Cobh Ramblers came from behind to cruise past ten-man Finn Harps, Jack Doherty starring with a dazzling performance, as the hosts sealed their playoff place, emphatically.

With Tim Heimer and Rory Kelly on the treatment table, Croatian, Antonio Tuta started in goal for Harps, able to settle in as Cobh, despite seeing the ball regularly, didn’t create anything clearcut in the opening stages under the fading sunlight of St Colman’s Park.

Twelve minutes in and Harps put a cat amongst the pigeon, as they pilfered a wonderful opening goal.

Crafted down the right, Sean O’Donnell’s speedy surge and cutback found Patrick Ferry, who shot on sight, and fantastically found the top corner, Harps striking first and in style to stun the home Cobh crowd, Ferry again a scoring thorn in the side of Shane Keegan’s team.

In-form scorer, Jack Doherty, fizzed a free kick over the bar as Ramblers’ efforts to equalise were thwarted by a diligent, brave Harps’ defensive display, early on.

That was the best chance Doherty saw in the first twenty-five minutes as Cobh’s creativity dried up.

He was involved though in setting up the best chance they had, knocking back Michael McCarthy’s cross, unselfishly, for Mikie Rowe whose heavy touch saw the chance go begging as Harps’, marshalled superbly by Jamie Watson, mopped up the danger.

Tuta then tipped away a Matthew McKevitt effort after the midfielder’s swivel and shot, as Cobh wrested the momentum their way.

Two minutes out from the break, the pressure yielded as Doherty danced around a bamboozled defence, crossed and this time, Rowe was ruthless, burying the opportunity to equalise, the scourge of Harps once more having scored against them back in Ballybofey.

The hosts picked up where they had let off, six minutes after the resumption, an audacious Doherty backheel and cross found Rowe, whose soaring header flashed over.

Instantly after, another dazzling Doherty dribble and shot saw Watson penalised for handball. 

Up stepped Doherty who drilled into the corner, despite Tuta diving the right way, for his third goal in four matches, the outcome turned on its head.

The mountain Harps had to climb then became a lot steeper as O’Donnell followed through, late and recklessly, on Cian Browne, shown a straight red by referee, Oliver Moran.

Quickly, the extra man told as Justin Eguiabor fed McKevitt who surged clear of lagging white shirts and unerringly fired past Tuta into the bottom corner.

From there, the floodgates opened, Rowe and Doherty both doubling up within minutes as first, the former dovetailed with Doherty and curved another fine finish home.

Then, Doherty had his double secured as Browne skedaddled past his defender, on the outside, cooly picked out his centre forward and Doherty nonchalantly wedged a delightful strike past Tuta for 5-1, St Colman’s sent into delirium as the playoff position was sealed in a party atmosphere.

Cobh were having great fun in the second half but were jolted back to earth when Harps won a penalty with fifteen minutes remaining. 

However, home goalkeeper, Lee Steacy ensured the feel-good factor continued to flow, saving brilliantly from a tame Tony McNamee spot kick.

In the closing stages, Doherty relentlessly sought his hattrick for the cherry on the Cobh cake, although the Harps defence continued to split like skittles, they restricted it to five but were left to reflect on another tough night, albeit one that had slipped from a promising position.

With four games remaining, Cobh can bask in their fourth successive win as they build to the crunch playoffs, promotion firmly in their sights.

Keegan’s men can also enjoy a full week’s recovery for their trip to Bray Wanderers next Friday evening (7:45pm KO).

Harps have a quick turnaround as they face two games in the next seven days, champions Galway United up first at Eamonn Deacy on Monday night (7:45pm KO) before a return to Finn Park sees the face the only team below them, Kerry (8pm KO).