Despite their FAI cup heroics, Finn Harps were brought crashing down to earth by Shamrock Rovers B at Finn Park tonight.
Ollie Horgan’s side battled well throughout but a penalty after a half an hour which was dispatched by Chris Lyons was the only difference between the sides.
Harps pushed hard towards the close as Rovers’ Conor Dunne was sent off in the 61st minute after a bad challenge on Keith Cowan.
Harps lost whatever firepower they had up front when Kevin McHugh went off injured.
But Rovers held on and Harps will now have to put all their resources into their FAI Cup Quarter Final.