McCann steers Harps past 10-man Farm
Belgrove/Home Farm 0 Finn Harps 1
An EIGHTH-MINUTE goal from midfielder Pat McCann was the difference between the sides at Frank Cooke Park as Finn Harps got the better of 10-man Belgrove/ Home Farm.
The hosts had gone close early on through midfielder Stephen Doran, but excellent build-up play by Kevin McHugh ultimately helped McCann to break the deadlock from close range.
This increased the pressure on a Belgrove side that was aiming to upset the odds, and with right-back Conor O’Keefe receiving a straight red-card for a late tackle on Ciaran Coll 10 minutes later, a victory for the Ballybofey outfit appeared inevitable.
McHugh saw a 25-yard free-kick deflected wide of the mark towards the end of the half.
Indeed, Belgrove were fortunate not to be facing into a two-goal deficit following the opening move of the second period, when a curled effort fromRuairi Keating drifted marginally past the post.
McHugh and Keating both went close to doubling the lead inside the closing quarter, and a dramatic conclusion to the contest never materialised, as Finn Harps took the win.
Belgrove/Home Farm – Jones; O’Keefe, Taylor, Smith, McGuinness; Mooney, Doran, Yeats, Hussey (Drew 66), O’Dwyer (Behan 82); Rogers (Bell 66).
Finn Harps – Wynn; C Bonner, Cowan, Mailey, Coll; Fisher (Tiofack 80), McNulty (Forker 56), McCann, Harkin (Black 89); Keating, McHugh.
Referee – S Rogers (Dublin).