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Date Time League Season
14 October 2022 8:00 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Dundalk remain third with win in emotional Finn Park

Dundalk took home all three points against Finn Harps after a 2-1 victory in Donegal in the SSE Airtricity League.

A 19th minute strike from Lewis Macari and a Rob Slevin own goal just before half-time made the all difference for the Lilywhites at Finn Park. Harps substitute Robert Jones scored from a corner with five minutes to go but it was too little too late for the hosts.

A touching tribute was paid pre-match to the victims of the Creeslough tragedy, with a minute's silence being dedicated to those who lost their lives last Friday.

It was a promising start for the hosts as Dylan Duncan was put through on goal and forced Dundalk keeper Nathan Sheppard into making a stop after just two minutes. The Lilywhites got a grip of the game after the early scare, holding possession well as they looked to unlock the Harps defence. Stephen O’Donnell’s side's positive play paid off as they took the lead on the 20-minute mark. A set-piece from the left wasn’t cleared by Harps, with the ball falling to Lewis Macari who hooked it into the top left corner to give Dundalk the lead.

The away side's confidence only grew from there as they began causing Harps problems down the wings. Dundalk nearly doubled their lead just two minutes later when a Darragh Leahy strike was spectacularly tipped away by Jamie McKeown. Ollie Horgan’s men were lacking creativity in midfield and struggled to create any clear-cut chances since Duncan’s early opportunity.

As the game entered the final minutes of the first-half, Harps suffered a major blow. Another dangerous cross from Dundalk was latched onto by forward David McMillan whose attempt was stopped well by McKeown, but Rob Slevin’s clearance somehow ended up in his own net, doubling the away side's lead.

Filip Mihaljevic came on for Harps at half-time and added a positive spark to the home side's play, with the Croatian adding some much-needed directness to the attack. Dundalk remained compact in defence throughout the second period, but Harps nearly pulled a goal back with 20 minutes to go through substitute Rob Jones, whose diving header flew just wide of the post. The hosts continued to attempt to push for a goal and with five minutes to go it arrived. A deep corner from Barry McNamee fell to Jones at the back post who made no mistake this time as he headed past Sheppard.

Tonight’s victory means Dundalk remain in third place, one point ahead of St Patrick’s Athletic with three games remaining as the chase for European football begins to heat up. Finn Harps remain in 9th place, level on points with UCD who have a game in hand.

Finn Harps

25James McKeown Goalkeeper
2Conor Tourish Defender
4Rob Slevin Defender 42'
6Ryan Connolly Midfielder
7Gary Boylan Defender
11Barry McNamee Midfielder
17Elie-Gael N’Zeyi 33 Midfielder
19Regan Donelon Defender
22Ryan Rainey 16 Midfielder 32'
32Jaime Siaj 18 Forward 12'
56Dylan Duncan 10 Midfielder 76'
99Gavin Mulreany Goalkeeper
10Mark Timlin 56 Midfielder
12Luke Rudden Forward
14Adam McCaffrey Midfielder
15Jose Carrillo Defender
16Harry Nicolson 22 Defender
18Robert Jones 32 Forward 85'
23Liam McGing Defender
33Filip Mihaljevic 17 Forward

Dundalk

1Nathan Sheppard Goalkeeper
2Lewis Macari Defender 19'
4Andy Boyle Defender
5Alfie Lewis Midfielder
6Sam Bone Defender
15Darragh Leahy Defender
20Joe Adams 8 Midfielder
22Runar Hauge Midfielder
23John Mountney Midfielder
28Ryan O’Kane Forward
29David McMillan 11 Forward
14Peter Cherrie Goalkeeper
30Mark Byrne Goalkeeper
8Robbie Benson 20 Midfielder
11John Martin 29 Forward
17Keith Ward Midfielder
18Robbie McCourt Defender
Senan Mullen Midfielder
Emmanuel Adegboyega Defender
  • 95'

    Full time! Dundalk come away from Finn Park 2-1 winners.

  • 90'

    Five minutes of injury time here at Finn Park as Harps chase the equaliser!

  • 85'

    GOAL Harps! Rob Jones heads in from a corner for the hosts, game on!

