Michael O’Connor headed the only goal of the game just before half-time as Shamrock Rovers overcame Finn Harps at Finn Park tonight.
Finn Harps 0 Shamrock Rovers 1
Rovers hit the front when O’Connor headed Simon Madden’s perfectly-placed cross past Ciaran Gallagher in the 43rd minute.
O’Connor was lining out in opposition to his brother, Ciaran, who is on loan at Harps from Dundalk – and it’s Michael who has the family bragging rights after posting the winner.
Just before O’Connor broke the deadlock, Harps survived a real scare. Madden scuffed his attempt from 25 yards but Brandon Miele seized on the loose ball and let fly.
Miele’s effort looked certain to find the top corner, but the ball careered wide off the shoulder of a Harps defender.
Harps had their moments in the opening half and Packie Mailey might’ve done better when he got on the end of a whipped Ciaran Coll cross. Mailey, though, headed at Rovers netminder Tomer Chencinski from close range.
Sean Houston couldn’t keep his shot, after getting on the end of a clever flick on by Eddie Dsane on the edge of the box.
Earlier, Madden – who bagged a late winner in a 3-2 success for Rovers in March when these sides met at Taillight – blasted over the crossbar from the right-hand side of the box after a Ryan Connolly cross flew across the danger zone.
Harps had gone on their holidays on a good run of form, having taken seven points from their previous three games and after keeping a clean sheet against Sligo Rovers a fortnight ago – a result that put them up to eighth for the season’s interval.
Harps were forced into a reshuffle with a the mid-season break meaning four players were suspended for this one. Danny Morrissey, Damien McNulty, Caolan McAleer and Ethan Boyle were all on the banned list for a Harps side that included new signing Pascal Millien and Under-19 players Liam Walsh on the bench for the first time.
Millien was signed as far back as March but the Haitian international was unable to get a work permit to play before now and he appeared for the last 15 minutes.
Just 90 seconds into the second half, Danny Devine should had a second when he put over the top from under the nose of Harps ‘keeper Ciaran Gallagher.
Harps had a big let off just before the hour. The hosts had a penalty appeal waved away at one end before Miele sped past Mailey, only for Gallagher to get out bravely and save at the feet of the Rovers attacker.
Jonny Bonner – back into the team along with Gareth Harkin and Barry Molloy – saw Chencinski save a low daisy-cutter, while Ronan Finn’s deflected shot drifted away from its intended target.
Rovers sub Sam Bone whistled inches over with his first touch in the 78th minute.
Harps battled hard, but couldn’t force a leveller as they fell to a first defeat in four League games.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ciaran Coll, Kilian Cantwell, Packie Mailey; Paddy McCourt (BJ Banda 82), Barry Molloy, Jonny Bonner, Gareth Harkin; Sean Houston; Ciaran O’Connor (Pascal Millien 75), Eddie Dsane.
Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Simon Madden, Roberto Lopes, Danny Devine, Luke Byrne; Darren Meenan, Ronan Finn, Ryan Connolly, Brandon Miele; Gary Shaw, Michael O’Connor (Sam Bone 77).
Referee: Robert Harvey.
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