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Speak has the last word

Fairview Rangers - 0 Finn Harps - 2 A sublime goal from man-of-the-match Paddy McGrenaghan was the beginning of the end for …

Mon Aug 19 2002 - 01:00

Fairview Rangers - 0 Finn Harps - 2A sublime goal from man-of-the-match Paddy McGrenaghan was the beginning of the end for junior side Fairview Rangers' FAI Cup dream.

McGrenaghan struck for the lead goal a minute before half-time and it was a disaster for the Limerick side who were more than holding their own against the first division promotion favourites.

Left-back Trevor Higgins dallied on the ball out near the right touchline and was dispossessed by McGrenaghan, who then ran to the end-line, cut across towards goal, before somehow squeezing his shot past Kevin Fitzpatrick and his left-hand post from an almost impossible angle.

In an edgy start, Finn Harps were first to register a threat on goal after 17 minutes. The normally lethal Kevin McHugh failed to connect with a Declan Boyle header from McGrenaghan's corner as Fitzpatrick collected the ball on his goal-line.

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With four FAI Junior Cup wins in the last six seasons, Fairview showed they could play with the best piece of football in the first half on 26 minutes unlucky not to have given them the lead. Kevin McCarthy's diagonal pass from 40 yards was teed up by Colm Heffernan whose volley from the edge of the area had Harps goalkeeper Alan Young stretching to tip it over his crossbar.

Fairview chased the game hard from the resumption but chances from Tommy Barrett and substitute Jimmy Sheehan were wasted as the minnows ran out of steam.

McHugh had a shot well parried away by Fitzpatrick as Harps gradually came back into the game in the latter stages before sealing victory on 88 minutes.

Substitute Johnny Kenny exposed a tired Fairview down the right to cross and player/manger Jonathon Speak dived low to head past Fitzpatrick.

FAIRVIEW RANGERS: Fitzpatrick; Cosgrove, Fitzgerald, Buckley, Higgins (Lovell 80 mins); McCarthy, Purcell, B Heffernan, Harman (Ryan 86 mins); C Heffernan, Barrett (Sheehan 62 mins).

FINN HARPS: Young; R Kenny, Boyle, Bradley, Sweeney (J Kenny 70 mins); McGrenaghan, O'Brien, Mohan (Lloyd 89 mins), Minnock; McHugh, Speak (Bonner 90 mins).

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).