  • 80'

    Harry Nicolson comes on for Ryan Rainey.

  • 78'

    Mark Timlin replaces Dylan Duncan.

  • 77'

    Dylan Duncan is shown a yellow card.

  • 75'

    John Martin is on for the final 15 minutes, replacing David McMillan.

  • 72'

    CHANCE HARPS! A lovely passage of play for Harps ended with a pinpoint cross from Barry McNamee finding substitute Rob Jones whose diving header flew just wide of the post.

  • 70'

    Ryan O'Kane has the ball in the back of the net but the flag is raised.

  • 67'

    Rob Jones is substituted in, replacing Jaime Siaj.

  • 64'

    Joe Adams is replaced by Robbie Benson.

  • 60'

    Stephen O'Donnell picks up a booking on the touchline.

  • 52'

    The game is opening up slightly as Harps attempt to find a way back into the match.

  • 46'

    Filip Mihaljevic comes on for Elie-Gael N'Zeyi.

  • 46'

    We are back underway at Finn Park.

  • 45'

    Half-time, Dundalk lead 2-0 at Finn Park.

  • 42'

    GOAL Dundalk! The Lilywhites double their lead as we enter the final minutes of the first-half. Another cross from the away side fell to David McMillan whose shot was saved by McKeown but Rob Slevin's attempted clearance ended up in his own goal, nightmare for Harps.

  • 39'

    A long throw for Harps but they fail to make anything of it.

  • 32'

    Ryan Rainey picks up a yellow card after committing a foul to stop the Dundalk counter-attack.

  • 24'

    It's all Dundalk now. Fluid attacks coming from both wings causing major problems for Harps.

  • 21'

    WHAT A SAVE MCKEOWN! A Dundalk cross from the right fell to Darragh Leahy whose shot was stopped brilliantly by the Harps shot-stopper.

  • 19'

    GOAL Dundalk! A set-piece from the Lilywhites isn't dealt with by Harps and Macari hooks the ball into the back of Jamie McKeown's net.

  • 17'

    Dundalk hit the post! A free-kick from deep fell to the edge of the box and Alfie Lewis' strike clipped the woodwork.

  • 12'

    Jaime Siaj is booked for a push.

  • 9'

    Dundalk are growing into the game after that early scare. Playing some intricate passes in an attempt to unlock the Harps backline.

  • 2'

    Early chance for Harps! A quick transition from the home side ended with Dylan Duncan having an attempt on goal which was well saved by Nathan Sheppard.

  • Dundalk kick-off.

  • A lovely pre-match tribute is paid to the victims of the Creeslough tragedy by the Finn Harps U-10 side. The teams line up for a minute silence dedicated to those who lost their life this day last week.

  • Kick-off is edging closer as the players prepare to come out onto the pitch. The atmosphere is building up at Finn Park.

  • The teams are out! Elie-Gael N\'Zeyi and Jaime Siaj replace Filip Mihaljević and Jose Carrillo for Harps. Barry McNamee captains the side. Dundalk make three changes as Lewis Macari, Runar Hauge and David McMillan come into the starting XI.

  • The scene is set at Finn Park tonight as Finn Harps host Dundalk in a massive game at both ends of the table in the SSE Airtricity League.

Past Meetings

(Round 25)
3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk 3-0 Finn Harps

(Round 17)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Dundalk

(Round 3)
3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk v Finn Harps

(Series 29)
2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Dundalk

(Quarter Final Replay)
3 - 1
FAI Cup
Oriel Park

Dundalk v Finn Harps

(Quarter Final)
3 - 3
FAI Cup
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Dundalk

(Series 21)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk v Finn Harps

(Series 11)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Dundalk

(Series 2)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk v Finn Harps

(Series 14)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk v Finn Harps

(Series 5)
0 - 4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Dundalk

5 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC

0 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC

4 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC

7
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC

Officials

RefereeAssistantsFourth Official
Paul McLaughlinDarren Carey
Darren Corcoran
Oliver Moran

Ground

Finn Park
Finn Park, Navenny Street, Stranorlar Electoral Division, Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, County Donegal, F93 Y27K, Ireland