0 v 3 
Finn HarpsDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 July 2021 | 4:00 pm | FAI Cup | 2021 |
Match Report
Fairview battle but Harps take it in extra-time
Up until four minutes into extra time this tie between Fairview Rangers and Finn Harps in Limerick remained a stalemate with little tempo, that was until super sub Sean Boyd had his say. Striking a cool finish to earn his first goal of the season and the momentum for his side, an own goal and a Barry McNamee trounce saw a 3-0 win to progress them to the second round of the FAI Cup.
In normal time the Donegal outfit seemed destined not to break the deadlock, hitting the post and the crossbar but not the net in between.
The nine-time Junior FAI cup winners Rangers done well to hold off Harps for as long as they did and will have been disappointed to succumb to three goals that won’t have accurately reflected the amidst the hope of extra time.
There was little to report apart from substitutions and bookings in the 90 minutes, Ollie Horgan’s men failed to capitalise on the lion’s share of possession they often had and went into both half and full time at 0-0.
Boyd’s effort in the 94th minute however revolutionised the game as the pendulum swung the away team’s favour at the expense of the magic of the cup narrative.
Fairview did put a tally on the scoresheet in the 107th minute, but to their despair it was into their own net after a keeper Aaron Savage’s attempt to keep the ball out from a corner chance went askew.
Barry McNamee then ensured things went from bad to worse for the Limerick squad when he side footed the ball for Harps’s third goal of the game and sounded without doubt the bells and whistles of their first FAI cup triumph of the year and will be optimistic they may carry this form back into their Airtricity League Premier Division performances.
Timeline
| 34' | 16. Shane McEleney | |
| Jeffrey Judge | 36' | |
| 47' | 6. Ryan Connolly | |
| Adam Franill James Fitzgerald | 56' | |
| 76' | Johnny Dunleavy Sean Boyd | |
| Shane Costelloe Kennedy N'dip | 82' | |
| Michael O'Gorman John Mullane | 82' | |
| Ross Mann | 84' | |
| Russell Quirke Cian Fitzgerald | 86' | |
| Mark Slattery | 89' | |
| 94' | 9. Sean Boyd | |
| 95' | Ryan Connolly Mark Coyle | |
| Mark Slattery Paul Donaher | 97' | |
| Ross Mann Eoin Duff | 97' | |
| Aaron Savage | 107' | |
| 109' | Adam Foley Ryan Rainey | |
| Cian Fitzgerald | 110' | |
| 118' | 11. Barry McNamee |
Ground
| Fairview Rangers |
|---|
| Fairview Rangers A.F.C., Fairgreen Road, Limerick, The Metropolitan District of Limerick City, County Limerick, Munster, V94 XTY5, Ireland |
Alanna Cunnane
Alanna is currently pursuing her studies in journalism at Dublin City University and writes regularly for her local media outlets in Sligo.
All over at the Fairgreen. 3-0 win for Harps
A third for Harps in Limerick!
Yellow card for Cian Fitzgerald
Rainey on for Foley
Own goal is allocated to Fairview as Savage gets the last touch on a Finn Harps corner
Second half of extra time underway!
Halftime of extra time has been called by the referee. That passage of play saw the deadlock broken via super sub Sean Boyd!
Ollie Horgan into the book for arguing his case at the referee
Eoin Duff and Paul Donaher on for Ross Mann and Mark Slattery
Coyle in for Connolly
GOAL FOR BOYD! Finn Harps go 1-0 up through the substitute
The first half of extra time has started in Fairgreen. Lots of tired bodies out there now
Full time and the 90 minutes ends in a stalemate. To extra time and maybe beyond we go!
Into stoppage time at the Fairgreen and it remains 0-0.
Slattery booked in the closing stages
Quirke off Cian Fitzgerald on
Yellow card for Ross Mann
Michael O'Gorman and Shane Costello come off in a double substitution for Fairview
John Mullane and N'Dip on
Boyd enters the fray for Harps. John Dunleavy makes way.
Destined not to go in! Hawkins hits the post and the crossbar within the same minute. Remains 0-0, around 15 minutes to go of normal time.
Another water break called here in Limerick. The tempo is quite flat in this 0-0 affair but perhaps it will heat up in the final half hour
Frahill is replaced by James Fitzgerald
Despite chances from Connolly and Foley Harps are yet to score. Fairview keeper Aaron Savage is in tip top form for his side. The longer they stay in this the greater the pressure that grows on the Donegal outfit. 0-0.
The teams are back out on the pitch for the second half, with no changes for either side at the interval. Hopefully we see a goal before the 45 is out!
Halftime from the Fairgreen in Limerick. Deadlock yet to be broken with some chances for both sides but Finn Harps will have been disappointed not to go in at the break with the lead as they had the lions share of possession.
Connolly goes into the book
Jeffrey Judge yellow carded as Finn Harps looked to transition from defence to attack
Shane McEleney yellow carded and gives Fairview a free kick on the edge of the box beside the right hand side corner flag
Quite a few stream interruptions but the quality of the game has not come into question! While Harps have dominated possession Fairview are still in this. 0-0 in Limerick.
Waterbreak granted to give both sides a breather!
Harps have had a substantial period of pressure towards Fairview goal. Two penalty calls but none awarded and the deadlock is yet to be broken
Adam Foley strikes from long range but it remains 0-0 as the ball comes back off the woodwork.
And we're off in Limerick! Slightly late kick off but two minutes past the hour we are live!
Fairview have announced their team and the stage is set amidst the sunny conditions in Limerick. Kick off coming in 15 minutes
Meanwhile the Ballybofey squad are well attuned to the FAI Cup journey at this stage. First championing in the contest in 1974 they appeared in the quarter-final last year versus Shamrock Rovers only to fall victim to a late surge and lose out 3-2 at Finn Park.
Finn Harps have released their team sheet with some interesting calls! Gerard Doherty makes his debut while Ryan Connolly makes his first start since the season opener.
Having not donned the yellow jersey in a competitive match for over nine months, The home side managed to progress to this stage after they pulled off a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Athenry FC on July 10th. They will be hoping to continue such winning ways today.
A lot has changed since August of 2002 when they last met however. Harps are enjoying their third consecutive spell in in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, while last year’s FAI Junior cup winners Rangers secured their ninth such title last year, hoping to put it up to those in the Senior code this time around.
Welcome to today's match commentary with me Alanna Cunnane! As many of you know, Finn Harps travel to Limerick’s Fairview Rangers this afternoon where they clash in the first round of the FAI Cup (4pm). Nearly two decades ago the carbon copy of the fixture saw goals from Paddy McGranaghan and Jonathan Speak to send the Ulster outfit home with the 2-0 triumph, but what will be the outcome today?