Finn Harps 0
Cork City 1
By Chris Ashmore

Give us a break – that’s the plea from Finn Harps as once again they failed to get the rub of the green as they lost to Cork City in controversial circumstances on Friday night.
What proved to be the winner came from the penalty spot on 31 minutes as Dave Mooney slotted in his 14th league goal of the season – and his nineth strike in five games.
But Harps were fuming with the spot-kick award, claiming that Liam Kearney went down far too easily as he turned inside Michael Funston inside the box.
Up to the goal, Harps had been the better team, but after it the whole complexion of the game changed and, in truth, City never looked like losing.
Harps showed plenty of commitment and will feel that they deserved a point, but it should also be pointed out that they never really tested Michael Devine in the visitors’ goal.
High flying City went into this clash on the back of a great run that had seen them taking 16 points from their previous six league outings.
But Harps, with five changes from the side that lost 5-1 to St. Pat’s, had the better of things early on and twice new signing Neil McCafferty had chances to score. Davy Byrne, signed from Athlone on Friday, also impressed – but went off injury on 31 minutes. Yet another hard luck story for the Donegal club.
Although John O’Flynn shot tamely at Harps goalkeeper James Gallagher in the second minute, it was the home side who had the better of things early on and on seven minutes Michael Funston skipped down the right flank and whipped in a cross for McCafferty but he blazed wide of the target.
Harps then went close again on 18 minutes when City net minder Michael Devine failed to hold a corner and he was somewhat relieved to see an attempted lob from McCafferty land on the roof of the net.
Harps, employing a 4-1-4-1 formation, produced possibly their best football of the season against a top four club in the half hour before the goal and this was a source of real encouragement. Minnock’s importance to the side was evident to see and along with Marc Mukendi, they did well against Mooney and O’Flynn.
McCafferty looks as if he can be a real playmaker in midfield – and a decent replacement for Tony Shields – while Byrne, adding both steel and vision, stood out in his short appearance.
Not only was the penalty a source of debate, but referee Ritchie Winters was in card happy form and dished out no fewer than nine yellows in what descended into a real stop-start affair, especially in the second half.
City could have doubled their tally on 39 minutes when O’Flynn capitalised on a mistake by Mukendi to race through on goal but his shot was saved.
The second half took time to come to life with Cork having to wait until the hour mark before they conjured up another chance with Danny Murphy firing narrowly wide from 25 yards.
Cork’s best chance for a second fell to Colin Healy in the 82nd minute but his well struck free was tipped over by the alert Gallagher.
Harps put Cork under a bit of pressure late on – Chris Breen fired wide – but the majority in the crowd of around 1,200 cheered them on more in hope than with real belief.
Cork’s joy, however, was tempered at the end by the loss of O’Flynn through injury. He was taken off in the second half on a stretcher and taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg, having been fouled by McCafferty.