CHRIS LYONS’ last-gasp strike has given Drogheda United the advantage as they eye a return to the Premier Division.
Lyons notched his 15th goal of the season in the 93rd minute of the play-off first leg at United Park, producing a curled finish after Stephen Meaney’s backheel teed him up just inside the area.
There was still time for Finn Harps’ Raff Cretaro to hit the post at the other end but the First Division runners-up will take a deserved lead to Donegal on Friday.
Both teams were dealt blows prior to kick-off with neither Drogs skipper Jake Hyland nor Harps attacker Mark Timlin fit to play.
United were unchanged from Friday night’s 5-1 win over Cabinteely and a bumper crowd expected more of the same as the Louth men look to end their two-year exodus from the top flight.
Lyons, who was hailed by his boss Tim Clancy as the second tier’s top forward in the build-up, had the most clear-cut chance of the opening 45 minutes when he met Adam Wixted’s cross.
He evaded Harry Ascroft but his header was saved by Mark Anthony McGinley.
This game was a repeat of last year’s First Division play-off semi-final, when Harps advanced before going on to claim promotion.
Nathan Boyle scored in both legs of that tie 12 months ago but the ex-Derry forward was lacking in accuracy when he skied over Tony McNamee’s cross from two yards out.
However, an offside flag spared the striker’s blushes.
In another Harps attack, Ruairí Harkin’s deflected cross came back off a post and Drogheda cleared the danger.
Mark Doyle was a whisker away from reaching Seán Brennan’s free-kick as the Drogs started the second half brighter.
And Drogheda native Brennan fired just wide when his quick free-kick almost caught out McGinley.
Luke McNally scored a stunning treble in Friday’s win and he caught the eye again but in his more familiar centre-back position, reading the game well and dominating in the air.
The 20-year-old was vocal, too, but not quite as loud as Harps boss Ollie Horgan, who barked orders from the away dugout all evening, eventually falling foul of referee Rob Hennessy.
Horgan had been warned about his conduct after launching into a tirade when the official did not allow defender Ascroft back on the field after a change of shorts.
And when his protests continued, he received his marching orders.
The home fans were desperate to see their side turn their second-half dominance into a lead but Harps’ three-man central defence was continuing to hold firm.
That trio did have a nervous moment when Conor Kane’s cross bounced in their area and, after McNally poked towards goal and Mark Russell cleared, sub Meaney blasted over.
McNally and Keith Cowan clashed late on, not for the first time in the game, ending in Cowan hitting the deck after getting a shove to the chest. The referee booked both players and left it at that.
Visiting sub Mikey Place then headed wide before Meaney set up Lyons to give his side a priceless lead at the halfway stage in the tie.
SUN STAR MAN: Chris Lyons (Drogheda)
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DROGHEDA UNITED: Gratzer 6; Brown 6, McNally 7, Farragher 7, Kane 7; Hughes 6, Brennan 7 (Hollywood 78, 6), Heeney 7; Wixted 6 (Meaney 70, 6), Doyle 7, Lyons 8.
FINN HARPS: McGinley 7; Borg 7, Ascroft 6, Cowan 6, Todd 5, Russell 6; G Harkin 6, R Harkin 6 (O’Reilly 78, 5), McNamee 7; Coyle 6 (Cretaro 74, 6), Boyle 5 (Place 90, 6).
REFEREE: R Hennessy (Limerick).