Longford Town 1-3 Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal kept pace with the title-chasers by registering a resounding victory over Longford Town at Flancare Park on Saturday evening.
Claiming the three points was the all the more important after UCD, Shelbourne and Waterford United had all recorded wins in their fixtures 24 hours later and Liam Buckley’s side obliged with a polished display.
Ross Gaynor, Stephen Paisley and Eamon Zayed provided the goals for the winners before Liam Lynch pulled a goal back 12 minutes from time. The only low points for Fingal on the night was seeing their run of going five games without conceding come to an end as well as Robery Bayly’s dismissal in the second half for a second booking.
Sporting raced into a two-goal lead by the break. Eamon Zayed teed up Ross Gaynor to smash home the opener on eight minutes before Stephen Paisley availed of some exquisite approach-play by Alan Kirby on 23 minutes to finish from close range.
Colm Jinks almost made the pathway back for the home side all the more challenging when he came close to deflecting a shot past his own goalkeeper, player/manger Alan Gough.
But Fingal has a goal disallowed on 33 minutes when Conan Byrne slotted home only to find a linesman’s offside flag ruled it out.
Gary Curran was near to reducing the deficit with chances either side of the break and Jinks tested Darren Quigley’s reflexes in the visitors’ goal.
Robert Bayly then received his marching orders just past the hour mark following a dissent to Referee Sean Grant but Fingal added the third 15 minutes from time as John Frost set up top scorer Eamon Zayed to slam home into the net.
A consolation goal arrived for Town three minutes later - Darragh Concannon’s rebound falling to Liam Lynch to convert.
Longford Town: A. Gough; Kenny, Sheridan, McCarthy, King; Jinks, Concannon, S. Gough, Curran; Lynch, McCartney (Murphy 66 mins).
Sporting Fingal: Quigley; Gannon, P. Byrne, Paisley, Frost; Kirby, McFaul, Bayly; C. Byrne (McArdle 90), Zayed, Gaynor (James 89 mins).
Referee: Mr. Sean Grant (Wexford)