Finn Harps humbled late on by Shamrock Rovers

Despite a positive performance, Finn Harps ended the game with 10 men and a 3-0 loss to reigning champions Shamrock Rovers.

An Andy Lyons opener just before half time followed by a second with 10 minutes to go gave Shamrock Rovers breathing space for the first time in the game but it got worse for Finn Harps via a Rory Gaffney counter attack.

Gaffney went through with only Mark Anthony McGinley to beat and he rounded the keeper but was fouled with referee Rob Harvey giving a penalty and a red card to McGinley.

Graham Burke took the penalty and sent makeshift goalkeeper Bastien Hery, who went in goals as Harps had made five subs, the wrong way

Shamrock Rovers took the lead in agonising fashion for Finn Harps after defending so well in the first half, but Andy Lyons got a 47th minute opener with three minutes added due to an injury to Ryan Rainey

Before the match, Harps sat in 9th place with five points after six games, but enjoyed an emphatic 3-0 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park last time out with goals from Ethan Boyle, Conor Tourish and Eric McWoods.

Shamrock Rovers meanwhile haven’t enjoyed as successful a start to the season as they have in recent years as they come into the game in 4th place, picking up 11 points from their opening seven games, including away losses to Derry and St. Pats who are both ahead of Stephen Bradley’s side in the table.

Finn Harps made two changes from the side that beat Shelbourne 3-0 at Tolka Park.

Harps are without the suspended Ryan Connolly, who is replaced by Erol Alkan to make first start for the club.

Meanwhile, Eric McWoods came in to the side after scoring the third goal in the last game in Dublin as Yoyo Mahdy drops to the bench.

For Shamrock Rovers, Richie Towell and Jack Byrne return to the starting 11 along with Ronan Finn as Danny Mandriou, Barry Cotter and Dylan Watts drop to the bench.

The away side showed their intent for goals early on as Graham Burke had a shot from the edge of the box saved by Mark Anthony McGinley.

But Ollie Horgan’s side were not going to let their visitors in easy and had the next couple of chances.

Harps tried to find McWoods with long balls and he got in behind after four minutes but couldn’t find Filip Mihaljević.

After 10 minutes, Élie Gaël N’Zeyi almost made it 1-0 as he did well to win the ball back around 25 yards from the Rovers goal and he hit his shot first time which came back off the post.

McNamee then found Mihaljević from a set piece routine but his shoot was blocked.

Rovers then enjoyed a dominant period after 20 minutes as Burke had a similar chance outside the box to his earlier one and again McGinley was equal to it.

Moments later Lyons found Burke who found space to turn in the box but McGinley made a great stop.

Rovers were relentless in this short spell as Burke again picked up the ball in the box and Rory Gaffney also did moments later but both times the Harps defence defended well.

Rovers were in control of possession but created little chances to trouble McGinley for the second quarter of the game as Harps threatened on the break, most notably through Mihaljević and McWoods.

Harps lost Rainey to injury as Yoyo Mahdy came in while Gaffney did well to keep the ball in play but his shot went across goal.

The opener came with one of the last passages of play in the first half as Rovers won a corner.

Jack Byrnes corner came in towards the front post and Lyons got to the ball before the Harps defenders and knocked it past McGinley.

Erol Alkan came off at half-time for Rob Slevin as Harps had to attack the champions.

Stephen Bradley’s side looked content on keeping the ball trying to force Harps to come out and press and hope to exploit gaps in the Donegal side.

While Rovers did enjoy more possession, Harps grew into the game and on the hour mark they hit the woodwork again.

A corner went past everyone but N’Zeyi picked up the ball and found Slevin on the outside of the box and his cross found Ethan Boyle but his header hit the crossbar this time.

Moments later the Tallaght side threatened again as Gaffney broke the defensive line to stay onside and cut in on the left but two great challenges from Conor Tourish cleared the danger for the home team.

Again the sides traded chances as first Mahdy and McWoods linked up well as the former flicked a header on to the latter and got the shot off after taking a touch despite pressure from Roberto Lopes but McWoods dragged the shot wide of Alan Mannus’ goal.

Minutes later it was Burkes turn again to test McGinley as with a free-kick from 25 yards he tried to beat the Harps keeper at his side but McGinley made a great save to keep it out.

Roberto Lopes took one for the team as he took out McWoods on the counter attack. Despite shouts for a red card from the home fans, referee Rob Harvey looked to make the correct call by brandishing the yellow card.

The resulting free kick was crossed in and Boyles header went wide.

Harps made a double substitution as they looked for the equaliser but seconds later they were 2-0 down.

A brilliant bit of play between Lyons and Gaffney and Lyons found himself inside the left hand side of the box. He faked to shoot and cut back onto his left foot and smashed the ball over McGinley into the top corner.

It got worse for Harps as Rovers countered from a tame cross and Gaffney went through one-on-one and rounded McGinley but was fouled and Rob Harvey pointed to the penalty spot and gave McGinley the red card.

Hery went in goals as Ollie Horgan had already made five subs but he couldn’t stop Graham Burke’s penalty.

Shamrock Rovers wanted to score more and test the makeshift goalkeeper but Harps avoided further punishment.

Harps stay 9th with a game at home to Drogheda United on Monday night while Shamrock Rovers move up to 2nd, three points behind Derry City.

Subs: Yoyo Mahdy for Rainey (34 mins), Rob Slevin for Alkan (half-time), Bastien Hery and Mark Timlin for McWoods and Carrillo (77 mins), Luke Rudden for McNamee (79 mins)

Finn Harps: Mark Anthony McGinley, Ethan Boyle, Jose Carrillo, Conor Tourish, David Webster, Erol Alkan; Elie Nzeyi, Barry McNamee, Ryan Rainey; Eric McWoods, Filip Mihaljević.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Sean Hoare; Andy Lyons, Jack Byrne, Gary O’Neill, Ronan Finn, Richie Towell; Graham Burke, Rory Gaffney.

Subs: Sean Gannon for Grace (67 mins), Aidomo Emakhu, Aaron Greene and Sean Kavanagh for Gaffney, Towell and Burke (87 mins)

Referee: Rob Harvey