Sporting Fingal 2-0 Galway United
Ronan Finn's fourth goal of the campaign and another from Eamon Zayed secured Sporting Fingal a deserved victory over Galway United to give them a tight grip on fourth place.
Galway travelled to Morton Stadium with a depleted squad, missing five regulars including goalkeeper Barry Ryan through suspension.
That meant a first-team debut for A Championship custodian Daire Geraghty and he succeeded in repelling a dominant Fingal side until Finn's opener eight minutes into the second half. Substitute Zayed wrapped up the points with the second 14 minutes from time.
Despite spending the bulk of the 90 minutes on the back-foot, the Tribesmen should have equalised seven minutes after falling behind when Gary Curran was presented with an open goal but snatched at the chance and fired wide of the far post.
Fingal drew their last two matches but this looked like a three-pointer from the early stages.
Both full-backs nearly had them ahead, firstly Lorcan Fitzgerald failing to hit the target on 18 minutes at the end of a darting run and Ger O'Brien's header drawing a superb save from Geraghty at his near post two minutes later.
Shaun Williams volleyed over five minutes later as the home side continued to control proceedings and all Galway had to show on the chances front in the opening 45 minutes was Stephen O'Donnell's shot from 25 yards which sailed high and well over.
The second half began with Fingal on the attack again and a minute after Thomas Heary produced a last-gasp interception to deny his former Bohemians team-mate Glen Crowe a certain goal, the Ravens took a 53rd minute lead.
Bobby Ryan's crossfield pass was intercepted by Fitzgerald who surged into the Galway half before teeing up Finn who unleashed a 30-yard rocket which left Geraghty helpless.
That goal sparked a response from the visitors and, as well as Curran's wasted chance, Anthony Flood and O'Donnell should have done better with a headers in two other opportunities.
At the other end, Alan Kirby was inches wide with a low drive but Zayed was more precise on 76 minutes as he latched onto a Williams pass inside the box, jinked past Thomas Heary on to his preferred right foot and found the top corner with an angled shot.
Williams might have extended the winning margin two minutes later only for his thunderous 30 yard shot to rebound off the post with Geraghty static on the goal-line.
Fingal are back on home turf again next Friday when they begin the defence of their FAI Ford Cup title against Mervue United at Morton Stadium (7.45pm).
Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Clarke; G. O'Brien, Maher, Gannon, Fitzgerald; Finn, Williams, Kirby; C. Byrne, Crowe (Zayed 63 mins), Quinn (Barrett 80).
Galway United (4-5-1): Geraghty; Sinnott, McKenzie, Heary, Creaney; King (Molloy 75 mins), Foley, Curran, O'Donnell, Ryan; Flood.
Ref: A Buttimer (Cork)
Att: 611.