League Report: Cobh Ramblers 0 - 1 Finn Harps

Finn Harps hopes of claiming the SSE Airtricity League First Division live on as they defeated Cobh Ramblers by a solitary Tony McNamee goal on Saturday evening in St. Colman’s Park.

Finn Harps came into this game knowing that since Wexford Youths had defeated UCD 2-1 24 hours previously in the Belfield Bowl, that nothing less than a win was going to keep them in the hunt for league honours. This was never going to be an easy task as they had to rely on a late Raymond Foy goal to get the three pints winning 3-2 on May 16^th. Either side of that game they had two home victories over the Cork side, 2-0 back in April when Cobh had no manager and then in July 2-1 over the same opposition.

Finn Harps came into the game minus Keith Cowan and Raymond Foy through suspension while the home side were also minus Stephen Kenny and Kevin Mulcahy for the same reason.

Cobh had the better opportunities during the opening ten minutes with Shane O’Connor and Ryan Goldsmith both seeing shots blocked by the Harps rearguard and gathered by Ciaran Gallagher in the Harps goal.

The visitors to Colman’s Park were hitting a lot of ball up to the energetic front two of Wilfred Tagbo and McHugh but nothing was sticking in the opening 15 minutes.

On the twenty minute markl McNamee was involved in an incident with Graham McCarthy that required the Harps player to change to a number 22 shirt from his original 11.

As the half progressed nothing was really happening of note in the game save for a half shot from O’Connor for Cobh and McHugh for Harps.

On the stroke of half time with Harps having all the possession and doing most of the attacking lead through both wingers Nathan Boyle and McNamee they could have possibly scored when McNamee’s shot from the edge of the box went straight to Browne just missing Tagbo’s outstretched boot.

The second half he was to get it perfect though on 49 minutes, when he received the ball out wide before cutting in and unleashing a powerful drive with his left foot low into the bottom left hand corner of the net to keep the championship race on and prevent Wexford Youths from opening the champagne.

Ciaran Coll tried to double the lead shortly afterwards but his shot went wide of the goal. Harps by now had the majority of the possession in the second half but despite a lot of huffing and puffing from the Harps team they were not to increase the lead in the period of time after the goal.

A moment of note on 66 minutes for the home support was Rob Waters returning to Colman’s Park for his first time since July 13^th were he left the club following a 3-0 defeat to Wexford Youths.

Cobh tried to pull a goal back to try and rescue a point from the encounter but a Goldsmith header that went over on 76 minutes was the closest they were to come to the equaliser.

On 87 minutes Kevin McHugh unleashed a ferocious drive from 25 yards but only the post could prevent the Harps legend from doubling the lead as Harps focus now turns to the UCD game at home next Friday night.

Cobh Ramblers: David Browne; Graham McCarthy, James Furlong, Brendan Frahill, Anthony O’Donnell; Stephen Christopher (Christopher McCarthy 79), Jason Abbott, David Curran (Adam O’Sullivan 62), Jacob Buris (Bobbi Donoghue 62); Ryan Goldsmith; Shane O’Connor.

Subs not used: Shane Hallihan, David King.

Yellow Cards: Curran (40), O’Donnell (64), O’Connor (85), McCarthy (87).

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Josh Mailey, Packie Mailey, Matt Crossan, Ciaran Coll; Nathan Boyle (Kieran McDaid 88), Gareth Harkin, Michael Funston, Tony McNamee; Kevin McHugh (B. J Banda 94), Wilfred Tagbo (Rob Waters 66).

Subs not used: Tommy Lee McCarrow, Atta Ozbay, Gareth Doherty.

Yellow Cards: McNamee (28), Tagbo (31).

Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway).

Attendance: 350 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Tony McNamee (Finn Harps).