Dundalk run riot as Harps rue missed early chances

Two goals from Steven Bradley either side of one from Sam Bone gave ruthless Dundalk a routine win in the end against a Finn Harps side who really should’ve been the ones to break the deadlock.

Dundalk 3
Finn Harps 0

Ollie Horgan’s side performed well in the first half, only to fall behind and whatever chances there were of scraping something distinguished with a second Dundalk goal right at the start of part two and from then on, it could’ve been anything.

Against the run of play, certainly against the run of chances, Dundalk forced their way in front two minutes before half-time. Bradley it was who nipped possession from Mark Timlin, who had the opportunity to go for Row Z, cut inside José Carrillo and shot across Mark Anthony McGinley and into the bottom corner.

It was a bitter blow to Harps, who had made a host of chances before they conceded to Dundalk’s first shot on target. One down at half-time, Harps made the worst possible start to the second half when they conceded a second after only 43 seconds. Bone was the goalscorer, tucking home from close range on his left foot with half-time replacements Greg Sloggett and Pat Hoban both involved in the build-up. 

Then, on 66 minutes, Bradley steered home an excellent third goal for the side managed by Stephen O’Donnell with a splendid dipping shot for his fourth goal of the season just three games in.

Although Dundalk dictated the pace of the match early on, Ethan Boyle won possession in midfield and played in Filip Mihaljević, who timed his return to remain onside. The Croatian rounded  goalkeeper Nathan Sheppard and looked to have slid the opening goal only for  Lewis Macari to arrive late on the scene and clear off the line. 

Eighteen minutes in, Harps created another good opening when Mihaljević got down the right side and crossed from the right and Barry McNamee couldn’t get sufficient purchase on a header into the ground. Then, Ryan Connolly had a dipping volley from the edge of the penalty, which was turned around the post by Sheppard. 

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Moments later, a corner from Connolly saw Sheppard have to parry the ball away. Another chance came and went for Horgan’s team on 30 minutes when Mihaljević skipped past Andy Boyle only to see his shot at goal clip the crossbar and go over. Harps looked to be in the ascendancy, only to concede right before and right after then break.

Former Letterkenny Rovers defender Conor Tourish was making a first start for Harps, with Ryan Rainey and Timlin also coming into the side in place of Regan Donelan, Bastien  Héry and Yoyo Mahdy. Brian Gartland was making his first start for the home side in 10 months, having torn his ACL just 30 seconds into a league defeat away to Shamrock Rovers in April. 

Dundalk, two to the good with Hoban a constant threat, took control of things in the second half, with McGinley getting down low to save from the prolific striker. Horgan made three changes on the hour, perhaps with an eye on Bohemians’ visit on Friday night, withdrawing Barry McNamee, Timlin and Mihaljević, who showed some fine touches. 

By then, Harps were all but beaten and that notion was confirmed when Bradley made it three, although the visiting players did appeal for a foul on substitute Eric McWoods at the other end when he was sandwiched by the experienced duo of Boyle and Gatland.

There was an air of inevitability from then on, with substitute Mahdy off target with an overhead kick and McWoods missed a header, while Hoban wasn’t far off in injury time.

Dundalk: Nathan Sheppard; Sam Bone, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartand, Lewis Macari (Daniel Kelly 25); Dan Williams, Paul Doyle (Greg Sloggett, half-time), Robbie Benson; Stephen Bradley, David McMillan (Pat Hoban, half-time), Joe Adams (Keith Ward 62).

Finn Harps: Mark Anthony McGinley; Ethan Boyle, Conor Tourish, José Carrillo, Dave Webster; Élie Gaël N'zeyi Kibonge, Ryan Connolly (Bastien  Héry  71); Ryan Rainey (Luke Rudden 84), Barry McNamee (Eric McWoods 60), Mark Timlin (Jesse Devers 60); Filip Mihaljević (Yoyo Mahdy.60).

Referee: John McLoughlin.