Late Lee goal enables Mervue United edge out Finn Harps in season finale

Date Published: {J}

Mervue United 1

Finn Harps 0

MERVUE Utd completed their First Division campaign with a tenth league win of the season as for once, they were the team scoring very late in a game to secure a 1-0 win over Finn Harps at Fahy’s Field on Saturday night.

The victory also ended a run of four successive defeats and moved Johnny Glynn’s side up a place in the final standings as they ended the season in seventh place in the table.

In a game of few clear cut chances despite the best efforts of both sides who had to endure a torrential downpour midway through the first-half, it took an Alex Lee goal four minutes from time to finally separate the sides.

Harps had the ball in the net after just three minutes when Blaine Curtis managed to beat Ger Hanley at the second attempt but referee Alan Sherlock ruled it out for offside. Kevin McHugh’s initial shot had been parried into Curtis path by Hanley, but he fired his first shot off the post before netting his second effort in an offside position.

Mervue winger Etanda Nkololo looked lively early on and he did well on seven minutes weaving his way into the Harps box but then delayed his shot as Packie Mailey got back to clear from close range.

Another display of trickery from Nkololo on 12 minutes saw him leave two Harps defenders in his wake before advancing through the middle and unleashing a low drive which Ciaran Gallagher did well to get down and push away for a corner.

Hanley made an excellent save from a close range Aaron O’Hagan header just past the half hour mark, while Pat Hoban hooked an effort just over Gallagher’s crossbar when he connected with a David O’Brien cross from the right on 37 minutes.

Kevin McHugh wasted the best opportunity of the game ten minutes after the break when he failed to trouble Hanley after a James Doherty pass found him unmarked in the box with the veteran striker taking too long and shooting wide. Three minutes later, Gallagher did very well to push away an Alex Lee effort that was destined for the top corner.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.