemed certain to find the top corner but Quigley made a brilliant save to turn it around his post.

Robbie Doyle was the second player in the referee’s notebook for a clumsy challenge on Tyrrell. It seemed like Fingal’s best outlet was from their wide players putting crosses into the box but the Athlone central pairing of McGauley and Hope were dealing with everything that came their way as the half came to a close.

Fingal started the second half well and almost scored when McFaul’s pass found Kirby but he shot straight into the arms of the keeper. Bayly and Place were both shown yellow cards shortly after when they scuffled off the ball.

Athlone began to boss the game and had a good chance to open the scoring on 52mins when Noel McGee played a clever through ball to Place. The striker outpaced Gannon but shot straight at Quigley as he was bearing in on goal. Kevin Dunne got booked for indiscipline in the 55th while Coffey was introduced for Onwubiko.

The games turning point occurred just on the hour mark when Athlone should have taken the lead. Again Place collected a through ball but this time he decided to round the keeper. The striker got his shot away but John Frost did brilliantly to recover and make an acrobatic clearance via the crossbar. When the ball came back off the woodwork it broke loose to Kevin Dunne. The midfielder had the goal at his mercy but Gareth Whelan was on hand to brilliantly save his goal bound effort off the line with his head.

The visitors would go eventually rue those missed chances as Fingal began to dominate and they opened the scoring in the 71st minute. Alan Kirby picked up the ball just inside the Athlone box and jinxed past three challenges before rounding McGuinness. Kirby played the ball across the six-yard box where it was met by the unfortunate Robbie Benson who put the ball into his own net under pressure from Robbie Doyle.

Two minutes later the game was over as a contest when Ross Gaynor cut in from the left and played a deadly through ball to Conan Byrne. Athlone full back Robbie Hamm completely went to sleep and left Byrne in acres of space bearing down on goal. The winger kept his composure to coolly round the keeper and slot the ball into the empty net for his fifth goal of the season. Fingal comfortably saw out the final few minutes to inflict a fifth successive defeat on Athlone.

Sporting Fingal: Quigley, James, Frost, Gannon, Whelan, McFaul, Byrne, Bayly (Fitzgerald) , Kirby, Doyle (McArdle), Gaynor. Subs Not Used: Boyd, Hussey, McKay

Athlone Town: McGuinness, Hamm, Cleary, McGauley, Hope, Dunne, Onwubiko (Coffey), Benson, Place, McGee, Tyrell (Reilly) Subs Not Used: Joyce, Shanahan, Stack. Attendance: 722