Harps slip up in race for third

Richie Baker and Pat Scully insured Shelbourne came away with a comfortable victory at Tolka Park last night in what may yet prove to be the deciding result in the battle for third place in the league table.

Two first-half goals move Shelbourne a point clear in third, although Harps still have a game in hand. More significantly, this result ended Harps' seven-game unbeaten run with a performance they will want to quickly forget.

Shelbourne got their just reward for early pressure on 19 minutes when Dessie Baker sent a floating corner high into the goalmouth and brother Richie rose gracefully to head it past Brian McKenna's reach.

Tony McCarthy set up Shelbourne's second on 39 minutes with a sweeping cross from well outside the box. McKenna reached for it yet somehow let it slip directly into the path of captain Scully who tapped it home from 10 yards.

SHELBOURNE: A Gough, O Heery, D Geoghegan, T McCarthy, P Scully, P Doolin, D Baker, D Campbell, T Sheridan, S Geoghegan, R Baker. Sub: D Fitzgerald for Campbell (60 mins).

FINN HARPS: B McKenna, P Vaudequin, J Minnock, D Boyle, G Dykes, D O'Brien, T Mohan, E Kavanagh, J Speak, J Mulligan, F Harkin. Subs: P McGrenaghan for Minnock (24 mins); K McHugh for Speak (67 mins); S Bradley for McGrenaghan (75 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).