Galway United maintain perfect home record with win over Finn Harps

Champions Galway United maintained their 100% home record with a competent display against Finn Harps. The scoreline flattered the visitors as United spurned a number of chances.

Having sealed the title on Friday, and with one eye on a FAI Cup semi-final, the home team lacked their trademark intensity.

Despite a healthy crowd, there was a flat atmosphere in Terryland. The windy conditions stymied the play. The main attraction was the ticket sales for the Cup semi-final, the queue snaking around the length of the Ecofuel Stand.

Harps were compact and diligent in their first outing since the departure of manager Dave Rogers.

Nonetheless, the gulf between first and ninth in the league was evident. After a tepid start, United missed a glut of chances.

Rob Manley was close a number of times in the first. He failed to convert a Francely Lomboto cross, a parried Antonio Tuta save, a goalmouth scramble, and a Stephen Walsh knock down.

The more pressing concern for the Tribesmen was the loss of Lomboto to injury mid-way through the first half. He left the field in some distress with a leg injury.

The goal eventually came in the 41st minute. Sub Wassim Auoachria flashed a ball across the face of the goal. Walsh and Jamie Watson tussled at the back stick. Watson’s sliced clearance hit the roof of the net.

Harps applied pressure at times but United carved out the better chances. Tuta denied Hurley and the post denied Walsh in the third quarter.

Lively winger Ed McCarthy was close too either side of half-time. Defender Rob Slevin had the pick of the chances but his header crept over.

Matthew Makinson cleared a Walsh header off the line. His intervention was symbolic of the defiance of Harps who nearly stole an equaliser in the dying seconds after a dangerous corner.

Elsewhere, goals either side of half-time from Luka Lovic and Aaron Dobbs gave Wexford a 2-0 win over Longford Town. The win all but secures Wexford's play-off spot.

Galway United: Clarke; O’ Keefe, Slevin, Brouder, Donelon (O’ Reilly 69); McCarthy, Dervin (O’ Connor 69), Hurley (Borden 56), Lomboto (Auoachria 29); Walsh, Manley (Tarmey 69). 

Finn Harps: Tuta; Keogh, Watson, Makinson, Jordan; Ferry (McLoughlin 62), Rainey (Hutchison 72), Doherty (Stokoe 72), Flood; McNamee (Bonnar 89), Banda (A Duffy 89). 

Referee: A Reale.