Finn Harps 5 Longford Town 0
Finn Harps’ rollercoaster of a season ended on a high as they deservedly defeated already relegated Longford Town to preserve their Premier Division status.
Going into the game, the Donegal club knew it needed just to match Waterford’s final result to avoid the relegation playoff spot.
Harps duly obliged with their biggest win of the season while Waterford were held by St Patrick’s Athletic.
After several early chances, Harps took the lead on 28 minutes with Will Seymore heading home from close range.
Harps then doubled their tally on 33 minutes with a goal of the season contender from midfielder Ryan Connolly who let fly with a thundering effort from 25 yards that flew past Lee Steacy.
The game was effectively put beyond the midlanders’ reach four minutes after the break as O’Sullivan’s long range strike took a wicked deflection on its way into the net.
Harps’ leading scorer Tunde Owolabi then added the fourth on the hour as he surged into the box to score his tenth league goal of the campaign.
Teenage substitute Luke Rudden added the fifth in stoppage time and the Finn Park faithful celebrated at the end as they poured onto the pitch.
Harps will now look forward to a fourth successive season in the top tier in 2022.
Finn Harps: Doherty, Boyle, McEleney, Webster, Mustoe (Dunleavy, h-t); O'Sullivan, Coyle, Connolly, Seymour (Hawkins 6, 82 mins); McNamee; Owolabi (Rudden 89).
Longford Town: Steacy; Elworthy (McDonnell, h-t), J. Manley, O'Driscoll, Kirk; R. Manley, Nugent (Zambra, 56), Robinson, Dervin (O'Brien, 69 mins); Davis (McNally, 56); Williams (Dobbs, 69 mins).
Referee: J. McLaughlin (Derry).
Waterford 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 0
Waterford FC will face a first relegation playoff since 2007 when they meet UCD in their bid to secure their SSE Airtricity Premier Division status after they were held to a 0-0 draw with St Patrick’s Athletic at the RSC. Visiting goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros denied the Blues all three points with two top saves late on.
Robbie Benson struck the top of the crossbar with a header after a Chris Forrester cross on nine minutes, before striker Kyrian Nwoko was off target with a close-range shot after getting on the end of a Lee Desmond cross on the half hour mark.
Waterford, who were depleted through suspension and injury, had a chance through Jeremie Milambo on 38 minutes with the left full back getting on the end of a Phoenix Patterson right-wing cross, but his effort deflected wide of Jaros’ near post.
After Phoenix Patterson brought a save out of Jaros on 62 minutes, the visitors had a chance to go in front a minute later when Billy King danced a jig down the left before teeing up Benson, but his left-footed effort cleared Brian Murphy’s crossbar.
The Blues could have won the game with five minutes remaining on the clock when Milambo took a pass from Cameron Evans down the left-side, but his shot was turned around the posts, before Junior Quitirna’s corner saw a Niall O’Keeffe header tipped over by Jaros.
Waterford FC: Murphy; Evans, Ferguson, Nolan (Forrest '70), Milambo; Wordsworth, O'Keeffe, Griffin; Green (Dupree '77), Quitirna, Patterson.
St Patrick's Athletic: Jaros; Bone, Desmond (Hickman '46), Abankwah (Coughlan '46), Griffin; Lennon (Corbally '70), Benson, Forrester, McClelland; King, Nwoko (Melvin-Lambert '70).
Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin).
Bray Wanderers 0 UCD 2
As so often the case this season, Colm Whelan proved their match-winner with a stunning free kick goal and a sublime assist to put UCD into the promotion/relegation playoff as they deservedly beat Bray Wanderers at Dalymount Park in this First Division playoff final.
Andy Myler’s Students will now meet Waterford next Friday to decide which division the respective sides will play in next season.
Though roared on by very much the majority of support in the stand, Bray found themselves on the back foot for the bulk of the first half, labouring to get on the ball as College’s Paul Doyle and Dara Keane dominated midfield.
In the chief chance of the half, the frame of their goal rescued Bray on 37 minutes.
Right-back Michael Gallagher’s excellent ball down the right sent Keane to the end line. The pullback found Whelan who took a touch before rifling a drive off Brian Maher’s left-hand post.
Maher twice saved well from Whelan and Liam Kerrigan before finally given no chance for UCD’s opening goal on 68 minutes as Andrew Quinn’s foul on Whelan proved costly.
Whelan took the direct strike himself, thumping the ball past the wall to enter the corner of the net for his 26th goal in all competitions this season.
Ireland under-21 international Whelan then turned provider with a delightful chipped pass for the impressive Doyle to cut past a defender and drill a shot to the net on 87 minutes.
Bray Wanderers: Maher; Byrne, Quinn, Barry, Barnett; Graydon, Lovic (Kinsella, 80), O'Farrell, Craven (Verdon, 75); Kavanagh; Doyle.
UCD: Healy; Gallagher, O'Brien, Todd, Osam; Keaney; Kerrigan, Keane (Dignam, 90), Brennan, Doyle (Verdon, 90); Whelan.
Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin).
