League Report: Dundalk 3 - 0 Finn Harps

Dundalk cut the deficit on league leaders Shamrock Rovers to six points on Friday night, albeit with an extra game played, as the Lilywhites’ 3-0 win over Finn Harps saw them jump above Derry City into second place in the table.

It is worrying times for Ollie Horgan’s men meanwhile as this result for Harps made it four defeats in a row.

They have failed to find a win since the end of April, although they will be grateful that they did manage not to concede in the second half having trailed by three goals at the break (and that UCD lost 2-0 at home to Shelbourne to stay behind Harps on goal difference).

Dundalk raced into a two goal lead inside six minutes through Darragh Leahy and Keith Ward and Harps were thankful that it took another 30 minutes before the home side added a third through Steven Bradley as the Dundalk dominated the game from start to finish.

The Lilywhites were able to coast through the second half to claim their first win in three matches.

Stephen O’Donnell had named his side without Nathan Sheppard and Robbie Benson due to injury with Mark Connolly unavailable – although the Lilywhites hope to be able to hold onto the player even though his loan spell from Scottish Premiership side Dundee United has comes to an end.

Three minutes in Leahy drove the first goal home for Dundalk. Steven Bradley’s shot was blocked by Ethan Boyle back into Leahy’s path and he made no mistake with his shot.

Another three minutes in and Dundalk had doubled their lead as Ward banged home Greg Sloggett's centreafter he had raced onto a Patrick Hoban flick on off Lewis Macari's pass.

Peter Cherrie didn’t have much to do in the opening half but his defence needed to be active to clear Boyle’s long throws and Regan Donelon’s set pieces. 

Bradley got the third goal for the Lilywhites when he cut in from the right by Barry McNamee before he unleashed a driven left foot strike that fizzed by Mark McGinley.

Cherrie was called upon early in the second half to keep his cleansheet as Conor Tourish’s shot was heading into the top corner before the goalkeeper flew through the air to push the ball away.

Ward clipped the post with a beaut of a whipped shot from wide left after Daniel Kelly pulled the ball back to him from the end line with Mark McGinley scrambling back to his goal but that was as close as they came to getting a fourth.

It is a break from league action next week with both sides in starting their respective FAI Cup campaigns on Friday. Dundalk host Longford Town while Harps will welcome Bohemians to Finn Park.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sam Bone, Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy, Lewis Macari (John Mountney 76); Steven Bradley (David McMillan 84), Paul Doyle, Greg Sloggett, Keith Ward (Joe Adams 67); Patrick Hoban (c) (John Martin 76), Daniel Kelly (Ryan O'Kane 67).

Subs not used: Mark Hanratty. 

Booked: Darragh Leahy (87). 

Finn Harps: Mark McGinley; Ethan Boyle, Regan Donelon (Dylan Duncan 74), Rob Slevin, Conor Tourish; Ryan Connolly, Eoin McGing, Barry McNamee (c) (Mark Timlin 66), Ryan Rainey (Harry Nicolson 65); Robert Jones (Jose Carrillo 83), Filip Mihaljevic.

Subs not used: Gavin Mulreany, Bastien Hery, Eric McWoods, Luke Rudden. 

Booked: Ryan Rainey (39) . 

Referee: Adriano Reale.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Steven Bradley (Dundalk)