SSE Airtricity League First Division
Finn Harps 1 – 0 Dundalk
Finn Harps recorded their first win in ten games, and inflicted a first defeat of the season on league leaders Dundalk at Finn Park on Monday night.
The hosts defended superbly throughout, while a couple of top saves from Corey Sheridan kept Ciaran Kilduff’s side at bay.
Gradi Lomboto netted from the spot just after the hour for his second in three games, and that much needed win has brought an end to a poor run of form.
After a Friday night stalemate against Athlone Town, changes were an expectation, but only two were made as Conor Tourish returned to the starting eleven after a spell on the sidelines.
After only playing a handful of minutes down in Athlone, Michael Place also started from minute one.
From the word go, Harps were valiant in defence and limited the visitors in the final third, as Leo Gaxha was the only one to fire towards goal within the first ten minutes, but his effort fizzed wide.
Max Hutchison directed a strong header toward goal prior to the quarter of an hour point, and it required an equally strong hand from Enda Minogue to tip it over; had it found its way in, the offside flag would have spoiled the moment.
Clear-cut opportunities remained elusive in this encounter. Dundalk enjoyed plenty of the possession, and several passes over the top released Gaxha or Horgan down each side, but any cross into the box was promptly dealt with by a firm defence.
As the half time interval approached, two more half chances popped up for the visitors. Eoin Kenny rifled an effort just wide, while a goalbound shot from Gaxha was diverted just beyond the post by Joel Thompson.
Harps had the first opening of the second half as the outstretched boot of Minogue thwarted a low attempt from Tony McNamee with only two minutes gone.
Dundalk responded with two very big chances. Gaxha was the recipient for the first, but after an accurate pass in from Horgan, the former Athlone Town player lifted his strike over the bar.
The next chance was all about Eoin Kenny, who got beyond the defence, and his shot looked destined for the back of the net until Joel Bradley-Walsh intervened with an exceptional clearance and ended up in the net himself.
On the hour, Harps were awarded a spot kick after Gaxha was penalised for a shove in the back of Thompson.
Tony McNamee gifted the ball to Gradi Lomboto, and his left-footed penalty nestled into the bottom right corner, just beyond the dive of Minogue.
With a quarter of an hour left, Harps’ defensive display reached its apex. After an initial clearance was surrendered, Kenny fired at goal, and Corey Sheridan pulled off a spectacular one-handed save to tip the effort on to the crossbar.
As the board went up for stoppage time, and even prior to that moment, it was backs against the wall for Harps as Dundalk threw everything forward in a bid to keep their unbeaten record going.
Five minutes into the eight added on, Sheridan pulled off another big save, this time to deny a close range header from Dean Ebbe and it meant back-to-back clean sheets for the netminder.
Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Michael Place, Conor Tourish, Max Hutchison, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Joel Thompson; Kevin Jordan(Gavin McAteer 74), Josh Cullen, Gavin Gilmore, Tony McNamee; Gradi Lomboto.
Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Luke Mulligan(Keith Ward 65), Vinny Leonard, Mayoma Animasahun, Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin(Shane Tracey ht), Harry Groome, Andy Paraschiv(Dean Ebbe 65), Leo Gaxha(Sean Martin McHale 87), Daryl Horgan; Eoin Kenny.
Referee: Daniel Murphy
