Athlone Town slipped to a costly fourth successive league defeat, a second half hattrick from Ryan Flood inspiring Finn Harps to finish their home campaign with a win this afternoon. 

Two points ahead of Treaty United entering the weekend’s fixtures, Athlone playoff hopes will be jangling even more nervously now, dependent on the Shannonsiders slipping up to maintain fifth place and the accompanying fourth, and final, playoff position it brings.  

Finishing with a fierce derby at home to Longford Town ensures their chance at having a shot at making the Premier Division will go all the way to the final whistle of the regular season. 

Harps remain ninth after a disappointing year, but finish with a flourish at Finn Park, reward for their home fans after a tough spell back in the second tier of Irish football. 

Although it was Athlone with more to play for a playoff place still tightly contested, three successive defeats had clearly dented their confidence. 

Frailty which Finn Harps pounced upon inside four minutes as midfielder Tony McNamee spun a deceptive free kick beyond the reach of away goalkeeper, Enda Minogue, the Town caught out to the glee of a jubilant, long-suffering Ballybofey crowd. 

Set piece uncertainty almost got the visitors level, though, home netminder, Antonio Tuta uncertain in his claiming of a free but it went unpunished as Patrick Hickey poked wide. 

As Athlone rammed up the pressure, Tuta pulled off an astonishing save from a crisply struck, Frantz Pierrot volley. 

But an equaliser was coming and duly arrived, defender Matthew Baker crossing well and home defender, Jamie Watson, under pressure from Pierrot, got an unfortunate touch on the ball in, which directed it, inadvertently into his own net. 

One all after a blockbuster opening quarter of an hour! 

Harps responded impressively to that setback, Stephen Doherty a driving force down the left on his return the starting side.  A close-range shot from Matty Makinson, blocked by Athlone, after a long throw landed invitingly for the defender, represented either sides’ best chance since scoring. 

Athlone’s most flowing move came seven minutes before the break, a rapid counterattack as Hickey sprung forward, found his captain, Oisin Duffy out left.  His delivery across goal was hacked away heroically by home defender, Noe Baba before Hickey blasted the second ball high and over. 

Mirroring their superb start, Darren Murphy’s Harps struck early again in the second half. 

This, a craftily worked corner, saw an alert McNamee pick out Ryan Flood, in space and free on the edge of the box.  The American struck it sweetly and sent a ninth strike of the season soaring past Minogue into the top corner, another long ranger for the collection for Harps’ top scorer this season. 

On the hour, it got even better for, most of, the Ballybofey faithful.  Substitute Sean O’Donnell, introduced at half time, used his speed to motor in behind and was unceremoniously upended, referee, Mark Moynihan pointing to the penalty spot. 

Up stepped Flood who fantastically fired it home for number three for Harps, Athlone players left stunned amid trying to regroup themselves and maintain their increasingly precarious playoff place. 

Throwing the kitchen sink at it in the final quarter, Athlone tested Tuta and co with an array of threatening crosses, going closest twenty-one minutes from time when Pierrot hit the post. 

Donal Curtin, freshly introduced from the bench, drew a save from Tuta with a tame strike, the home rearguard, encouraged vocally all the way by Murphy from the sideline, standing firm. 

Indeed, superb holdup play by O’Donnell allowed Flood to rattle in another shot, Minogue parrying out to the relentless Aaron McLaughlin who stabbed his rebound into Minogue’s chest as the Donegal fans cheered Harps home to the rafters. 

O’Donnell then ousted Jack Kavanagh for pace, another devastating break resulting in the substitute striker winning a second spot kick, an almost identical incident to the third goal. 

And with a similar outcome, the spot kick was convincingly scored, with conviction, by Flood as the top scorer deservedly bagged a hattrick late on, Athlone completely flat as a pancake and out of ideas. 

Daire Coyle made a late debut off the bench to cap a perfect day for Murphy and Harps. 

Athlone fans could, at least, console themselves with news of Galway taking a first half lead at playoff rivals, Treaty United.  What will annoy The Town is the reliance they now have on the Champions seeing that out.  They will hope to end the losing run and take charge of their own fate by winning against Longford on Friday evening.