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Harps climb top after crunch win over Cobh

Friday 28th September 2007, 11:48 pm

Conor Gethins, Finn Harps.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Finn Harps moved top of the First Division of the League of Ireland for the first time this year thanks to a 1-0 win over Cobh Ramblers at Finn Park tonight. Conor Gethins scored the only goal of the game to end Cobh's 27 game unbeaten run in the league and give Harps the advantage in the race towards the Premier Division.

With only two points between them going into their last meeting in the league this season, both sides knew that winning the game would give one side a massive boost. Both sides also had to be aware of Dundalk chasing in third place and looking to get themselves back in the race and it's more than likely that John Gill and his team would have been happy with a draw in Ballybofey tonight.

Cobh missed a great early chance to take the lead when Alan Carey saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper James Gallagher. A weak pass back to the goalkeeper had seen Kieran O'Reilly race in on goal before the keeper dragged him down. Having just shaken off an injury to play, Gallagher then escaped with a yellow card before saving Carey's kick.

Harps were disappointing and took a while to get going. Even then, Gethins couldn't get much power in a shot at goal while Kevin Murray had gone much closer to breaking the deadlock at the other end.

With both sides in good form it was perhaps inevitable they would cancel each other out and chances were not exactly flowing at a well attended Finn Park.

Shaun McGowan flicked superbly over goalkeeper James McCarthy on the hour but the Harps man and their vocal support looked on in agony as the effort came back off the post.

The only goal eventually arrived just over five minutes from the end as Gethins fired home what could prove to be a hugely significant goal before the season is over. Declan Divin crossed and when the ball eventually landed at the feet of Gethins he unleashed an unstoppable shot to the back of the Cobh net.

Cobh had no response and will now have to regroup quickly if they hope to reclaim top spot in the race for only one automatic promotion place.

Ramblers finished the game with ten men when John Kearney was sent off in the final minute after collecting his second booking.

Finn Harps : Gallagher, Asokuh, Minnock, Boyle, Holmes, Shields (McLaughlin 90), Funston (Breen 82), McGowan, Parkhouse, Gethins, Brolly (Divin 78).
Cobh Ramblers : McCarthy, Carey, Meade, Murray, Guthrie, Coleman, Cummins, Kearney, O'Reilly, O'Shea (O'Neill 88), Cambridge (Meade 88).