DON’T EXPECT OLLIE Horgan to agree just yet, but Finn Harps are surely now on the verge of safety after a massive win over Longford Town.
Longford Town 0 Finn Harps 2
Josh Mailey and Tony McNamee hit their first goals of the season as Harps moved 12 points clear of the Midlanders, who look every inch a side already resigned to relegation.
For Harps, this could represent a real landmark considering the gap that now stands between themselves and Longford.
Bray Wanderers – who drew 0-0 with Sligo Rovers – are in the play-off spot and have 11 points to make up on Harps, who are closing in on securing their status in the top flight.
Picture caption: Finn Harps captain Ciaran Coll on the attack as Kealan Dillon closes in. Picture by Gary Foy, newsandsportfiles
Their opener arrived on 18 minutes when Mailey, starting for the first time in seven month, struck gold.
[adrotate group=”43″]Ethan Boyle headed into his path and a wonderul, controlled, looping volley from the right-hand side of the penalty box flew over Paul Skinner, the Longford goalkeeper.
The excellent McNamee made safe the win in the 74th minute. His initial ball into the box, after a neat piece of footwork, was only partially cut out by Kevin O’Connor.
McNamee took receipt again and arrowed across Skinner to the far corner to seal Harps’ most comfortable win of the campaign – and their first win on the road this year.
Longford were in search of their first home win of the season, which perhaps explained just why the City Calling Stadium, still with echoes of happier times dotted around the place, was morgue-like in its feeling.
Ten minutes before the break, Tony Cousins’ side went close again from a Kealan Dillon corner but, after Mark Hughes missed a connection, David O’Sullivan managed to bundle the ball over the top from close range.
Harps had a great chance to double the lead when Sean Houston took a moment too long when played in by McNamee.
Houston netted twice against Sligo Rovers in a 3-0 win three weeks ago and had opened the scoring that night from a similar position as he found himself in the 33rd minute.
McNamee was performing the role of the orchestra conductor and it was from his well threaded pass that Houston ended up eyeballing Paul Skinner, but the Longford goalkeeper gathered.
Longford had began the brighter with Mark Hughes prodding harmlessly wide after getting a shot away from Dillon’s testing corner.
[adrotate group=”38″]When Philip Gannon had a chance and was denied by a brave interception from Damien McNulty, it seemed as if an opener from the hosts was inevitable.
But Mailey turrned the tide with a wonderful opener, a goal of real class and precision from the Letterkenny man.
Mailey has been dogged by knee trouble since the end of last season and this was his first start since the play-off second leg against Limerick in November.
Mailey had guested for Derry City in a friendly, but a move to Foyleside never materialised, though his return to action was delayed by his lengthy injury lay-off.
[adrotate group=”70″]His inclusion in the starting XI was one of three changes made by Horgan from the side that overcame Sligo.
Damien McNulty returned from suspension and Barry Molloy was back from injury with Harps deploying a 3-5-2 formation that had Ethan Boyle and Ciaran Coll as the wide outlets.
Seven minutes into the second half, Harps could have doubled the lead when Houston’s determination saw him win back possession and drive forward before feeding McNamee, whose low shot was saved by the feet of Skinner.
[adrotate group=”43″]Mailey might have had his second, but his goal-bound header was cleared by Gannon when Skinner looked beaten.
After McNamee fired home, McNulty blocked magnificently from O’Sullivan after Dillon hit the crossbar in the 85th minute. It was a reminder for Harps to keep their focus and they did just that for a crucial win.
Longford Town: Paul Skinner; Mark Hughes, Daniel O’Reilly, Rhys Gorman, Conor Powell; Kealan Dillon, Kevin O’Connor, Philip Gannon (Don Cowan 72), Peter McGlynn (Kaleem Simon 79); David O’Sullivan, Lee Duffy (Josh O’Hanlon 60).
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Josh Mailey, Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan; Ethan Boyle, Tony McNamee (Michael Funston), Barry Molloy, Gareth Harkin (Raymond Foy 16), Ciaran Coll; Sean Houston, Ryan Curran (Liam Flatley 89).
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
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