Finn Harps fell at the first hurdle as they were knocked out of the FAI Cup first round by Bohemians at Finn Park.
Finn Harps 1 Bohemians 3
Bohemians took the lead after 20 minutes when a James Clarke cross fell to Declan McDaid who finished into the far corner of the goal.
Bohemians made it 2-0 just before half-time when a cross was spilled by debutant James McKeown under pressure and Josh Kerr fired home inside the six yard box.
Harps instantly responded however as Ethan Boyle found Eric McWoods on a counter attack and he went through 1-on-1, before rounding Tadgh Ryan and slotting into the net.
Photography by Joe Boland, North West Newspix
Bohs restore their two goal lead when a McDaid chip caught McKeown off guard on what was a night to forget for the debutant
The two sides would have been cursing their luck when the draw was made, as it was the only all-Premier Division tie.
For Finn Harps, a positive 2021 FAI Cup campaign was something they would hope could repeat itself, starting tonight.
Horgan’s side defeated Derry City to face Dundalk in the quarter-finals, but after drawing at Finn Park, a 3-1 defeat in extra time in Oriel Park ended their hopes.
Meanwhile, Bohemians reached the final and took St. Patrick’s Athletic all the way to penalties before ultimately losing out in the shootout.
James McKeown and Gary Boylan both came in for their first starts for the club, while Eric McWoods returned after missing three games with an injury.
Regan Donelon and Liam McGing were the two outfield players replaced, while McKeown replaces Mark Anthony McGinley.
For the visitors, James Clarke came in for his debut, while Declan McDaid and Ryan Burke come into the starting 11, in place of the departed Promise Omochere, while Conor Levingston and Tyreek Wilson were benched.
Keith Long’s men started bright and Junior had a strike at goal but McKeown saved easily.
The game started fiery, with both sides receiving two bookings each in the first 25 minutes.
But the first goal came in the first 20 minutes when Liam Burt found James Clarke down the right.
His cross to the penalty spot was fired home brilliantly by McDaid to convert a well worked goal in which McKeown had no chance with saving, despite getting a slight touch.
Harps’ best early chances came from Boyle and Mihaljevic headers, which neither connected with well enough to guyide on target, while Connolly’s long range effort was saved easily by Ryan.
Boyle stopped what looked like a certain goal when Junior found Burt in the box, but the former Shamrock Rovers defender cleared it for a corner.
A couple of corners in a row had Bohs pushing for a second, and soon enough they found that elusive goal.
After a cross came into a packed box, debutant McKeown failed to hold the cross under pressure, and Joshua Kerr was on hand to prod the ball into the net.
But the advantage wouldn’t last long as two minutes later, Eric McWoods pulled one back for the hosts.
After a Bohs free gave Harps a counter attacking chance, Boyle found McWoods who beat the offside trap, rounded Ryan and finished into the empty net, making it 2-1 at half-time.
But Bohs would restore their two goal lead, and it was another that McKeown wouldn’t want to watch back, as McDaid’s chipped effort caught the keeper off guard and as he backtracked, he seemed to slip and unable to punch the ball clear, gifting Junior a header from a yard out to make it 3-1.
A couple more Bohemians chances went close, first when Clarke found space in the box along the byline but his shot was saved with the leg of McKeown, while a McDaid cross curled inches wide of the far post.
Both sides had half chances, with Clarke going closest after a great bit of play from Bohemians substitutes but McKeown saved well.
Harps continued to battle and were unlucky not to get at least a consolation in injury time but Ryan did well and the Dublin club defended bravely to keep it at 3-1.
Finn Harps will turn their attention to league action now, with two vital games against Drogheda United and UCD.
Finn Harps: James McKeown; Ethan Boyle, Conor Tourish, Rob Slevin, Gary Boylan; Ryan Connolly, Barry McNamee, Ryan Rainey, Filip Mihaljević; Eric McWoods, Robert Jones.
Subs: Dylan Duncan for Boylan (76 mins), Mark Timlin for McNamee (82 mins) for Luke Rudden for Mihaljević (87 mins)
Bohemians: Tadhg Ryan; Josh Kerr, Jordan Doherty, Ciaran Kelly, Ryan Burke; John O’Sullivan, Jordan Flores, James Clarke, Declan McDaid, Liam Burt; Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe.
Subs: Kris Twardek and Ali Coote for McDaid and Burt (67 mins) Ethan Varian and Conor Levingston for Junior and Flores (76 mins)
