- Stuart Connolly
- Sat, Oct 29 2016
Finn Harps’ season ended with a bang as they ran out 1-0 winners against Bohemians, just 4 days after Wexford Youths lost their game in hand to secure Finn Harps’ Premier Division status.
Ryan Curran scored the only goal of the match just before half time as the away fans brought the Halloween theme to Finn Park with fancy dress, flares and sparklers.
Finn Harps boss Ollie Horgan made four changes for his final line up of the season. Their last outing saw the team all but secure survival and it was confirmed after Wexford lost to Cork City during the week.
The Match for Harps fans was seen as a farewell match for Kevin McHugh who could not play due to injury.
Bohemians Manager Keith Long was forced to make a change before the game even kicked off due to an unknown reason and Shane Supple was replaced in goal by Dean Delaney.
He originally made one change to the side that lost their last outing against Champions Dundalk, with Eoin Wearen starting in place of Dean O'Halloran.
The first chance of the match fell to Kurtis Byrne who coolly slotted home a neat toe poke but the flag was raised for off-side against the striker.
Derek Prendergast had a chance moments later after a good set-piece from Lorcan Fitzgerald, but Brush got down well to save.
Funston was presented with Finn Harps’ best chance of the first half on the half hour mark, after beating the defender, he tried to slot the ball home from a tight angle, but Delaney had his near post covered.
Ryan Curran opened the scoring for Finn Harps just before half time, a neat pass from Funston to Curran in the penalty area, who fired home into the top corner, leaving the keeper just out of reach. Half time saw the club say farewell to Kevin McHugh who was visibly emotional about leaving. The break also saw three Bohemians fans invade the pitch, all in fancy dress, just to take a penalty.
Ruairi Keating had the first real chance of the second half, but tried to walk the ball into the goal and his delayed shot went into the side netting.
A true piece of skill from Mark Quigley set himself up perfectly to fire a shot towards goal from close range, but Packie Mailey put in a great tackle to deny the forward the shot.
Quigley had a number of chances throughout the game and with 20 minutes to go he fired another long distance shot towards goal, another effort that went over the bar and somehow got stuck in the fence behind the goal.
Quigley was cursing his luck after a deft header late in the match hit the post and bounced back into the Keeper's gloves.
BJ Banda looked to make an instant impact after coming on for Ruairi Keating and had a powerful shot sting the hand of Delaney in the away goal.
Seconds later he had the ball on a plate for Ryan Curran but he could not add a second.
A last minute corner from Bohemians was the last action of the season at Finn Park, it amounted to nothing as Finn Harps ran out 1-0 winners.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Ciaran Coll, Packie Mailey, Tommy McMonagle, Ethan Boyle; Sean Houston, Michael Funston (Dave Scully 73), Barry Molloy, Tony McNamee (Daire O'Baoill 89); Ruairi Keating (BJ Banda 80), Ryan Curran.
Subs not used: Ciaran Gallagher, Gareth Doherty, Ciaran Kelly.
Booked: Barry Molloy(19), Michael Funston(64).
Bohemians: Dean Delaney; Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Derek Prendergast (Ian Morris 62), Dan Byrne; Roberto Lopes, Eoin Wearen, Keith Buckley (Dean Casey 80), Paddy Kavanagh; Mark Quigley, Kurtis Byrne.
Subs not used: Jake Kelly, Warren O'Hara, Dylan Hayes.
Booked: Paddy Kavanagh(52), Kurtis Byrne(65).
Referee: John McLoughlin.
Attendance: 1008.
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Ryan Curran (Finn Harps).
