Finn Harps suffered more heavy capital punishment tonight as Ollie Horgan’s men were crushed by Europe-chasing Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Shamrock Rovers 4 Finn Harps 1
Pictures by Joe Boland, North West News Pix
James Doona, a second-half substitute, scored twice after Gary Shaw and Brandon Miele netted either side of the break, while BJ Banda’s goal late on was scant consolation for Harps, who remain in the relegation zone with only four games of the season remaining.
Harps handed a first senior start to Letterkenny teenager Shane Blaney (above), elevated with Ciaran Coll unavailable and Ethan Boyle only deemed fit enough for a spot among the substitutes.
Injury meant no place for Sean Houston, but Jonny Bonner and Danny Morrissey were returned to the starting XI.
Paddy McCourt on the attack for Finn Harps
Harps were under the cosh early on as Ronan Finn fired wide and Ciaran Gallagher wonderfully denied Shaw.
Rovers took the lead when Shaw prodded home after getting on the end of a Cameron King centre.
Harps were hanging on by half-time as Rovers, through Miele and Shaw, hit the post twice in the late moments of the first half.
In the 51st minute, Rovers doubled their lead as Miele beat Gallagher from a free kick.
Doona made no mistake as he weaved his way into position with 20 minutes to go.
Eddie Dsane on the attack for Finn Harps
And, just five minutes later, Doona completed a miserable night for Harps as he took a pass from Ryan Connolly before steering home.
Banda managed to beat Tomer Chencinski as the game neared its conclusion, but the night was already a dark one for the visitors.
Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Simon Madden, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Luke Byrne (Dean Carpenter 66); David McAllister, Ronan Finn, Cameron King (Ryan Connolly 70), Trevor Clarke (James Doona 61), Brandon Miele; Gary Shaw.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Tommy McBride, Damien McNulty, Shane Blaney, Mark Timlin; Gareth Harkin, Paddy McCourt, Jonny Bonner (Ibrahim Keita 59), Caolan McAleer (BJ Banda 81), Danny Morrissey (Liam Walsh 86); Eddie Dsane.
Referee: Robert Hennessy (Limerick).
