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Details

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

Match Report

Finn Harps relegated at the hands of UCD at home

UCD sealed their place in the relegation playoff place and relegated Finn Harps in the process, with a crucial, Tommy Lonergan inspired, 3-1 win at Finn Park.

Going into this penultimate fixture, both sides knew the potential relegation ramifications, Harps desperate to cling on.

After twenty-five minutes, Filip Mihaljevic had Harps’ first chance, striking the post after Ethan Boyle’s long throw caused mayhem.

And from a set piece, Harps took the lead. Regan Donelon crossed and defender Conor Tourish headed past a static visiting defence to send Finn Park into raptures.

However, the home side’s happiness didn’t last long. From the kick off, Harps couldn’t clear, Tommy Lonergan found Mark Dignam and the inform midfielder rifled a stunning strike from range beyond James McKeown, into the top corner.

Donelon whipped the woodwork but whilst Harps were increasingly reliant on set plays, UCD were dictating the clear chances in open play.

The second half saw the students sit back, with the onus on Harps to break them down. Despite huffing and puffing, they lacked penetration and were exposed on the counterattack.

Lonergan, who had gone close earlier, was set free and the winger rapidly advanced, jinked inside and curled a sumptuous effort inside the post. 2-1 to UCD and a season-defining moment!

That was a body blow for the hosts and salt was rubbed in the wound when, moments later, referee, Neil Doyle, awarded UCD a penalty. Tourish penalised for a harsh-looking handball.

Amid, the home fury, Lonergan was calmness personified, lashing home a fine spot-kick.

Goalkeeper Kian Moore repelled Mihaljevic and Rob Slevin brilliantly late on but by that stage, the damage had been done for Finn Harps.

Their leaky defence and wayward finishing, over the season, proving costly. UCD end in excellent form and will relish the relegation playoff. If they keep playing like this, they won’t be who any First Division side wants to face.

Finn Harps

25James McKeown Goalkeeper
2Conor Tourish Defender 28'
19Regan Donelon 16 Defender
4Rob Slevin Defender
7Gary Boylan Defender 82'
24Ethan Boyle Defender
6Ryan Connolly 20 Midfielder 52'
11Barry McNamee Midfielder
18Robert Jones 22 Forward
32Jaime Siaj 56 Forward
33Filip Mihaljevic Forward
99Gavin Mulreany Goalkeeper
23Liam McGing Defender
20Sean O’Donnell 6 Forward
12Luke Rudden Forward
16Harry Nicolson 19 Defender
15Jose Carrillo Defender
10Mark Timlin Midfielder
56Dylan Duncan 32 Midfielder
22Ryan Rainey 18 Midfielder

UCD AFC

16Kian Moore Goalkeeper 86'
3Evan Osam 18 Defender
8Mark Dignam Defender 30'
22Sam Todd Defender 82'
2Michael Gallagher Midfielder
6Jack Keaney Midfielder
21Sean Brennan Midfielder
27Tommy Lonergan 10 Midfielder 73', 79'
30Alex Nolan 4 Midfielder
9Evan Caffrey Forward
28Oliwier Olekiewicz Goalkeeper
4Jamie Duggan 30 Defender
Harry O’Connor Midfielder
10John Haist 27 Forward
25Aaron Corish Midfielder
18Donal Higgins 3 Midfielder
24Harvey O’Brien Defender
23Tobi Jinad Forward
25Daniel Norris Forward
  • 95'

    FULL TIME: FINN HARPS-1 UCD-3: HARPS ARE GOING DOWN TO THE FIRST DIVISION. UCD HAVE SECURED A PLAYOFF POSITION. Big result this but UCD are worthy winners tonight!

  • 93'

    CHANCE: Milhaljevic and any last hope's are denied by a sprightly save from Moore!

  • 90'

    Higgins on for Osam for UCD- Harps being relegated with a whimper

  • 86'

    For all Harps' struggles, UCD have been excellent tonight and found form at the right time. Kian Moore gets booked for timewasting

  • 82'

    A brawl ensues and Neil Doyle books Todd and Boylan for their shenanigans

  • 81'

    CLEARANCE: Gallagher the hero for UCD with a goal-saving header off the line!

  • 78'

    GOAL UCD- Lonergan slots it away brilliantly! Looks very harsh on Tourish but Harps are facing down the barrel of relegation unless they have a miracle in their hands!

