Three goals in an exciting first half were enough to secure all three points for Finn Harps against Shelbourne on Saturday night, but only just.

Finn Harps took the lead in the ninth minute when Eamon Kavanagh lobbed Alan Gough.

Tony Sheridan levelled the game for Shelbourne in the 19th minute but Harps regained the lead in the 31st minute when Speak unmarked in the box made no mistake.

Ten minutes later James Mulligan gave Finn Harps a two goal cushion at half-time but within a minute of the restart Sheridan reduced the deficit.

Finn Harps: McKenna, Vaudequin, Minnock, Boyle, Dykes, O'Brien, Mohan, Kelly, Speak, Mulligan, Kavanagh. Subs: McGrenaghan for O'Brien (66 mins), Harkin for Speak (85 mins), McGettigan for Kelly (90 mins).

Shelbourne: Gough, D Geoghegan, McCarthy, Scully, Sheridan, S Geoghegan, Doolin, Fenlon, Fitzgerald, Neville, Heary. Subs: Baker for Neville (H.T), Gifford for Heary (57 mins), Byrne for Fitzgerald (75 mins).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).