Finn Harps suffer first league defeat of the season in controversial circumstances

Finn Harps 0-1 Cobh Ramblers
Finn Harps suffered their inaugural defeat of the season in the league as they were edged out 1-0 by Cobh Ramblers tonight at Finn Park.  

The match was not without controversy, particularly in the 91st minute when substitute Sean O’Donnell appeared to be fouled in the box, only for the referee to wave away appeals for a penalty. 

Cobh Ramblers clinched a deserved victory, marking manager Gary Hunt's first triumph of the season after starting with a defeat to Treaty United and a draw with Athlone Town. 

The early stages of the game were marked by a flurry of throw-ins on the dugout side, with a couple causing problems for the Harps defence.  

Within the first minute, Matthew McKevitt narrowly missed the target after a delivery from Cian Browne. Another opportunity arose from the same flank, leading to a dangerous low cross from James O’Leary, but David Bošnjak failed to connect at the far post. 

Cobh was again unlucky not to hit the front when O’Leary sung a bullet of a cross into the box, but Jack Larkin was off target as he headed the ball to the right of the post to the crowd's bemusement.  

The pressure of the throw-ins from Browne eventually paid off for Cobh Ramblers, with Larkin breaking the deadlock 23 minutes into the game when the full-back's long throw resulted in Larkin nailing it on the volley to fly into the net.  

Despite attempts by Tony McNamee, Harps struggled to create clear chances, with Cobh Ramblers' defence standing firm against their attacks and cutting out Success Edogun. 

However, a raft of bizarre decisions seemed to go against the home side, and the anger from the dugout wasn’t long being vented when manager Darren Murphy was booked for showing his frustration to the fourth official.  

Yet despite Cobh’s dominance, they would be upset that they weren’t further ahead as both teams marched to the dressing room at the break with the away side leading 1-0. 

During the week Murphy discussed about using his bench to boost the starting 11 if they were in trouble, and tonight he was a man of his word with the Harps boss making a series of substitutions before the hour mark to inject some energy into his side.  

However, they still found it challenging to carve out significant opportunities. Sean O’Donnell and Conor Tourish provided a boost, aided by Noe Baba's defensive prowess and while they started to create some opportunities, most noteworthy Mark Mbuli’s shit that deflected wide, but he claimed was handled in the box, the away side were still able to keep their composure despite Harps’ purple patch. 

As the game progressed, both Jamie Watson and David Cawley tried their luck from long range but failed to hit the target.  

McNamee was outstanding as he led his team from midfield and nearly drew level after beating two defenders, but his shot sailed over the crossbar for a corner. 

In the final minutes, Harps mounted significant pressure, with substitute O’Donnell coming close to equalising, only to be denied by Darragh Burke's save. 

In stoppage time, O’Donnell again found himself at the centre of attention, as he appeared to be brought down in the box by Justin Equiabor.  

However, much to the frustration of the home crowd, the referee deemed it a simulation and booked O’Donnell instead of awarding a penalty with the home supporter chanting ‘Cheat’ to the official, capping off a disappointing night for Finn Harps, whose unbeaten record this season at home comes to an end in a deserving win for Cobh who return to Leeside with all three points. 

Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Heimer; Jamie Watson (Chris Lotefa 81), Matthew Makinson, Noe Baba, Shane McMonagle (Conor Tourish 58); Stephen Doherty (Luke O’Brien 58), Tony McNamee, David Cawley, Max Hutchison (Sean O’Donnell 58), Patrick Ferry (Mark Mbuli 58); Success Edogun.  

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke; Cian Browne, Brendan Frahill, Nolan Evers, Jason Abbott; David Bošnjak (Beineón O’Brien Whitmarsh 73), Dale Holland (Pierce Phillips 80), Dean Larkin, Jack Larkin, James O’Leary (Justin Eguaibor 88); Matthew McKevitt.  

Referee: Oliver Moran