Finn Harps 2-0 Shamrock Rovers

FINN Harps did what they had to do tonight as goals from Marc Mukendi and Conor Gethins saw them defeat Shamrock Rovers at Ballybofey - but it wasn't enough to secure Premier Division survival as John Fitzgerald's first-half goal at Belfield sunk Paul Hegarty's charges.

Following their 3-0 defeat at Galway last Friday night, fate was out of Harps' hands heading into tonight's final series of matches. Defeat last week meant that the Donegal side needed a favour from UCD, along with a win themselves. They did their own deed with relative ease as a pair of first-half goals secured the win in terrible conditions, but with Galway winning in Dublin, it was irrelevant.

With Stuart Malcolm suspended and David Tyrell unavailable due to a clause in his loan agreement from Rovers, Paul Hegarty was forced into making two changes from the eleven that succumed to Galway United last week. Marc Mukendi and Chris Breen were recalled to to the starting line-up.

Knowing that victory was imperative were they to have any hope of survivial, Harps set out their stall early on, though the wintery conditions, combined with a badly dug-up Finn Park pitch, made fluid football an impossibility.

Shaun Holmes drilled wide from the edge of the box six minutes in, while Stephen Parkhouse opted for an unselfish cut-back rather than a stab at goal when Barry Murphy failed to hold a shot. Chris Breen shot wide and Murphy did well to turn a Holmes free-kick around the post, before the home team broke the deadlock on 29 minutes. Holmes' corner was headed out by Pat Flynn, but his clearance was a poor one and Marc Mukendi pounced to drive home his first goal of the season.

It should have been two-nil four minutes later, but Gethins shot at Murphy after being played into a one-on-one situation by a through-ball by Neil McCafferty. But the Lifford man made ammends eight minutes from the break when he found the far corner with a clinical finish, though by that stage word had filtered through of John Fitzgerald's goal for Galway at UCD.

Mukendi passed up a glorious chance to get his second and Harps' third in the 52 minute. A cross from the left flank picked out the full-back at the far post, but the Derry man failed to make a connection with the goal gaping at his mercy.

On the hour, Simon Madden was forced into making a goal-line clearance to prevent Stephen Parkhouse from getting the third after Mukendi helped on a corner from Neil McCafferty. Parkhouse turned provider for Shaun McGowan soon after, but the midfielder saw his effort dealt with by Murphy.

The final 25 minutes or so were played in a guagmire and James Gallagher - playing his 140th and last game as he takes early retirement as a result of a troublesome knee injury - managed to keep a clean sheet as Harps took the win. But, it wasn't to be enough to stay up and it's back down to the First Division for the North Westerners.

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Marc Mukendi, Jonathan Minnock, Declan Boyle, Shaun Holmes; Michael Funston, Shaun McGowan, Neil McCafferty, Chris Breen; Stephen Parkhouse, Conor Gethins.
Unused Subs: Gary Beckett, Marc Brolly, Austin Friel, Johnny Havlin, Gavin Cullen.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Ger O'Brien, Pat Flynn, Aidan Price, Simon Madden; Eoin Doyle, Danny O'Connor, Stephen Rice, Sean O'Connor (John Martin 61); Padraig Amond, Tadgh Purcell (Mark Leech 77).
Unused Subs: Darragh Maguire, Robbie Creevy, Sam Holland.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).

Attendance: 1,100 (estimate).