Sporting Fingal 2 Dundalk 1:ALL the early evidence suggests the 2010 Airtricity League will be particularly interesting, and the collision of two evolving teams was always going to be revealing in Santry.

Sporting Fingal and Dundalk have both earned points and plaudits since the outset of March, and last night’s encounter didn’t disappoint as Liam Buckley’s side soared to the top of the table.

Fingal, who played all the football in the first half, survived a spirited Dundalk riposte in the third quarter as they eventually eked out a merited win to make it seven matches unbeaten.

Shaun Maher went close with a header before Fingal grabbed a ninth minute lead courtesy of a curious goal. Eamon Zayed, prominent in the early stages, dashed into the area, and unleashed an innocuous shot that appeared to be drifting wide, but the ball was headed to the net by Dundalk defender Wayne Hatswell, and suddenly Fingal were armed with an advantage.

Fingal were then left to reflect on the squandered opportunities in the 53rd minute as Dundalk, who improved after the interval, levelled when JJ Melligan ruthlessly punished a defensive lapse in concentration with a controlled finish over the advancing Darren Quigley.

Despite the concession there was an admirable resilience about the way Fingal recovered, and they were awarded a penalty on the hour mark as O’Neill tumbled following a Garry Breen challenge. Kirby confidently rolled the spot kick home for Fingal to lead again.

Dundalk were unfortunate not to restore parity moments later as a furious goalmouth scramble culminated with Liam Burns’s effort shaving the woodwork.

SPORTING FINGAL: Quigley; O’Brien, Browne, Maher, Fitzgerald; Finn, McFaul, Kirby; Byrne, O’Neill (Crowe, 86), Zayed.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Kelly (J Breen, 82), G Breen, Burns, Hatswell; Maher, Melligan, Miller, Gaynor; Fenn, Kuduzovic.

REFEREE: T Connolly (Dublin).