Galway United... 2 Finn Harps...0: Galway United struck twice in the space of eight minutes to put themselves in the driving seat against Finn Harps following the first leg of their play-off at Terryland Park last night.

But Harps will look back on this game and wonder how they failed to record at least a draw having been much the better side for the first hour.

Harps, who went into this game with just one defeat in their last 12 outings, began positively with Damien Whitehead forcing Galway goalkeeper Robert Forde into making a full-stretch save at the expense of a corner.

Despite losing key midfielders Tom Mohan and Paddy McGrenaghan through injury in the first half, Harps, with Donal O'Brien excelling in midfield, always looked the livelier side.

The visitors best chance before the interval fell to Kevin McHugh who burst into the penalty area after being played through by Johnny Kenny. The Harps striker went down as he rounded Forde, but pleas for a penalty were dismissed and McHugh was booked.

Johnny Kenny fired narrowly wide for Harps early in the second half and Whitehead then headed inches over as Harps continued to hold the upper-hand.

But, against the run of play, Galway took the lead in the 61st minute when Alan Murphy, having been fouled, curled in a 22-yard free.

Harps were still recovering when the Tony Mannion-managed side scored again. Nigel Keady pumped a long ball over the Harps defence for Barry Moran to run onto before skipping past the advancing Alan Young to slot the ball home.

In the end, Galway could have added to their score, but twice Moran was denied by Young.

GALWAY UNITED: R Forde; Harty, Quirke, Carter, Keady, Fortune, Folan, Herrick, Moran, Murphy, O'Brien. Sub: Brennan for Fortune (57 mins).

FINN HARPS: Young; R Kenny, Minnock, Boyle, Devenney, Mohan, J Kenny, McGrenaghan, Whitehead, McHugh, O'Brien. Subs: Bonner for Mohan (18 mins), Scanlon for McGrenaghan (39 mins), Speake for Whitehead (79 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).