Finn Harps fall to first home defeat against Cobh Ramblers in brutal conditions

Finn Harps suffered their first home defeat of the season against Cobh Ramblers in a wet and windy Finn Park on Friday night.

In terrible conditions, the away side had a heavy breeze in their favour in the first half and were well on top, but the Harps defended well to leave it scoreless at the break.

And as the wind died down, Cobh remained the better team, and they took the lead with less than 20 minutes to go as captain Garry Buckley fired in from close range.

A miscommunication at the back allowed Rhys Kelly-Noonan in for a second, as the Harps failed to break down the Cobh rearguard, as they stay seventh in the First Division.

Against the elements in the first half, the Harps had their backs to the wall for the majority of the opening 45.

Dylan McGlade tried his luck after just ten seconds from range, with Lorenzo Piaia palming it out for a corner, as the Cork side threatened from a couple of early set pieces.

The Harps got an opening on 13 minutes after a brilliant move, with Bernardo Monteiro, Temiloluwa Ajibola, and Gavin McAteer involved, as the Milford teen played in Nathan Lumingo on the left of the box, but his curling effort towards the far corner was well saved by Timothy Martin.

From the resulting corner, Joel Bradley Walsh’s inswinger came out to McAteer at the edge of the box, and as his effort was blocked to Ajibola from eight yards, he should have hit the target but fired well wide.

The visitors dominated after this, Rhys Gourdie heading over, while Lucas Curtin’s corner came off the crossbar.

McGlade tried his luck from distance again as Piaia saved, and as Rhys Brennan was played in down the right, he cut in and shot, but Conor Tourish’s block prevented what looked like a sure goal.

Brennan and Curtin had further efforts, and Oran Crowe’s shot was saved by Piaia, as the Harps were up against the difficult breeze and an energetic-looking Cobh.

Gourdie and Brennan had further efforts before the break that didn’t trouble Piaia, as the Harps ended the half well with a couple of crosses, but it stayed 0-0 at the break.

As the wind began to settle in the second half, Cobh had a couple of early chances as Brennan headed over from a McGlade cross, and McGlade fired over from a free soon after.

The Harps had half-chances as McAteer’s teasing cross was inches off finding sub Idir Zerrouk, who didn’t expect it to come to him at the back post, before McNamee’s long throw posed a threat, but Cobh cleared.

Curtin tried his luck from 35 yards, and his effort rattled off the crossbar, with Conor Tourish making a brilliant slide tackle to stop Gourdie from getting to the rebound.

A McGlade free was headed goalwards by Callum Honohan, as Piaia made a good save, but a minute later the visitors went in front.

It came from Gourdie getting the ball down the right as he crossed from inside the box to the back post for Brendan Frahill, who headed back across for Garry Buckley as he found the bottom corner.

They almost made it two moments later as Brennan had a shot saved, and Kelly-Noonan was there for the rebound, but he poorly missed the target with 15 minutes to go.

But seven minutes later, he made no mistake as he matched on to a back pass from Adam McDaid after a bit of miscommunication with Piaia, the Cobh striker took a couple of touches and found the bottom left corner.

The Harps had a chance late on as a corner came in and deflected off Zerrouk, but Martin was down well to save before a free out was given.

Odhran McHugh did brilliantly on the right of the box to beat two men and cross, which came off the line to Bradley, but he didn’t connect as the visitors held out for their clean sheet.

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Josh Cullen, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Alex Fanle; Oran Brogan (Adam McDaid 80), Tony McNamee (Max Johnston 80), Bernardo Monteiro (Idir Zerrouk 57); Gavin McAteer, Nathan Lumingo (Shaunie Bradley 57), Temiloluwa Ajibola (Odhran McHugh 65).

Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Callum Honohan, Brendan Frahill, Garry Buckley, Rhys Gourdie (Kai O’Neill 86), Dylan McGlade (Anthony Adenopo 81), Rhys Brennan, Lucas Curtin, Oran Crowe (James O’Halloran 89), Rhys Kelly-Noonan, Mikey Carroll (Shane Griffin 81).

Referee: Mark Patchell.