Finn Harps suffered a first defeat in five games when they were easily disposed of by Athlone Town in this evening’s Bank Holiday clash in Ballybofey.
Finn Harps… 1 Athlone Town…4
(Pics by Joe Boland of Northwest Newspix)
Having been unable to take all three points from the opening game of their Bank Holiday double-header against Longford last Friday, Harps were hoping to take their chances in front of goal tonight.
But by half-time that hope had all but disappeared.
Two goals from Athlone’s stylish frontman Frantz Pierrot helped the visitors on their way. They scored two more in the second half to ensure it was a deeply disappointing night for the home side.
Harps fell behind 12 minutes in after Pierrot ran on to a ball over the top before finding the corner of the next from a narrow angle.
He doubled his team’s lead on 33, firing home from the penalty spot after Harps midfielder Seamus Keogh was penalised for handball.
Ironically the home sider had enjoyed much more of the possession for many periods of the opening half.
Harps manager Dave Rogers was absent from the dug-out due to illness and the result will hardly make him feel much better.
Once Haji Abdikadir volleyed in Athlone’s third from close range on 69 there was no way back for Harps who conceded again on 73 when Valerii Dolia struck home from 30 yards.
Filip Da Silva struck for his fourth of the season right at the end.
Finn Harps: Hiemer, McCallion, McMonagle, Farrar, Baba, Mashigo, Flood, Rainey, Da Silva, Harris, Keogh.
Subs: Okwute for Rainey (59), O’Donnell for Farrar (67), Jordan for Flood (84), Duffy for Mashiga (84).
Athlone Town: Velikin, Rodriguez, Kavanagh, Van Geenen, Hickey, Connolly, Pierrot, Dolia, Abdikadir, Campion-Hinds, Leal.
Referee: Marc Lynch
