A dour encounter with few chances went the wrong way for Finn Harps as they lost just their second game of the season against Athlone.
Athlone…1. Finn Harps…0
Harps brought Tim Heimer and Ryan Rainey back into to the starting lineup and gave Chris Letofa his first start for this tricky away fixture.
After a scrappy start in the opening twenty minutes with the home team enjoying most of the possession they took the lead in 23rd minute when Dean Ebbe got on the end of a dangerous cross to head home and put Athlone ahead.
With defences on top clear cut chances were hard to come by with long range efforts the order of the day and neither goalkeeper was troubled.
In the final minutes of the half Harps had a chance but the home side defended well to deny them and they at the other end Ryan Rainey made a vital interception to keep it at 1-0 to Athlone at half-time.
Noe Baba went close for Harps early after in the second-half but Enda Minogue denied him with a fine save and shortly afterwards followed that up by denying Success Edogun, coming quickly off his line.
It remained a game of few chances despite Harps best efforts and the introduction of the young brigade off the bench they just couldn’t break down a resolute home defence.
It finished 1-0 as Harps suffered only their second defeat of the season.
They stay in second place in the table, and the scoreless draw between third place UCD and leaders Cork City means they are four behind Cork and three ahead of UCD.
Athlone Town: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes, Oisin Duffy, Jarlath Jones, Ruben Candal ( Gideon Tetteh 75mins), , Brian Torre ( Jamar Campion-Hinds 60mins), Daniel McKenna , Aaron Connolly, Carl Mujaguzi ( Divine Izekor 90mins), , Dean Ebbe ( Shane Forbes 90mins), Amardo Akeem Oakley ,
Finn Harps: Tim Heimer , Matthew Makinson, Nao Baba , Conor Tourish Jamie Watson ( Aaron McLaughlin 88mins), David Cawley, Ryan Rainey ( Patrick Ferry 75mins), Shane, McMonagle ( Sean O Donnell 60mins), Chris Lotefa ( Mark Mbuli 75mins), Tony McNamee ( Darragh Coyle 88mins) , Success Edogun, Referee ; Jason Moore.
