FINN HARPS made Shamrock Rovers work hard for their victory, but ultimately Ollie Horgan’s side left empty handed.
Finn Harps 0 Shamrock Rovers 1
Gary McCabe’s 70th minute penalty gave Pat Fenlon’s Rovers the win in a tame encounter by the Finn.
McCabe emphatically fired his spot kick to the top corner after Harps goalkeeper Richard Brush had taken down Danny North after scampering from his goal-line to challenge the Rovers striker.
McCabe stepped up and smashed high to finally break a Harps resistance that was beginning to look like frustrating Rovers to the point of earning the home side a share of the spoils.
Harps rarely threatened Barry Murphy’s credentials, but Horgan’s men were full of endeavour against a Rovers side that has now won three-out-of-three.
Having beaten Derry City here in their first home game of the season ten days ago, it was a night again that outlined the difficulties that visiting sides will face in Ballybofey.
Rovers threw an early warning across the Harps brows. Brandon Miele burst past Damien McNulty and Packie Mailey before his cut-back found the in-rushing Michael Drennan.
The midfielder skipped past Ethan Boyle, but drilled a low shot wide of Richard Brush’s far post.
Brush made his Harps debut in Oriel Park on Friday night with Ciaran Gallagher unavailable because of work commitments. Despite Gallagher returing to the squad, Brush kept his spot.
And he kept his former club at bay with a strong save from Drennan, who wormed his way into a shooting position with Miele’s follow-up blocked by Mailey.
Soon after, Mailey intervened on his goal-line with a Drennan ball creeping dangerously in the six-yard box.
Mailey returned to the Harps line-up while Tony McNamee – so impressive in the recent derby win over Derry City – took the place of Michael Funston in the engine room.
The knee injury picked up by left-back Ciaran Coll in Dundalk – one that looks to keep the St Johnston man out for some time – was the latest in an already long line of blows for Harps, with Josh Mailey, Michael Rafter and Barry Molloy also on the absent list.
The Finn Park pitch came in for sharp criticism from the Derry manager Kenny Shiels ten days ago after his side lost 2-1. Shiels approached the FAI’s match delegate, Jim McConnell, and called for the game’s postponement, but the surface was in much better condition for this one.
In the 36th minute, Harps had their first purposeful foray into Shamrock Rovers territory, but Barry Murphy gathered at Mailey’s feet after Ryan Curran got his head to a delivery from Adam Hanlon.
McCabe came close to catching Brush off guard with an ambitious effort in the 58th minute after Gareth Harkin lost possession, but his shot was just over the top.
Rovers were fortunate to still have the full compliment when Simon Madden – having been booked in the first half – shoved Dave Scully to the deck, but Neil Doyle gave the ex-Derry full-back a warning rather than a second caution.
Just when Harps looked as if they’d take a share of the spoils, Rovers pounced to take the lead as North was fouled and McCabe made no mistake with a perfect penalty.
Six minutes were added on, but Rovers held on and the night ended with Harps players arguing that they should have had a last-gasp penalty with Michael Funston going to ground as he ran at Maxime Blanchard.
Neil Doyle, the referee, was unconvinced and the protests weren’t exactlyt convincing either as Harps fell to their second defeat in three days as Rovers maintain their 100 per cent start to the campaign.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ethan Boyle; Adam Hanlon, Raymond Foy (Kevin McHugh ’72), Gareth Harkin, Dave Scully; Tony McNamee (Michael Funston ’81); Ryan Curran.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Maxime Blancard, David O’Connor, Gavin Brennan; Michael Drennan, Gary McCabe, Killian Brennan (Pat Cregg ‘67), Brandon Miele; Gary Shaw, Danny North (Gareth McCaffrey ’90).
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
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