Rovers 0 Finn Harps 2

Rovers second best to Harps...

Finn Harps came looking for three valuable points and went away the happier of the two teams as a solid performance from the Donegal men overcame a lacklustre Rovers side. It looked good for Rovers very early in the game when Doyle and Madden combined after just 30 seconds to send in a dangerous low cross just behind Amond. After 5 minutes Doyle burst forward in space but elected to shoot when Madden was better placed.

The next Hoops chance came in the 15th minute when Purcells low cross saw Harps 'keeper Gallagher get to the ball just ahead of Amond. Maguire was on hand to cut out a dangerous ball from Harps' Gethins a minute later. Although Rovers had a good deal of possession they were finding it difficult to get behind the Harps rearguard and it was the 32nd minute before Gallagher was tested again when he collected Maddens deep cross. Four minutes later the Harps 'keeper got down well to save Amonds low shot.

Rovers best chance came just before the break when Amond connected with Doyles low cross but Gallagher beat away his shot with his right foot. Harps started the second half well when McGowan's shot from 20 yards went just wide. It got better in the 51st minute when Gethins broke from midfield and O'Brien and Murphy failed to clear the ball and Labonte was fortunately in the right place to knock the ball into the empty net.

The Hoops responded immediately as Doyles header was blocked in the area the ball fell to Maguire but the Hoops defender sliced his shot wide of the target. Joseph Ndo entered the fray in the 57th minute and a minute later McGill made a vital defensive tackle in the box. In the 63rd minute the visitors played some good football that saw their number seven run into the box past Murphy only to see Madden clear his effort off the line.

After 68 minutes McGill almost played Purcell in before Ndo struck a free-kick straight at the Harps 'keeper. The last ten minutes saw the game explode into life. Ndo done well to cross before the ball fell to Madden whose cross was taken by Gallagher. Gethins tried his luck from long range and his effort went just over. A short corner to O'Brien saw his deep cross go to the back post for Maguire to head back towards goal but a defender was first to the ball.

Harps were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute when Treacy was adjudged to have fouled in the area. Gethins stepped up to shoot against the cross-bar and over. In the 86th minute a long ball fell nicely for Purcell but Minnock got back to block the goal bound shot. With a minute to go Purcell headed the ball on for Leech to chase but a defender got across to clear for a corner that was taken by Ndo and headed wide by Amond.

In the 90th minute a free-kick from 25 yards out was struck low by Ndo and the ball came off Amond and hit the back off the Harps net. However a Linesman's flag had been raised and the goal was ruled out. Rovers forced two corners deep into injury time that saw Barry Murphy head into the opposition box but Harps broke quickly and Gethins sealed the game with a fine shot from the half-way line into the empty net.