Although they netted three times, Cobh Ramblers eventually succumbed to a fantastic Finn Harps performance as the Donegal side twice came from behind to win a seven-goal epic.

Buoyed by progressive draws against Bray Wanderers and Galway United, respectively, last Friday, both teams entered with a little more optimism of backing those performances up.

Cobh started stronger and six minutes in, Liam Kervick scuffed their first effort.

However, with less than ten minutes elapsed, the few fans who had braved the Ballybofey storm were either cheering or left holding their head in their hands.

Certainly, Harps’ manager, Dave Rogers will have been left doing the latter at seeing some appalling marking from his new look defence grant Wilson Waweru the freedom of Finn Park, space which he gleefully exploited as his pinpoint header opened the scoring.

At this point, having conceded early again, Harps’ fans might have been forgiven for fearing the worst but they produced a response full of character, new captain Tony McNamee doing brilliantly to make a chance which Sean O’Donnell spurned.

Yet, they were on the up and from a clever, short, corner, McNamee calmly picked out Ryan Flood in space and the American dispatched a sweetly struck shot, sent sizzling into the corner. 

His second strike in three games and now the scorer of Harps’ last two goals!

In rather Finn Harps fashion though, the feelgood factor was promptly punctured by a wonderful Waweru finish as the striker doubled his tally.

Anticipating a cross, Waweru skilfully timed a fluorescent flick to perfection and, far from making a fool of himself with the attempted finish, it came off sublimely to restore Cobh’s lead with as goal as accurate as it was aesthetic.

Harps were harrying their visitors into errors though and five minutes from half time, won a penalty.

Up stepped Flood and he fired it high past Lee Steacy with authority, even stevens once more and validation for Rogers to retain Flood as the only defender following the exodus of concessions a fortnight ago at Waterford.

Cobh came back out like a side haunted by defensive demons and only a courageous last-gasp block by Daithi McCallion denied them retaking the lead.

That proved pivotal when, just before the hour mark, Ferry sent Finn Park wild.

O’Donnell made the opening with a mazy run which went untracked, his pacy shot was palmed out by Steacy and Ferry reacted first to put the Donegal side into the lead, cueing pandemonium.

And if we thought that was anything near the end of the drama, boy were we mistaken entering the final half hour.

Firstly, Cobh debutant, Mikie Rowe netted an equaliser when his cross was untouched and flew past Tim Heimer in the Harps’ goal.

However, the Harps’ spirit, which has been rightly questioned at times this season, was apparent in abundance all night and they bounced right back, O’Donnell opportunistically capitalising on a spill from Steacy after Max Hutchison’s cross was too hot to handle in stormy conditions.

Finn Park roared, deprived of so many Harps home goals all season, these were scenes to savour!

Cobh, far from laying siege, seemed to lose their heads a little in the closing stages as they racked up three bookings in the final ten minutes, frustration seemingly overcoming them despite late attacking changes desperately made.

Harps holding on, with the help of Noe Baba entering the fray late, for a precious home victory to finally send the Finn Park faithful home happy! For Ramblers, this is costly ground lost in the playoff races as Harps’ own endeavours on that front take a sizeable boost with the three points.

Up next for both is a slice of FAI Cup action as the promotion hunt goes on pause for a week.

Kicking off their campaign for Cobh, is an intriguing trip to Dublin to play UCD.  Harps have a tricky looking tie too, away to non-league side Kilbarrack United but will hope now to be full of confidence to kick on in both cup and playoff pursuit as the pace of summer football starts to quicken.