Soccer

Shamrock Rovers keep up the pace with easy win at Finn Harps

Stephen Bradley’s side second to Dundalk on goal difference after victory at Finn Park

Dylan Watts celebrates his penalty against Finn Harps. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho

Mon May 20 2019 - 22:16

Finn Harps 0 Shamrock Rovers 3

Shamrock Rovers kept hot on the heels of Dundalk at the summit of the Premier Division with a deserved victory over relegation threatened Finn Harps at Finn Park.

Rovers led 2-0 at the break through Ronan Finn and a Dylan Watts penalty and while the home side kept plugging away the result was never really in doubt.

The Hoops remain behind Dundalk on goal difference.

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Rovers went ahead in the seventh minute after Peter Burke failed to deal with cross and Aaron Greene found the supporting Ronan Finn who stabbed the ball home from close range.

And they doubled their advantage on 33 minutes when Finn played a probing ball into the Harps box for Greene to chase but he was impeded by goalkeeper Peter Burke and referee Rob Hennessy awarded a penalty. Dylan Watts duly obliged from the spot.

The Hoops continued to hold the upper hand in the second half and Watts, Trevor Clarke and Greene all forced Burke into making saves before Greene got onto the end of a Jack Byrne free at the far post to make it 3-0 in the 84th minute.

Finn Harps: Burke; Deasy, Todd, Logue, O'Reilly; Coyle (Cowan, 79 mins), Borg (Borg, 45 mins), Russell; Boyle (Walsh, 85 mins), Place; McAleer.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; O'Brien, Lopez, Grace, Clarke (Boyle, 77 mins); Bolger (Dillon, 83 mins); Finn, Watts, Byrne; Greene, Carr (Coustrain, 64 mins).

Referee: R. Hennessy (Dublin).

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