Finn Harps end difficult campaign with win over Bray
Finn Harps have given their supporters something positive to take into the off-season after goals from Aaron McLaughlin and Bernardo Monteiro secured a 2-0 home win over Bray Wanderers.
Finn Harps 2 Bray Wanderers 0
The result at Finn Park brought an end to a campaign the Ballybofey club will be keen to put behind them, with Harps finishing bottom of the League of Ireland First Division for the first time in their history.
There is, however, the prospect of a very different future ahead, with Filipino investor Freddy Gonzalez's proposed multi-million euro takeover due to go before club members for a vote on Monday night.
A crowd of 948 attended Friday's final fixture, with the club's ownership and investment plans likely to be a major talking point over the coming weeks.
Harps made sure the evening ended on a high note, taking the lead inside five minutes. Tony McNamee and Gavin McAteer combined during an attack down the right before McLaughlin finished the move with a powerful strike into the roof of the net.
McAteer continued to cause problems for the visitors and was later named Man of the Match. He sent an effort wide in the first half before helping Harps create further opportunities.
McLaughlin was unlucky not to claim his second shortly before half-time. After receiving the ball from McNamee, his attempt beat the goalkeeper but struck the post.
Bray arrived in Donegal looking to strengthen their position near the top of the table, with the battle for second place and a promotion play-off spot still to be decided.
Harps, by contrast, were playing out the final fixture of their 58th season in the League of Ireland, having already been confirmed in last place.
The home side continued to threaten after the break, with McAteer denied by a Bray defender following a forward surge from Finn McKenley.
The second goal arrived in the 73rd minute. McAteer opted to pass rather than take on the chance himself, and Monteiro finished from close range to register his sixth goal of the season.
The closing stages also brought a memorable moment for young Josh O'Donnell. The 15-year-old came on for his senior debut, getting an opportunity to feature in the first team as Harps completed their season with a clean sheet.
Attention now turns to the club's plans for the future, with Monday's vote potentially marking an important step in a new era for Finn Harps.
Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Josh Cullen, James McAteer, Joel Bradley Walsh, Ciaron Harkin (Conor McGranaghan); Finn McKenley, Adam McDaid (Oran Brogan 60); Lukas Doherty (Josh O'Donnell 73), Gavin McAteer; Aaron McLaughlin (Bernardo Monteiro 60); Tony McNamee (Max Hutchison 83).
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Ryan Kelly (Fionnan O Snodaigh 77), Jamie Duggan (Jack Lawless 77), Stephen Havales, Benjamin Fagbemi; John Bilili Sesay (Zak Reddy 60); Conor Knight, Philip Cooney, Jamie Ryan (Flynn Ryan 77); Aime Azende Nyembo, Ethan Cheese (Promise Akinyemi 60).
Referee: Glen Geraghty.