National League Promotion-relegation play-off/ Finn Harps 2 Dundalk 0: Finn Harps defeated Dundalk in a thrilling eircom League of Ireland promotion/relegation play-off semi-final before a crowd of 3,000 at Finn Park last night.
As a result the Donegal side will face Waterford United in a two-legged final next week to determine who plays in the Premier Division next season.
Finn Harps went into this game on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run, including nine wins, and the frustration of being pipped by a point for the Division One title by Cobh Ramblers last weekend.
By contrast, Dundalk's form of late has been mixed, and they finished a full 10 points behind Harps in third spot.
This was the fifth meeting this season between the sides, with each having won once, and the other two games being draws.
Finn Harps made the breakthrough in the 29th minute. Stephen Parkhouse strode into the penalty area and crossed to the far side where Marc Brolly, unmarked, took the ball down and fired past Chris Bennion.
Dundalk, without key strikers Trevor Vaughan (suspended) and Philip Hughes (injured), never threatened in the first half, but the John Gill-managed side stepped up a gear early in the second half and Keith Dunne fired narrowly wide and Paul Marney headed just over.
Although Harps missed a penalty, Parkhouse wrapped it up when he broke through in a one-against-one situation in the final minute.
FINN HARPS: Gallagher, McLaughlin, Minnock, Boyle, Holmes, Shields, Funston, McGowan, Parkhouse, Gethins, Brolly (Divin 86 mins).
DUNDALK: Bennion, Flanagan, Grimes, Lynch, Crawley, Perth (Quigley 65 mins), K Dunne, Marney, Doyle, R Dunne (Smyth 55 mins), McArdle (Mulvenna 55 mins).
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin)