Paddy McCourt’s goal from a penalty has given Finn Harps the edge in tonight’s promotion-relegation play-off final at Finn Park.
Half-time: Finn Harps 1 Limerick FC 0
McCourt slotted past Tommy Holland in the 36th minute after Jesse Devers was fouled by Killian Brouder.
McCourt is set to leave Harps at the end of this season, but his goal here could be priceless as Harps aim to once again topple Limerick and return to the Premier Division,.
Limerick’s Conor Ellis hit the post after 11 minutes, having beaten Peter Burke in a race for possession.
Ellis ought to have scored with Harps’ stand-in goalkeeper Burke grounded on the edge of his box.
Burke has come in to replace the injured Ciaran Gallagher, whose knee injury is also set to keep him out of Friday’s return leg.
Shane Duggan shot over the top in the early moments after latching onto a loose ball just outside the box.
Harps are also without the injured Mark Timlin and the suspended Mark Coyle, but Devers – one of those to have profited with a place in the starting XI – forced a save from Limerick net minder Holland on 23 minutes.
After McCourt’s goal, there was another nervy moment for Harps when a ball in by Killybegs’ Shaun Kelly’s ball in arrived with too much haste for Ellis and Burke was able to clear.
