Finn Harps fall short in season finale in seven goal thriller to ten man UCD

Finn Harps ended their season in disappointment as they were beaten by the minimum in a seven goal thriller against the ten men of UCD in Finn Park on Friday night.

The Harps had a bright start and took the lead after a good move saw the ball fall to Gradi Lomboto in the box as he made it 1-0 after twelve minutes, but two set pieces saw UCD go ahead by the half an hour mark.

And with complaints of Hugh Smith not getting a second yellow for a trip on Conor Tourish on 41 minutes, Tourish headed just wide from Tony McNamee’s delivery from the free.

And disaster struck from the goal kick as Dara Kavanagh’s long boot went straight through to Adam Brennan who poked in.

Jake Doyle headed in from a corner soon after the restart, but as UCD goalkeeper Dara Kavanagh was red carded, it gave the Harps a lifeline.

Conor Tourish headed in with 15 to play, and he then won a penalty that Joel Bradley Walsh slotted home in the final minute of normal time.

But much like how the season ended, there wouldn’t be a happy finish to the Harps’ final game of 2025.

Kevin McHugh made five changes from the 1-1 draw over Kerry on Monday, as Conor Tourish, Gradi Lomboto and Gavin Gilmore returned to the starting side, while Darragh Coyle made his first start of the season.

Tourish had an early chance as McNamee floated a cross in for the defender, but he glanced just wide.

But the opener came shortly after from a good move as Gavin Gilmore crossed to Ibrahima Bangoura, who headed across and while the ball towards McNamee was intercepted, it fell invitingly to Lomboto who fired at Kavanagh but just squeezed the ball in.

It didn’t take long for UCD to hit back however, as Brennan won a free on the edge of the box. Adam Verdon stepped up and hit it at Lorenzo Piaia who could only parry, and with Declan Osagie first getting a shot, then Brennan, the ball was eventually bundled over the line.

Osagie then had a free header from a short corner as he stayed onside, but couldn’t find the target, while the defender gifted Gilmore a good chance but he fired just wide.

The visitors then took the lead as Ciaran Behan whipped in a free and Carl Lennox headed low towards Piaia, but the Brazilian keeper couldn’t keep the ball out.

Clancy tried his luck from 35 yards, forcing a good save from Piaia, while the defender then headed over from a Colin Bolton corner.

A few yellow cards were brandished, including for Tony McNamee and Hugh Smith, and Kevin McHugh went into the booking next as Smith tripped the advancing Tourish but got away with it.

From the free, Tourish headed over and a quick restart saw Kavanagh fire long to Brennan, and from just inside the box, he poked in towards the near post.

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The Harps could have halved the deficit in added time as Gilmore’s cross found Lomboto but he shinned wide, as the score read 3-1 at the break.

It soon got worse for the Harps, with Brennan looking for a hat-trick but his shot deflected wide, although Bolton’s inswinging corner was met by Jake Doyle who headed in towards the far corner.

Chances dried up at either end, with substitute Killian Cailloce dragging an effort wide, before a ball through to Shaunie Bradley saw UCD ‘keeper Kavanagh slip and he took out the Harps sub just outside the box and was given a red card.

Noah Douglas came in and made an easy save from Bangoura, but it was third time lucky for McNamee finding Tourish, as McNamee’s whipped cross was headed back across goal by Tourish and into the net.

Bradley and Max Hutchison both headed over, while a McNamee corner was punched by Douglas, only at Bradley, who knew nothing about it, but the ball went over the bar again.

They did get another one back however as Tourish was taken down in the box by Bolton and Joel Bradley Walsh fired low to the right, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to put one in it just before six minutes of added time.

And while they fired plenty of crosses into the box, the ten men defended valiantly to see out the game as they head into the play-offs, while Finn Harps finish their season in eighth place.

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Darragh Coyle (Joel Bradley Walsh 73), Conor Tourish, Max Hutchison, Idir Zerrouk; Oran Brogan (Josh Cullen 56), Adam McDaid (Gavin McAteer 56), Tony McNamee; Gavin Gilmore (Mikey Place 56), Ibra Bangoura, Gradi Lomboto (Shaunie Bradley 56).

UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Colin Bolton, Declan Osagie, Éanna Clancy (Niall Holohan 77), Carl Lennox; Michael McCullagh (Noah Douglas 69), Adam Verdon, Ciaran Behan (Ronan Finn 62), Jake Doyle, Adam Brennan (Michael Raggett 62); Hugh Smith (Killian Cailloce half-time).

Referee: Oliver Moran.