Gradi Lomboto on the spot as Finn Harps defeat table-toppers Dundalk

Gradi Lomboto fired Finn Harps to a much-needed win on Monday night.

Lomboto struck from a 61st minute penalty to give Harps victory over First Division leaders Dundalk.

Kevin McHugh’s side earned a first win in 10 as Lomboto proved the hero of the hour to hand Dundalk a first defeat of the season.

When Joel Thompson was shoved over by Leo Gaxha, referee Daniel Murphy had no option but to point to the spot.

Lomboto stepped up and cooly shot past Enda Minogue at the Town End with his left foot.

Lomboto netted an equaliser against Wexford a couple of weeks ago and he was on target here with a precious winner while teenage ‘keeper Corey Sheridan kept another clean sheet.

Sheridan made his first team debut on Friday night when keeping a clean sheet in the scoreless draw at Athlone Town - and the Ballyshannon native repaid his manager’s faith after retaining his spot here.

With 14 minutes left, Sheridan got the very tips of his fingers to turn over, via the top of the crossbar, a blistering effort from Eoin Kenny - son of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.

Harps had to endure eight added minutes at the end of the night and Sheridan was called upon to brilliantly deny sub Dean Ebbe in a nervous conclusion with visiting goalkeeper Minogue joining the Lilywhites’ attack.

As Dundalk poured forward in search of an equaliser, the fit-again Conor Tourish thwarted Leo Gaxha with a magnificent challenge in the penalty area.

Harps were boosted by the return of Tourish to the starting XI while Mikey Place was also elevated with Gavin McAteer and Shaunie Bradley dropping out.

Gavin Hodgins joined the lengthy Harps absentee list following Friday’s scoreless draw in Athlone with Max Johnston, Dara McGuinness, Aaron McLaughlin and Darragh Coyle all still on the treatment table.

In the 13th minute Minogue wonderfully tipped over the crossbar from Max Hutchison’s goal bound header. However, assistant referee Robert Clarke had his flag up on the stand side.

Six minutes llater, Hutchison - who was named the Man of the Match - was off target, but the offside flag, again, was in the air.

The Harps rearguard sat deep, content to take whatever Dundalk would throw their way.

Gaxha warmed Sheridan’s palms from distance in the 10th minute while Kenny riffled wide from 25 yards in the 35th minute after Harry Groome nicked possession back for the visitors.

Table-toppers Dundalk arrived in Donegal on the back of a pair of draws and Ciaran Kilduff rang the changes, making three switches with Mayowa Animasahun, Sean Keogh and Andy Paraschiv all handed starting berths.

Daryl Horgan, capped 17 times for the Republic of Ireland between 2017 and 2021, almost forced an own goal soon after, but Thompson’s header was inches wide of the far post.

At the other end, Tourish fired over the top from a good position and it was all square at the break.

The referee drew considerable frustration from the home side in a first half that saw four from Harps booked, including an early caution for manager McHugh. 

The stream of yellows included a bizarre moment late in the first half when Place was, eventually, cautioned by the referee after two cases of mistaken identity after allowing play continue following a foul on Harry Groome.

Two minutes into the second half, Lomboto’s endeavour and determination created an opening after outpacing Luke Mulligan. His pull-back, intended for the in-rushing Tony McNamee, went out for a corner with Harps appeals for a handball waved away.

Hutchison came to Harps’ rescue when dispossessing Horgan in the area before Gaxha shot too high with a great chance to break the deadlock.

It took a header from underneath his own crossbar by Joel Bradley Walsh to keep Harps’ sheet clean after Kenny’s ingenuity created a chance for himself that looked set to open the scoring.

Soon, the deadlock was broken with Lomboto sending Harps on their way.

Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Max Hutchison, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley Walsh; Mikey Place, Josh Cullen, Kevin Jordan (Gavin McAteer 75) Joel Thompson; Gavin Gilmore, Tony McNamee, Gradi Lomboto. 

Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Luke Mulligan (Keith Ward 65), Vinnie Leonard, Mayowa Animasahun, Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin (Shane Tracey h-t), Harry Groome; Daryl Horgan, Andy Paraschiv (Dean Ebbe 65), Leo Gaxha (Martin Sean McHale 87); Eoin Kenny.

Referee: Daniel Murphy.