- Josh Dolan
- Sat, Sep 26 2015
Finn Harps confirmed their second placed finish in the 2015 First Division, along with a play-off spot, as the Donegal outfit recorded an emphatic 3-0 win at home to third placed UCD on Friday night.
Second half strikes from Nathan Boyle, Gareth Harkin and Raymond Foy after UCD skipper Chris Mulhall was sent-off for an alleged stamp just 21 minutes into the action at Finn Park helped Harps to all three points.
Ollie Horgan’s men got on top and positive play on both sides of the pitch had the Students rear-guard worried, but they managed to survive the early scares.
One of the first real chances fell to Man of the Match Foy, who was truly instrumental on the night. On that occasion, he dispossessed Dylan Watts before firing narrowly over Conor O’Donnell’s cross-bar from just inside the penalty area.
Six minutes later UCD found themselves in deep trouble, as Mulhall was sent for an early bath after Referee Adriano Reale proclaimed to have seen the winger stamp on a member of the Harps troop on the right hand side of the pitch.
Collie O’Neill’s side attempted to take the sting out of Finn Harps’ play by keeping the ball, but the Balyboffey outfit were simply stronger and more hungry for success.
Forward Nathan Boyle has been a real positive for Finn Harps since arriving on loan from Derry. The young attacker had a great chance to open the scoring, but he scuffed his shot wide from inside the area.
Midfield general Foy had a couple of efforts that had the Students worried just before the break. Firstly, his long range effort was expertly saved by O’Donnell, before shooting over with another effort deep into first half stoppage time.
Harps boss Horgan would’ve asked for more of the same when he took his halftime team talk at Finn Park. And he got the very same, except with a more effective cutting edge.
That cutting edge meant that Harps were in front just two minutes into the second period, as Boyle side-footed an effort home from close range to give the home side a deserved lead.
Boyle had a chance for his second minutes later, as Josh Mailey crossed from the right, however Boyle could only fire wide.
Kevin McHugh has been a danger to any opposition that Harps have come up against this season. The experienced forward could’ve netted on Friday night, but he fired his effort safely over the cross-bar from the edge of the box just short of the hour mark.
However, McHugh won’t have lost any sleep, as Harps were two up just two minutes later. Harkin got onto a loose ball, before firing the ball beyond O’Donnell to all but seal the points.
A short while later Foy grabbed a deserved goal, as he cut inside from the left, before powering past the helpless O’Donnell to make it 3-0.
It could’ve got even better for Harps as Packie Mailey headed off the cross-bar with 12 minutes to go, but the opportunity passed the defender and the game finished 3-0 to the men from Balyboffey.
UCD now lie just a point ahead of Shelbourne and face Cabinteely and Waterford in their final two games, games they must win if they are to secure a play-off spot.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Matthew Crossan; Josh Mailey, Gareth Harkin, Raymond Foy, Tony McNamee (Michael Funston 72), Ciaran Coll; Nathan Boyle (Kieran McDaid 76), Kevin McHugh (Wilfried Tagbo 69).
Subs Not Used: Tommy Lee McCarron, Tommy McMonsale, B.J. Banda, Gareth Doherty.
Yellow Cards: Crossan (30), McHugh (57), McNamee (70), Coll (80).
Sent-Off: None.
UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Mark Langtry, Maxi Kougoun, Michael Leahy, Ryan McLaughlain; Jack Watson (Conor Cannon 72), Dylan Watts (Eoin Kirwan 83), Daire O’Connor; Chris Mulhall, Ryan Swan, Jamie Doyle (Adam Harney 72).
Subs Not Used: Conor Mackey, Sean Coyne, Daniel Tobin, Jason McClelland
Yellow Cards: Watts (39).
Sent-Off: Mulhall (21).
Referee: Adriano Reale.
Attendance: 500 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Raymond Foy (Finn Harps).
