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Harps surge back to First Division summit

Sunday 7th October 2007, 5:46 pm

Finn Harps spent less than twenty-four hours off the top of the First Division - retaking the automatic promotion place today following a 4-0 win on their visit to face Monaghan United at Kingspan Century Park.

Conor Gethins grabbed the opening goal of the game inside twenty seconds of the game's commencement. He would grab a second inside two minutes of the second half beginning.

Eloka Asokuh made it 2-0 on 25 minutes as he fired home and Stephen Parkhouse made it 2-0 just after the half-hour before Gethins nipped in for his second of the game just after half-time to wrap up an emphatic win.

Gethins got in to turn home in front of a huge travelling support from Michael Funston's cross to give Harps the perfect start on what was potentially a difficult trip.

Gethins hammered an effort against the Monaghan crossbar as Harps looked to wrap up all three points in the opening minutes of the game.

Asokuh drilled home past Alvin Rouse from the edge of the box after combining with Gethins on a surging run forward.

Parkhouse's goal effectively ensured a win for the visitors with almost an hour still remaining. He tapped in after Declan Devin set him up.

Gethins ruthlessly took advantage of a mix-up between Rouse and Luke Fitzpatrick in the home defence just after half-time with the Harps man turning in his seventeenth goal of the season.

Four goals to the good, Harps could ease off in what remained of the game. With Limerick 37 the only top half team Harps have to play in their remaining five league games, it looks definitely like their title to lose.

Monaghan United : Rouse, Gannon, Fitzpatrick, Whelan, Williamson, Byrne, Tierney, Meenan, McCartney, Farrell, Doyle (Cousins 40).
Finn Harps : Gallagher, Asokuh, McLaughlin, Holmes, Minnock, Funston, McGowan, Shields (O'Loughlin 51), Divin, Parkhouse (Brown 62), Gethins (Breen 70).