FINN HARPS’ PLACE in next season’s Premier Division has been secured as Cork City hammered Wexford Youths at Turner’s Cross.
Wexford needed to win their two games this week to stand any chance of dragging Harps into the relegation-promotion play-off spot, but Cork’s 5-0 win means that Harps are safe with a game to spare.
With Dundalk having won the Premier Division title last night, Cork – already without four suspended players – rang the changes, but John Caulfield’s team were much too strong for Youths.
Under-19 ace Chiedozie Ogbene scored a quick-fire double on eight and nine minutes to put Cork in control and get the celebrations underway for Harps supporters, who were keeping a close eye on the action.
[adrotate group=”85″]Sean Maguire and Conor McCarthy had Cork four up at the break and Gavan Holohan added the fifth early in the second half.
Ogbene saw a penalty saved in the second half, but by that stage Wexford were already condemned to the play-off.
Ollie Horgan’s Harps were training tonight at the New Camp Complex in Killygordon, but came off their work-out to learn that they would again be in the top flight in 2017.
[adrotate group=”80″]Harps have one of the smallest budgets in the Premier Division and also have to battle geography, but have managed to stay up, something the last two Harps side to win promotion (2004 and 2007) didn’t manage, both having been relegated at the first time of asking.
“The general public expects us to go straight back down again,” the Harps manager said at the time.
[adrotate group=”38″]“In fact, if we do stay in a full-time, professional League it will be a much bigger achievement than getting promoted.
“This time last year, no-one gave us a hope in hell of getting promoted. This time this year, no-one gives us a hope in hell of staying up. It would definitely be a huge achievement if we could manage it.”
Harps will host Bohemians in their final home game of the season on Friday night at Finn Park and the club is appealing for supporters to come out in big numbers to celebrate survival and to give club captain Kevin McHugh a send off after a recent accident hastened his retirement from senior football.
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