- Sean Geary
- Tue, Aug 27 2013
Finn Harps will meet Drogheda United at Finn Park in the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup after they overcame Cobh Ramblers 4-0 at St.Colman’s Park on Monday night.
A contentious Kevin McHugh penalty and further goals from Lee Toland, Paul McVeigh and Michael Funston sends the Donegal side into the last eight of the competition for the first time in 10 years.
The home side made three changes from the 1-1 draw last weekend with Dave Hill bringing Brian Fitzgerald, Craig Burns and James Carson back into his side.
Peter Hutton made two changes with Josh Mailey and Seán McCarron starting for Finn Harps.
Cobh started really well and could have taken the lead in the opening quarter when Alan O’Flynn latched onto a ball over the top but the young winger was unable to find the target.
The same player was off target again moments later after he was set up by Roy Kenny, then Davin O’Neill was bundled over in the box but referee Andrew Mullally waved away the appeals as Ramblers began to dominate.
Finn Harps’ first real sight of goal came in the 22nd minute when Michael Funston broke free down the right but his cross was missed completely by McCarron who should have done better.
O’Flynn had a header saved by Ciaran Gallagher as Ramblers searched for the opening goal but it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play when Burns was controversially deemed to have felled McHugh in the box.
McHugh himself stepped up to send Shane Hallahan the wrong way from the spot and minutes later Harps doubled their advantage when Lee Toland fired a free-kick into the bottom corner after a Brendán Frahill handball on the edge of the box.
The visitors comfortably saw out the half with Ramblers stunned by the concession of two goals in such a short space of time.
The second half started as the first ended with few incidents of note and the game was over as a contest in the 66th minute when Cobh went down to 10 men after Frahill saw red for a second bookable offence.
Shortly after they were reduced to nine when Kenny was shown a straight red for a poor tackle on James Doherty as the hosts completely lost their discipline.
Paul McVeigh made it three with ten minutes left when Gallagher punted a long ball downfield and the substitute easily slotted past Hallahan.
Michael Funston scored a fourth in injury time when he was played in by Josh Mailey to complete Ramblers’ misery and seal his side’s progression into the quarter finals.
Cobh Ramblers: Shane Hallahan; Brendan Frahill, Craig Burns, Brian Fitzgerald, John Meade (c); Alan O’Flynn (Andrew Bhandarkar 59), James Carson, Roy Kenny, Martin Deady; Davin O’Neill, Kynan Rocks.
Subs not used: Robert Birdsall, Eoin Hastings, Daniel Santry, Jonathan Spillane, Sean O’Mahony.
Bookings: J Meade (34), Burns (34), Frahill (37+66), Rocks (44), James Carson (90).
Sent off: Frahill (66), Kenny(73).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; James Doherty, Josh Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston, Shaun McGowan, Mark Forker (Pat McCann 86), Lee Toland; Sean McCarron (Paul McVeigh 62), Kevin McHugh (Michael Doherty 87).
Subs not used: Jordan Duffy, Gary Merritt, Aaron O’Hagan
Bookings: Cowan (23), McCarron (56).
Referee: Andrew Mullally (Waterford)
Attendance: TBC
Extratime Man of the Match: Kevin McHugh (Finn Harps).
