McCann’s lone goal enough for Harps
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 progressed to the last-16 of the FAI Ford Cup at the expense 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.
A tough task for Belgrove became more difficult when right-back Conor O’Keefe received a straight red-card for a late tackle on Harps’ Ciaran Coll ten minutes later.
A strong defensive display from Belgrove ensured further goals were prevented before the interval, but with a numerical advantage at their disposal, Ollie Horgan’s visitors remained in control when the action resumed.
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 from the left-hand side by Harps centre-forward Ruairi Keating drifted just past the post.
McHugh and Keating both went close to doubling the lead inside the closing quarter as Belgrove struggled to really test Harps’ ‘keeper Conor Wynn.
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).