- Josh Dolan
- Sun, Nov 01 2015
Two goals in the last 15 minutes from Nathan Boyle and Josh Mailey helped secure Finn Harps a spot in the promotion/relegation with Limerick after a 3-1 aggregate win over UCD.
Harps arrived at Finn Park on Friday with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, meaning that a quality defensive display would probably be enough to drag Ollie Horgan’s side over the line.
However, that wasn’t the case, as both Josh Mailey and Gareth Harkin had opportunities to boss their way into the Student’s penalty area before firing narrowly over.
Nathan Boyle was as busy ever and gave his name sake Tomás along with Michael Leahy a number of headaches on the night. Mid-way through the first half he latched onto a running ball, before sprinting away from the UCD defense and firing into the side-netting.
The teams went in at 0-0 at the interval and UCD boss Collie O’Neill must have been at his troops to push on and try to get that goal to level the tie.
Early on in the second half, Ryan Swan found himself one on one with Ciaran Gallagher, but Gallagher managed to turn the forward’s effort behind.
Moments later the Students missed another glorious effort, as Conor Cannon fired an effort narrowly over from just ten yards out.
At that point maybe UCD believed that it just wasn’t going to be their night. However, just before the hour mark those thoughts were temporarily washed away as the Students were celebrating after UCD winger Jamie Doyle rose highest to head past Gallagher to level the tie.
However, as UCD looked to get in front in the tie while they had the momentum, Harps begun to use their frightening counter-attack.
And with 14 minutes to go, Harps regained control of the tie, as Josh Mailey put Nathan Boyle through on goal and the young striker finished calmly through the legs of Conor O’Donnell.
As you’d expect UCD did all they could to try and equalise and that’s what cost them the second Finn Harps goal, as harps broke following a poor UCD corner, the ball found its way to Tony McNamee, who looked up and picked out Mailey, who fired, powerfully into the top corner of O’Donnell’s net.
Harps now take on Limerick in the first leg of the promotion/relegation play-off at Markets Field on Monday, before the second leg takes place in Finn Park on Friday.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey; Josh Mailey (Michael Funston 90), Raymond Foy, Gareth Harkin, Tony McNamee, Ciaran Coll; Nathan Boyle (Wilfried Tagbo 87), Kevin McHugh (Matthew Crossan 90).
Subs Not Used: Tommy Lee McCarron, Tommy McMonagle, B.J. Banda, Kieran McDaid.
Yellow Cards: Gareth Harkin,
UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Daniel Tobin, Michael Leahy, Tomás Boyle, Mark Langtry; Gary O’Neill, Robbie Benson (C), Daire O’Connor; Ryan Swan, Conor Cannon (Sean Coyne79), Jamie Doyle (Eoin Kirwan 63).
Subs Not Used: Niall Corbet, Adam Harney, Sean Byrne, Jason McClelland, Gareth Coughlan.
Yellow Cards: Gary O’Neill, Conor Cannon.
Referee: Ray Matthews
Attendance: 2,013
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Josh Mailey (Finn Harps).
