League Report: Finn Harps 2 - 0 Cabinteely FC

Finn Harps put a stop to Cabinteely’s good start to their debut season thanks to two goals by Ruairi Keating at Finn Park on Friday night.

Keating was top goalscorer at Finn Park last season - despite  being recalled by his parent club Sligo Rovers midway through the campaign - and he has hit the ground running once again, scoring twice as Harps got the better of Cabinteely on Friday night. But this was an all-round excellent team performance from Ollie Horgan’s side who were good value for their win.

They were up against a Cabinteely team who had marked their arrival to League of Ireland football by surprising Wexford Youths on the opening weekend and then dumping UCD out of the EA Sports League Cup during the week.

They came to Finn Park confident of maintaining their good start. But that all changed with barely four minutes gone on the watch when Keating struck for the opening goal.

Gareth Harkin and Ciaran Coll were both involved in the build-up which saw Raymond Foy force an effort towards goal from the edge of the box. As the ball was half blocked down it fell invitingly for Keating who made no mistake, tucking the ball past keeper, Evan Whelan from close in.

New signing Wilfried Tagbo lined out up front along with Keating in a 3-5-2 formation and with Coll and Josh Mailey raiding down the flanks during the first half, Cabinteely struggled to cope.

The bumpy surface did little to help either team but it was Harps who got to grips with the poor pitch better than their opponents. And with Foy and Michael Funston, particularly prevalent in midfield, the home side were well on top.

Cabinteely’s one and only opportunity to score came on 13 minutes when following a corner. Shane O’Neill volleyed goalwards but Thomas McMonagle was perfectly placed on the post to clear. But all the goalmouth action was at the other end and Keating was at the heart of almost every dangerous situation.

He glanced a header just wide of the post following a delightful cross from Funston. And he went closer again when after running on to a wonderful pass from Josh Mailey, his shot was well saved by keeper Whelan who did well to dash from his line and close down the angle.

Funston himself went close when his goalbound effort from just outside the area was deflected wide. The only disappointing aspect of that first half was that Harps, for all their positivity and dominance, only had Keating’s early strike to show for their efforts.

The feeling among the home supporters at the break was that their team would need a second and that fear was strengthened further when the visitors began the second half on the front foot. But they continued to struggle to create any chances and Harps’ central trio of Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan and McMonagle held firm.

The hard-working Tagbo was replaced by Kevin McHugh just before the hour and he quickly  made an impact, getting on the ball in and around the Cabinteely area and offering a new dimension to the Harps attack.

There was one concerning moment shortly after McHugh’s introduction when Keating needed some lengthy treatment after suffering injury. Harps had Garbhan Friel stripped and ready to come on but Keating insisted he was okay to continue. And when he was waved back on to the field to rejoin the action, he raced towards goal just in time to head a Josh Mailey cross to the net.

It was a strange goal to say the least - but Harps weren’t complaining.  One player who was was the Cabinteely keeper Whelan who  seemed to think that Mailey’s deep cross had gone out over the by-line before curling in again. He was as surprised as any to see Keating sneaking in behind to head in at the back post.

There were still 20 minutes left on the watch, but there was to be no way back for Cabinteely. Friel, who eventually came on for Keating, almost added a third and Raymond Foy and McHugh also had chances as Harps cruised to what was an impressive victory.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Josh Mailey, Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Thomas McMonagle, Raymond Foy, Michael Funston (Tony McNamee 78), Gareth Harkin, Ciaran Coll, Wilfred Tagbo (Kevin McHugh 58), Ruairí Keating (Garbhan Friel 74).
Subs not used: Tommy Lee McCarron (gk), Regan Donelon, Matt Crossan, Brian McGroary.

Bookings: None.

Cabinteely: Evan Whelan; Aaron Brilly (Tyrone McNelis 84), Victor Ekanem, Robert Maloney, Jamie McGlynn (Conor Foley 67); Evan Finnegan, Shane O’Neill, John McKeown, Ger Pender, Jordan Buckley, Kevin Knight.
Subs not used: Shane Fagan (gk), Lloyd Cairns, Eoin O'Sullivan, Daniel Campbell, Bobinal Mazono.

Booked: Maloney (30).

Referee: Marc Lynch

Attendance: 751