Finn Harps’ First Division campaign will end on Friday against Treaty United after their playoff hopes were shattered at a cold Finn Park this evening.
Finn Harps 1 – 3 Wexford FC
(Report by Stuart Connolly wit pics by Joe Boland)
Only a win was good enough to take the fight to the final day, and Wexford FC, who played over 50 minutes with ten men, boosted their own standing in the league after a victory at Finn Park.
Jamie Watson’s first half strike was quickly cancelled out by a goal from Cian O’Malley, and Wexford were swiftly reduced to ten men after that equaliser.
Darragh Levingston turned the game on its head moments later, and a Cian Curtis spot kick in the final stages brought the game to a disappointing end for the home side.
Darren Murphy made just the one change to his team that drew with Bray Wanderers, and it was an enforced alternation as Conor Tourish was called upon to replace the suspended Noe Baba.
Wexford FC, who confirmed their playoff spot last Friday night, had nine different players in the starting eleven, as only Darragh Levingston and James Crawford retained their places after the victory over Kerry FC.
Finn Harps enjoyed their fair share of the possession in the attacking half, but their only chance of note in the opening quarter of an hour deflected wide after it left the boot of Sean Patton.
Wexford FC’s fortunes in the final third told a similar story, as Mark Hanratty had their only opportunity, one from long range, which flew over the bar.
The next shot from distance came in the 25th minute as Harps broke the deadlock in style.
From 25 yards out, Jamie Watson had limited options but let fly, and his shot arrowed into the bottom left corner beyond the grasp of Alex Moody.
In a five-minute span that started in the 38th minute, the game was completely flipped.
Wexford FC found their equaliser to kick off the crazy few minutes as a quickly taken free kick was whipped across goal by James Crawford, and it rolled invitingly for Cian O’Malley to blast into the bottom left corner.
Less than one minute later, Wexford were reduced to ten men. Success Edogun made an attempt to run down the wing but was hauled down by Crawford, who was shown a second yellow card for his exploits.
Fast forward another two minutes, and Wexford FC took the lead. Reece Webb floated a ball in from the right, and the half clearance allowed Darragh Levingston to take a touch on the edge of the box before a cool finish into the corner, with Cooney rooted to the spot.
Harps began the second half on the front foot, and they had two decent chances to level the game. Patrick Ferry fired the first effort off a yellow shirt, while the second goalbound header from Patton was destined for the back of the net until Moody strongly punched it away.
It was attack against defence as the second half ticked away, and the chances kept popping up for Harps as Edogun flashed an effort narrowly wide with 65 minutes gone.
Harps’ issue with leaving their intentions on all-out attack was the threat of a counter, and with just shy of ten minutes to go, they took a big hit.
Mark Imiren pushed Wexford up the field, and after the ball rolled into his path in the box, he was brought down by Watson as he got a shot off, and a spot kick was the result. Cian Curtis stepped up and calmly slotted it right down the middle to close the curtains on Finn Harps’ season.
Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Jamie Watson, Conor Tourish(Bruce Strachan 81), Matthew Makinson, Luke O’Brien; Max Hutchison(Gavin McAteer ht), Ryan Rainey(David Cawley ht), Tony McNamee(Max Johnston 71), Patrick Ferry; Success Edogun, Sean Patton(Gavin Gilmore 71).
Wexford FC: Alex Moody; Reece Webb, Benjamin Lynch, Cian O’Malley, James Crawford; Darragh Levingston(Luka Lovic 71), Conor Crowley(Kian Corbally 71), Mark Hanratty(Sean McHale 60), Adam Lennon(Mark Imiren 80); Kaylem Harnett(Robbie O’Toole 80), Cian Curtis.
Referee: Daryl Carolan