  • 78'

    PENALTY TO UCD- handball given against Tourish

  • 77'

    Shaun O'Donnell on as Ollie Horgan goes for it

  • 74'

    AS IT STANDS, FINN HARPS WILL BE RELEGATED

  • 73'

    GOAL UCD- TOMMY LONERGAN WHAT A TIME TO SCORE!! The winger strikes superbly on the counterattack, that is a bodyblow to Finn Harps!

  • 71'

    Siaj makes way for attacking midfielder Dylan Duncan

  • 66'

    Both Lonergan and Rainey balloon shots from range wastefully over the bar but UCD, as it stands, will be going into the final day, three points clear of Harps. 25 to go!

  • 62'

    Blow for Harps as Donelon departs with injury, Harry Nicolson comes on. The ineffective Jones is replaced by Ryan Rainey

  • 54'

    Keane goes close again, skimming a shot just wide from range! UCD posing the greater scoring threat

  • 52'

    Ryan Connolly booked for tugging back the dangerous Dignam

  • 50'

    Harps have started the second half brighter, winning a couple of corners but UCD defend stoutly. It's really a must win this for Harps! One goal has major ramifications

  • 46'

    KICK OFF: second half gets us back underway!

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: Finn Harps-1 UCD-1- finely poised as you'd expect. Harps threatening most from set pieces but UCD by far better in open play. A Tourish header and Dignam stunner the highlights of the half

  • 40'

    OFF THE POST: Dignam is almost at it again! This time he drills a left-footed shot from a similar area, edge of the D, and this rattles the post! UCD on top as halftime looms

  • 35'

    SAVE: Donelon whips a tempting free kick at goal, it's really well struck and Kian Moore reacts brilliantly to get it behind in the UCD goal

  • 30'

    GOAL UCD: MARK DIGNAM, WHAT A STRIKE! From the kick off, Harps make a meal of clearing and Tommy Lonergan tees up Dignam who RAMS a shot into the top corner! 1-1, what a few minutes!

  • 28'

    GOAL- FINN HARPS: 1-0 to Finn Harps and its a fine header from Conor Tourish! Regan Donelon's ball in is delicious and Tourish glides in unopposed to score!

  • 25'

    OFF THE POST: Boyle's long throw causes havoc, a UCD header inadvertently diverts the ball to the feet of Mihaljevic and under pressure, he yoinks a shot against the post!

  • 23'

    FOUL: Boylan fortunate to avoid a booking for a foul on Todd there. Harps with a spell of sustained pressure, they are getting the crosses in especially down Boylan's flank and looking for Jones and Mihaljevic to win the physical duals

  • 19'

    CHANCE: Dara Keane! He plants a header wide after easily getting above Ethan Boyle from a fine Michael Gallagher ball in

  • 14'

    SHOT: UCD zipping it about nicely at the moment, they are the brighter side and Conor Tourish is alert in the Harps defence to clear Sam Todd's cross

  • 6'

    CHANCE: Gary Boylan swings a cracking delivery into the UCD box from a corner, but nobody is there. Sean Brennan and Barry McNamee have had good surges and passes in the opening phases

  • UNDERWAY: A crunch encounter gets underway!

  • 15 minutes to kick off!

  • TEAM NEWS: Captain Jack Keaney alongside fellow recent goalscorers Dara Keane and Mark Dignam all start for UCD tonight

  • TEAM NEWS: Ollie Horgan makes one enforced change from the 2-2 at Bohs last week, Jamie Siaj replaces the benched Dylan Duncan

  • AS IT STANDS: UCD are currently three points clear of their hosts but a win for Finn Harps will lift them level on points and above UCD into the playoff position, courtesy of goal difference. All to play for on this penultimate matchday then! Team news coming up

  • WELCOME: Good evening and welcome to tonight's LOI Coverage here on FinalWhistle. I'm Rory Morrow and I'll be keeping you updated on the relegation six-pointer between Finn Harps and UCD this evening. Kick off at Finn Park is 8pm

Past Meetings

(Round 27)
2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC 2-1 Finn Harps

(Round 15)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v UCD AFC

(Round 2)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Finn Harps

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v UCD AFC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Finn Harps FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v UCD AFC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Finn Harps FC

Officials

Referee
Neil Doyle

Ground

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

QUB Student, passion for Sports Journalism Editor @ The Gown QUB Newspaper Reporter for @ FinalWhistle