Sporting Fingal 2-1 Dundalk

Alan Kirby sank home a penalty to give Sporting Fingal victory over unbeaten Dundalk on Friday night and lift them above the Lilywhites into top spot.

Fingal surged to the summit for the first time in their short history with a hard-working display over a Dundalk side who can reclaim the lead on Monday night should they take three points in their rearranged fixture at Galway United.

"It's nice to be top of the table and recognition of the lads' efforts during the first eight games," said Liam Buckley.

"However, it's early days in the season - we have yet to even complete the first round of four series of matches - and all we want to do is remain competitive in this Division.

"I thought on the balance of play we deserved to beat Dundalk. Our first half performance could have had us further ahead at the break but I thought we reacted well to their equaliser and finished the game out strongly."

Sporting took the lead in bizarre circumstances on 10 minutes when a harmless looking shot by Eamon Zayed which was angling wide was planted past his own goalkeeper Peter Cherrie by Dundalk defender Wayne Hatswell.

Conan Byrne wasted a great chance to extend the lead on 20 minutes when Gary O'Neill teed him up and the winger headed wide from eight yards as the break approached.

The visitors were much hungrier following the restart and took just eight minutes to equalise when JJ Melligan seized upon an soft header by Ger O'Brien towards Darren Quigley and hooked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

Kenny Browne tried to clear the ball on the line but could only steer it in off the underside of the crossbar.

However, Fingal didn't let up in their hunt of top spot and won their first penalty award of the season on the hour when Garry Breen tripped O'Neill as he raced onto Byrne's pass. Kirby kept his cool to send Peter Cherrie the wrong way from the spot.

Back came the Lilywhites and, after changing their formation to three at the back, laid siege in the final stages.

Captain Liam Burns met Ross Gaynor's dangerous free-kick into the box but his header smacked off the crossbar, enabling the relieved Quigley to punch the loose ball out for a corner.

Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Quigley; O'Brien, Maher, Browne, Fitzgerald; Finn, McFaul, Kirby; C. Byrne, O'Neill (Crowe 88), Zayed.

Dundalk (4-4-2): Cherrie; Kelly (J. Breen 80), Burns, G. Breen, Hatswell; Melligan, Miller, Maher, Gaynor; Kuduzovic, Fenn

Referee: T. Connolly (Dublin)


Att: 1109.