Promotion/relegation play-off: Finn Harps 3-0 Waterford United: Finn Harps delighted the majority of fans in a 4,000-strong crowd at Finn Park last night as they gained a major advantage in the first leg of the promotion/relegation final. The second leg takes place in Waterford on Friday.
The First Division outfit fully deserved their win and must now be fancied to play in the top flight next season. After a tame start, the game sprung into life with Harps making the breakthrough in the 18th minute with long serving centre-half Declan Boyle powerfully heading home for his ninth goal of the season.
The goal really lifted Harps and with captain Tony Shields dominant in midfield the Paul Hegarty-managed side put Waterford under a sustained period of pressure.
But Waterford went close to drawing level on 34 minutes when Dave Warren's free-kick was deflected out for a corner.
Harps continued to hold the upper hand after the break with Conor Gethins having two shots on goal while Michael Funston had a shot blocked.
Waterford were then reduced to 10 men when Patrick Flynn received a straight red after a touch-line flare-up on 61 minutes, and two minutes later Harps made it 2-0 with Gethins lobbing the goalkeeper from outside the box. Harps then piled on the pressure and Stephen Parkhouse added the third in the 87th minute following a free.
FINN HARPS: Gallagher, McLaughlin, Minnock, Boyle, Holmes. Shields, Funston, McGowan, Parkhouse, Gethins, Brolly (Divin 71 mins).
WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney, Flynn, Hedderman, Hayes, Breen (Brown 66 mins), Warren, D. Mulcahy, McCarthy, Kearney (Lordan 72 mins), Kiely, Scully (A. Mulcahy 45 mins).
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)