Conor Tourish wonderstrike gives Finn Harps their first win of the season at home

A brilliant volley from Conor Tourish gave Finn Harps their first win of the First Division season at home to UCD.

The Harps took the lead through Shaunie Bradley as he fired in on ten minutes, and they held that lead at the break.

And a superb volley from Tourish put them two ahead, but Ciaran Behan replied with ten minutes to go to set up a nervy ending, but the home side held on as the game ended in the 100th minute.

While UCD had the first chance from a Ciaran Behan free that went just wide, the home side were well on top in the early stages.

They almost took the lead on eight minutes after a cross came to Shaunie Bradley, who played in Max Hutchison, but he poked the ball straight at Dara Kavanagh.

It was that same combo who linked up for the opener two minutes later, as Joel Bradley Walsh’s free was flicked on by Hutchison to Bradley, and the Inishowen teenager cut onto his left foot and found the bottom left corner.

The Harps had another chance as Tony McNamee’s cross was fired goalwards by Hutchison, while Perrault Tokam fired wide from distance.

There were shouts for a handball as another Bradley Walsh free-kick threatened as Conor Tourish looked to head it and hit a UCD hand, but Daryl Carolan waved away the protests as Bradley had another effort blocked.

The Harps almost had a second as Gavin McAteer did brilliantly down the right, beating his man to get into the box, and he curled a left-footed effort towards the top corner, but Kavanagh made a great save.

UCD then almost equalised as Luca Cailloce shot through a host of bodies and Corey Sheridan saw it late, but he still got a hand out to save.

Tourish had a looping header go over the bar, while Colin Bolton curled wide late in the half as the hosts went into the break with a one-goal lead.

The first 15 after the restart saw few chances, with Bradley receiving a yellow card, while Corey Sheridan was brave to get to the ball before Killian Cailloce, with the Ballyshannon man receiving treatment.

Bradley almost got through ahead of Carl Lennox as the striker went down in the box and another penalty shout, but Carolan again wasn’t impressed.

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But the Harps got a second on 64 minutes, for what could already be the goal of the season.

After a bit of pinball at the edge of the box, Tony McNamee found Conor Tourish, who took a touch, flicked it over the defender to Bradley, and he laid it back off to Tourish, and the Letterkenny defender volleyed in off the crossbar into the top left corner.

Kevin McHugh’s side were on top, and they should have got a third to kill the game as McNamee found Idir Zerrouk, but he dragged an effort wide, while Bradley got in one-on-one and tried to chip the advancing Kavanagh, but he didn’t connect properly.

A ball over the top to Michael Raggett saw Corey Sheridan come out and tackle him, but Carolan felt the ‘keeper fouled the forward and gave a free kick and a yellow card.

And with ten minutes to go, UCD got a goal back as Ciaran Behan did well, playing a 1-2 with Raggett, before poking in from twelve yards.

And with nine additional minutes, the Students tried to find an equaliser, and they had a couple of dangerous crosses, but the Harps held on to take their first win.

Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Josh Cullen, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley Walsh, Alex Fanle; Perrault Tokam, Max Hutchison, Tony McNamee (Max Johnston 98); Idir Zerrouk, Gavin McAteer (Aaron McLaughlin 87); Shaunie Bradley (Temiloluwa Ajibola 77).

UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Luke O’Regan, Eanna Clancy (Sean Murphy 73), Carl Lennox, Luca Cailloce; Ciaran Behan, Louis Dignam (Charles Akimrintoyo 62), Michael McCullagh (Matthew Alonge 84), Colin Bolton, Hugh Smith (Stephen Mohan ht); Killian Cailloce (Michael Raggett 62).

Referee: Daryl Carolan.