Video
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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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.
Timeline
32. Jaime Siaj | 12' | |
19' | 2. Lewis Macari | |
11. Ryan Rainey | 32' | |
4. Rob Slevin | 42' | |
Elie-Gael N'Zeyi Filip Mihaljevic | 46' | |
64' | Joe Adams Robbie Benson | |
Jaime Siaj Robert Jones | 67' | |
75' | David McMillan John Martin | |
56. Dylan Duncan | 76' | |
Dylan Duncan Mark Timlin | 78' | |
Ryan Rainey Harry Nicolson | 80' | |
18. Robert Jones | 85' |
Past Meetings
(Round 25)
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk 3-0 Finn Harps |
(Round 17)
0 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Dundalk |
(Round 3)
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v Finn Harps |
(Series 29)
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Dundalk |
(Quarter Final Replay)
3 - 1FAI Cup
Oriel Park Dundalk v Finn Harps |
(Quarter Final)
3 - 3FAI Cup
Finn Park Finn Harps v Dundalk |
(Series 21)
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v Finn Harps |
(Series 11)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Dundalk |
(Series 2)
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v Finn Harps |
(Series 14)
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v Finn Harps |
(Series 5)
0 - 4LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Dundalk |
5 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
0 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
4 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
7LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
Officials
Referee | Assistants | Fourth Official |
---|---|---|
Paul McLaughlin | Darren Carey Darren Corcoran | Oliver Moran |
Ground
Finn Park |
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Finn Park, Navenny Street, Stranorlar Electoral Division, Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, County Donegal, F93 Y27K, Ireland |
Full time! Dundalk come away from Finn Park 2-1 winners.
Five minutes of injury time here at Finn Park as Harps chase the equaliser!
GOAL Harps! Rob Jones heads in from a corner for the hosts, game on!
Harry Nicolson comes on for Ryan Rainey.
Mark Timlin replaces Dylan Duncan.
Dylan Duncan is shown a yellow card.
John Martin is on for the final 15 minutes, replacing David McMillan.
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.
Ryan O'Kane has the ball in the back of the net but the flag is raised.
Rob Jones is substituted in, replacing Jaime Siaj.
Joe Adams is replaced by Robbie Benson.
Stephen O'Donnell picks up a booking on the touchline.
The game is opening up slightly as Harps attempt to find a way back into the match.
Filip Mihaljevic comes on for Elie-Gael N'Zeyi.
We are back underway at Finn Park.
Half-time, Dundalk lead 2-0 at Finn Park.
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.
A long throw for Harps but they fail to make anything of it.
Ryan Rainey picks up a yellow card after committing a foul to stop the Dundalk counter-attack.
It's all Dundalk now. Fluid attacks coming from both wings causing major problems for Harps.
WHAT A SAVE MCKEOWN! A Dundalk cross from the right fell to Darragh Leahy whose shot was stopped brilliantly by the Harps shot-stopper.
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.
Dundalk hit the post! A free-kick from deep fell to the edge of the box and Alfie Lewis' strike clipped the woodwork.
Jaime Siaj is booked for a push.
Dundalk are growing into the game after that early scare. Playing some intricate passes in an attempt to unlock the Harps backline.
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.