Finn Harps are propping up the Premier Division table tonight as Ollie Horgan’s men fell to a sixth defeat in seven games.
Finn Harps 0 Bray Wanderers 3
First-half goals by Gary McCabe and Ryan Brennan sent Harry Kenny’s high-flying Seagulls on their way to a win that keeps them in second spot, with Aaron Greene adding the third with a solo effort in the 80th minute.
For Harps, it was a night that saw them fall to the basement with Galway United going above them after holding the runaway leaders Cork City to a one-all draw and St Patrick’s Athletic also climbed out of the relegation zone following a 2-0 win over Drogheda United.
Harps conceded cheaply and it was a night of worry for Harps ahead of a key period for the Donegal side, with Galway, Pat’s and Limerick to come in a busy spell.
The game was just six minutes old when McCabe capitalised to shoot Bray in front. Harps failed to properly deal with a Keith Buckley throw-in and the ball spun down invitingly for McCabe, who cracked a wonderful volley beyond Ciaran Gallagher from 25 yards.
A disappointing home attendance hushed in an almost knowing tone and, five minutes before half-time, the Seagulls doubled the lead.
Brennan glided past Damien McNulty and fired home, off the post from 20 yards and the ease with which the midfielder was allowed get through was certainly to the annoyance of the Harps manager, Ollie Horgan, watching from a high perch in the press box as he served a one-game touchline ban.
Harps had a mountain to climb at the break when they might well have been level just four minutes after conceding the first.
Kilian Cantwell managed to get a shot away in a crowded penalty box from a delicate Paddy McCourt corner, but Mark Salmon blocked from practically beneath his own crossbar and Damien McNulty’s follow-up deflected wide.
The on-song McCabe took aim again when he neatly chested down for himself to have a pop, but his effort had too much elevation to trouble Gallagher.
Barry Molloy returned from suspension to take the place of Michael Funston in the Harps engine room and it was a through ball from the Derryman that teed up a chance that should have resulted in the Harps equaliser but, after breaking in, Gareth Harkin rolled wide of Peter Cherrie’s target on the half-hour.
Cherrie passed a late fitness test to take his place between the sticks for the high-flying Wanderers, who arrived in Ballybofey looking down from second position in the table.
18 years ago this week, these teams were entangled in one of the most gripping League of Ireland sagas as the 1999 FAI Cup final needed a third game to determine a winner, with Bray eventually prevailing.
Harps were able to introduce Danny Morrissey for his first appearance since the 3-2 loss to Shamrock Rovers at the end of March.
On-loan Dundalk striker Ciaran O’Connor fizzed an effort beyond Cherrie’s far post in the 72nd minute as the home side went in search of a way back, but the goose was cooked when Greene was allowed run through from inside his own half to complete the scoring.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty (Michael Funston (78), Kilian Cantwell, Ciaran Coll; Caolan McAleer, Barry Molloy, Sean Houston, Gareth Harkin (Danny Morrissey 63); Paddy McCourt (Simon McGlynn 83); Ciaran O’Connor.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Karl Moore; Ryan Brennan, Mark Salmon, John Sullivan (Anto Flood 45), Dylan Connolly; Aaron Greene, Gary McCabe (Jamie Ahern 83).
Referee: Derek Tomney.
