Cork City’s promotion hopes for 2010 ended tonight, virtue of a Kevin McHugh which gave Finn Harps all three points in Ballybofey.
Tommy Dunne’s options were stretched, and he was forced to draft in a number of youngsters into his 16-man squad. George O’Callaghan and Shane Barrett were unable to travel, which mean Gareth Cambridge returned to the starting line-up, with Paul Deasy also handed a place in the starting eleven.
Finn Harps looked the more polished outfit all night, and City’s young side were often found stretched and off the pace. Stephen McLaughlin came close to scoring in the opening stages, but his curling effort flew narrowly over the bar. The Leesiders did muster up some sort of a threat, with Graham Cummins and Davin O’Neill shooting straight at Gavin Cullen.
The deadlock was broken midway through the half. James Doherty found himself through on goal down the right. After drawing out Mark McNulty, he squared the ball to Kevin McHugh and the veteran striker made no mistake and finished into the empty net.
After the break City went in search of an equaliser, and came close with Cummins and Gearóid Morrissey both trying their luck. A blunder from McNulty almost allowed Marc Brolly to double Harps’ lead when he found the City ‘keeper off his line, which Cummins was denied by Cullen down the other end when he looked certain to score.
Cummins, usually clinical in such positions found himself one on one with Harps’ number one, but he was denied by a brilliant point blank save. The game fizzled out for the remaining minutes, neither side overly excelling themselves in a night that City will hope to forget. McLaughlin did have the final opportunity of the game in injury time when he was found unmarked at the back-post, but his shot was off target.
Harps continued their impressive home unbeaten run, while Cork City will hope to finish their season on a high with Salthill and Wexford to come in the final two weeks of the season.
Finn Harps
Starting Line-Up: Cullen; Doherty, Mailey, Cowan, Crossan; McLaughlin, Funston, Forker, Brolly; Walsh, McHugh.
Substitutions: Merritt for Brolly (74 mins), McMenamin for Walsh (78 mins). Subs not used: Foy, Gallagher, O’Hagan.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: McNulty; Turner, Kavanagh, Spillane, Cillian Lordan; O’Neill, Duggan, G.Morrissey, Deasy; Cummins, Cambridge.
Substitutions: Holland for Deasy (46 mins), R.Morrissey for Holland (64 mins), Sheahan for Duggan (75 mins). Subs not used: O’Sullivan, Keneally.
Referee: Phil Caschera.
