Cobh ramble to victory to put an end to Finn Harps' unbeaten run

Finn Harps’ unbeaten run of six games is over after a defeat at the hands of Cobh Ramblers in the SSE Airtricity League First Division.

David Bošnjak and Barry Coffey found the net in the first half, and an early second-half goal via the boot of Cian Bargary stretched that lead out to 3-0. Conor Tourish grabbed a goal for Harps, but they fell to their first defeat since Kevin McHugh took the reins at the start of the month.

With two away trips in five days, changes to the lineup felt more like an inevitability rather than a possibility. With the point away at Oriel Park on the board, Kevin McHugh rotated and introduced Patrick Ferry and Joel Bradley-Walsh in place of Gavin Gilmore and Kevin Jordan, who took up a spot on the bench.

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Cobh Ramblers inflicted Harps’ last defeat in the league back in March, and started on the front foot in St Colman's Park.

An offside flag had denied Cian Murphy with just five minutes on the clock, and after that, the chances kept on coming as David Aziaya was kept on his toes. Cian Bargary had a close-range header float into the gloves of the shot-stopper, while Barry Coffey and Murphy both fired narrowly off target as the game went beyond the quarter of an hour.

Harps did have some joy with the occasional ball over the top, with Patrick Ferry the first to benefit from Conor Tourish's launched pass, but this first opportunity was saved by the foot of Timothy Martin.

A few minutes prior to the half hour, Cobh Ramblers broke the deadlock. Some quick passes in the middle of the park ended as Nolan Evers swung in a cross from the left, and David Bošnjak was in the centre to head home.

Harps went close to an equaliser shortly after the half hour as Ferry forced Martin into another smart save.

In the final five minutes of the half, the Ramblers ramped up the pressure. Coffey and Evers were both thwarted by Aziaya within a minute of one another, while the Goalkeeper on loan from Bromley was also called upon to divert a shot from Shane Griffin over the bar.

Griffin fired one off target too, and just shy of the interval, Harps fell to a two-goal deficit. Bošnjak turned provider as the hosts hit on the counterattack, and his pass into an open space was picked up by Coffey, who bore down on goal and took the ball beyond Aziaya before an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.

Less than five minutes into the second half, Cobh Ramblers extended their lead to three. Luka Le Bervet had a low shot well saved by Aziaya, but it rolled into the path of Bargary, who made no mistake from close range.

As the game went beyond the hour, Harps pulled one back. After emptying the bench, William Oduwa provided the desired impact, and his low ball across the six-yard box was tucked away by Tourish.

Chances did pop up at both ends of the park as Sam Bellis fired narrowly wide, while Gavin McAteer was denied by Martin.

Into the final ten minutes, McGuinness tested the reflexes of Martin, and Joel Thompson was alert to block a goalbound shot from Murphy. Harps played the last minutes of the match with ten men, as Tourish was forced off with a slight knock, but did create the final opportunity as Oduwa was denied on the line by Le Bervet.

Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Shane A Griffin, Brendan Frahill, Nolan Evers(Dale Holland 71), Luka Le Bervet; Shane Griffin, Niall O'Keeffe, Barry Coffey, Cian Bargary(Jason Abbott 79); David Bošnjak(Sam Bellis 71), Cian Murphy(George Nunn 89).

Finn Harps: David Aziaya; Mikey Place(Anto Dodd 36), Conor Tourish, Max Hutchison, Joel Bradley-Walsh(Joel Thompson ht); Josh Cullen(William Oduwa 60), Gavin McAteer, Tony McNamee, Patrick Ferry(Gavin Hodgins 60), Gradi Lomboto(Aaron McLaughlin 45); Dara McGuinness.

Referee: Glen Geraghty