Cobh Ramblers found themselves frozen out at a sub-zero Finn Park as Finn Harps cruised to a deserved 4-1 win.
In front of a crowd of around 500, Peter Hutton’s side went in front after just four minutes through Sean McCarron and never gave up their dominance after that.
Veteran striker Kevin McHugh grabbed the first of two goals on the night just a couple of minutes later and the writing was on the wall.
Cobh’s thoughts must have already been turning to the marathon bus journey home.
They were given a brief lifeline just before the half-hour mark through the ever-dangerous Conor Meade.
The shaven-headed striker was unlucky to be on the losing side as he persisted throughout.
Meade ghosted into the Harps area and slotted over the advancing Ciaran Gallagher.
Any sign of a comeback was quickly snuffed out however when McCarron netted his second when he headed home a Marc Brolly cross.
Harps defence worked well to keep Cobh at just a single score with the likes of Tommy McMonagle working his socks off.
In midfield the likes of Shaun McGowan and Mickey Funston carved and probed for Kevin McHugh.
Funston, who also worked tirelessly throughout, almost found the net but shot across the face of the goal coming up to 70 minutes.
By that stage Harps had the points in the bag.
But some good work by Damien McNulty found Paul McVeigh who crossed from McHugh who made it 4-1.
The win marked Harps’ first home game.
The crowd may have been disappointing but if Harps continue to play this brand of entertaining football and get the results, the crowds will get bigger.
And deservedly so.
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