Finn Harps edge Athlone Town to secure back-to-back wins

Finn Harps made it back-to-back victories after a 1-0 win over Athlone Town at the Athlone Town Stadium on Friday night. 

In what was an eventful week off the field at the club, with the departure of manager Darren Murphy on Tuesday, but on Friday night, it was an 88th-minute strike from substitute Gavin Gilmore that made the difference and earned the Twin Town men an important three points on the road. 

Off the back of last Friday’s five-star performance, Finn Harps made a bright start to the match and came close to hitting the front after just five minutes of play. 

Gavin Hodgins pounced on a poor touch from Cole Omorehiomwan and raced through, however, he was denied by a fine save from Matthew Connor before Dara McGuinness saw his follow-up attempt blocked by Athlone captain Dylan Hand. 

On 25 minutes, it was the host's turn to threaten breaking the deadlock. Former Finn Harps midfielder Bastien Hery found the run of Kyle Robinson who didn’t connect with the ball as he’d have liked and saw his effort trickle wide of the post. 

Athlone Town grew into the contest from here and nearly found the opening goal on the stroke of half-time. 

The lively Kyle Robinson broke through down the left-hand side before drilling a low effort towards David Aziaya’s near post but the Finn Harps shot-stopper got down to prevent him and we went in scoreless at the break. 

In a similar fashion to the opening half, the first clear-cut opportunity of the second stanza fell for Finn Park residents. A delivery into the box from Joel Thompson found Gavin Hodgins who turned brilliantly before firing goalwards but his attempt was safely gathered by Matthew Connor. 

The visitors enjoyed most of the possession in the second half and picked up the pace in the final 15 minutes in search of the crucial goal to put them ahead. 

On 77 minutes, substitute Gavin Gilmore cut inside and shot from long range but Matthew Connors got down to push his effort out for a corner. 

Eight minutes later, Connors was called upon again. Gradi Lomboto whipped in a dangerous ball which was cleared but only as far as David Cawley who fired a shot at goal but the Athlone netminder was on hand to deny him.

With two minutes left on the clock, Finn Harps’ persistence finally paid off. Gradi Lomboto received the ball on the edge of the box before slipping it into the path of Gilmore who rifled it left-footed into the bottom corner to score his first goal for the club. 

The home side threw everything at Finn Harps in the closing stages in search of a point but the Harps outfit held out to secure a vital three points on the road. 

Athlone Town: Matthew Connor; John Ross Wilson, Cole Omorehiomwan, Dylan Hand, Kyle O’Connor, Kyle Robinson (Billy Gilmore, 68), Noe Baba, Bastien Hery (Aaron Connolly, 61), Declan McDaid (Kailen Barlow 88), Dean Williams (Agbo Babatunde, 89), Ben Feeney. 

Finn Harps: David Aziaya; Michael Place, Conor Tourish, Max Hutchinson, Kevin Jordan, Joel Thompson (Gavin McAteer, 60), David Cawley, Tony McNamee, Patrick Ferry (Gavin Gilmore, HT, Dara McGuinness (Gradi Lomboto, 79), Gavin Hodgins (Max Johnston, 82)

Referee: Daryl Carolan.